[sdiy] MIDI/CV sync LED lit plastic panel?

[GothGeek Sysadmin]

On Sun, Feb 03, 2002 at 01:51:16AM -0800, denshi wrote:
> after the recommendations of the list (thanks to ALL
> who offered their experiences) and most notably jim
> patchells suggestion of colored LEDs, i think im going
> to try and work out an LED lit plastic panel that is
> MIDI/CV controlled to pulse different colors with the
> beat.  i like the idea of an LFO, or an akai MPC
> sequencing a rainbow of colors from a glowing synth on
> stage.  wow!

If its CV, it'll be pretty easy to do.
One thing that'd be real real easy to do would be to use an LED bar graph
IC like http://www.national.com/pf/LM/LM3916.html ( although there are
a million others, that was the first one I found specs for ).  Set it to
scale around 10volts and put 10 LEDs on it.

Another LED driver I've found while repairing stereo gear actually fades
in and out each LED which looks even cooler but its a Japanese part and
I cant find the part number right this second.

http://www.resonance.fsnet.co.uk/miditocv.htm for a cheap DIY
Midi/CV.  I picked up all the parts to build this ( except the PIC itself )
for about $15.  The PIC isnt expensive, I just couldnt find it surplus.

I just had a sick thought... use the Bar Graph generator to drive 10
decade counters each with 10 LEDs hanging off of them.  Different
CV voltages would engage more or less of the decade counters and thus 
the counters would increment kinda randomly but based on the frequency
you are playing.  You dont even have to arrange the LEDs in bars, you could
just sprinkle them about somewhat randomly and have a blinking starfield-like
display.

-- 
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