USB Relay Controller to control lights based on music beats

**sa11** · 07-09-2011, 06:18 PM

Hi
I have recently bought a USB Relay controller which I believe is developed by Protosmart although I bought it from ebay (Here is the link if anyone is interested).
It comes with a demo software & the source code in Visual basic. What I want to achieve with this board is to play an mp3 song on my computer & then reflect the beats/rhythm on the 8 bulbs I have attached to the relay board (Like visualizations of the music). I was wodering if anyone could guide me for this?
I am a beginner with Visual basic but I hope I will be able to achieve by using the demo software & some guideline.

Thanks for your time.

BR

**sa11** · 07-14-2011, 05:53 PM

Any guidance?

As mentioned earlier, I have the source code of the demo software but just need some basic idea of how to do what I want to do?

**Mickz** · 07-14-2011, 07:06 PM

If you are trying to make music visualization where 8 globes show intensity with different parts of the music spectrum then this device will not work. This device simply turns a relay on or off.
There are kits and commercial devices made over the years to do this. They are basically simple adjustable band-pass filters with some type of analogue driver for each output.

**OldSpark** · 07-15-2011, 07:32 AM

Ditto. We had things called "Musicolors" that were 3 or 4-band bandpass filters that phase controlled triacs/SCRs for AC lights.
The same can be done to PWM LEDs and DC globes with (MOS)FETs or transistors.

But relays - no.

**nivanov** · 07-15-2011, 08:34 AM

The best you can do with this device is turn 8 LEDs on and off. Relays are also not good for making things blink quickly - they are mechanical, so besides constant clicking, they have a transition time from on to off - if you want blinking to happen faster than that, this device simply wont work.
I think a better bet would be to use FusionBrain

**SNOtwistR** · 07-15-2011, 08:47 AM

you could put automotive flashers after the relays for a blinking effect or you could go this old school route or something along these lines http://www.electronicpeasant.com/pro.../ledcolor.html SNO

**sa11** · 07-22-2011, 02:46 PM

Hi fellows,
Thanks for your replies. I am actually trying to achieve whats shown in the video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KV3oTqf6B4

Apologies, I think I was not clear in my requirements earlier.

Thanks