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Is the Propeller able to mimic this? — Parallax Forums

Is the Propeller able to mimic this?

turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
edited 2010-12-27 15:19 in Propeller 1
Most of you all have probably seen this already, it's a video of Christmas lights to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra song.

My Dad loves this video and I'd love to use the prop, some transistors and a few a/c relays to mimic this if possible, so any input would be appreciated. I've never done anything with music on my prop, so that will be new territory for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmgf60CI_ks

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-12-22 20:10
    The video is great! But I'd hate to be that guy's neighbor.

    -Phil
  • AJMAJM Posts: 171
    edited 2010-12-22 20:37
    http://pachristmas.com/

    A Parallax user.
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2010-12-22 22:14
    Checkout these sites.

    http://www.neverenoughlights.com/How%20Its%20Done.htm

    http://www.lightorama.com
    This company provides the hardware and software for pulling off feats like this. This site may give you idea what's involved.

    It's certainly not trivial nor cheap.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2010-12-22 22:23
    Sure! Why not! http://propellerpowered.com/?p=8

    OBC
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2010-12-23 04:16
    I have some ideas, but I think I'm going to start out with a prop, some transistors and some relays and see where it goes from there. I don't think I'm going to have a wireless interface or a plethora of songs to choose from, maybe just 1 or 2.
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2010-12-24 19:30
    Does anyone have any more detailed information on how to do this?

    I found this thread

    http://forums.parallaxinc.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=341430

    But I was looking for a bit more of an overview as to how the prop maps the sound and then also produces sound waves and the hardware necessary to convert to a line level signal for an amplifier.

    Thanks.
  • Adam WieslerAdam Wiesler Posts: 81
    edited 2010-12-24 19:41
    Yes, the prop is able to do that, I am actually doing it right now. I have 42 channels of LED lights, being controlled by two props. A PC running vixen lights http://www.vixenlights.com is controlling the props via MIDI, and the PC's sound-card is outputting the sound file to an FM transmitter.

    I will try to post the info sometime within the next week on my website: http://christmas.quigleyelectronics.com/

    Have a merry Christmas!
  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    edited 2010-12-24 21:10
    Virtuoso! :D
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2010-12-25 05:23
    Hi Adam,

    Thanks for replying. Are you sending serial commands to each prop individually over 2 rs232 channels? I was counting on mapping the song out on the prop itself, but it looks like you can do that within Vixen, is that correct?


    Adam Wiesler wrote: »
    Yes, the prop is able to do that, I am actually doing it right now. I have 42 channels of LED lights, being controlled by two props. A PC running vixen lights http://www.vixenlights.com is controlling the props via MIDI, and the PC's sound-card is outputting the sound file to an FM transmitter.

    I will try to post the info sometime within the next week on my website: http://christmas.quigleyelectronics.com/

    Have a merry Christmas!
  • ke4pjwke4pjw Posts: 1,181
    edited 2010-12-25 07:51
    turbosupra wrote: »
    Most of you all have probably seen this already, it's a video of Christmas lights to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra song.

    My Dad loves this video and I'd love to use the prop, some transistors and a few a/c relays to mimic this if possible, so any input would be appreciated. I've never done anything with music on my prop, so that will be new territory for me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmgf60CI_ks

    It sure can. Here is my propeller powered Christmas display. The synchronization is done with Vixen. I am going to be documenting what I have done and selling kits soon. This display utilizes 6 propeller based boards for the lights and 1 propeller based board to send display data from Vixen to the other six boards via DMX512.
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2010-12-27 07:57
    Post it on up :)

    Are you kits assembled or disassembled and any guestimate on cost?

    ke4pjw wrote: »
    It sure can. Here is my propeller powered Christmas display. The synchronization is done with Vixen. I am going to be documenting what I have done and selling kits soon. This display utilizes 6 propeller based boards for the lights and 1 propeller based board to send display data from Vixen to the other six boards via DMX512.
  • Ray0665Ray0665 Posts: 231
    edited 2010-12-27 15:19
    Check out my "Mother of all led Sequencers" in the obex it could very easily handle the sequencing but like all MCU based sequencers they still need help handling the power. Need more than 32 bits?? simple use some bits as addresses and the rest as data and send it off to latches or multiplexers. The skys the limit, and like others have indicated here, there is always the possibility of multiple props.
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