Introduction: Analog VU Meter and Clock (Arduino Powered)

About: Hello! I'm a high school student and I enjoy playing with electronics!
This project brings back the old time Analog VU Meter, with the added functionality of a neat looking clock! When you turn off your music the meters automatically swing into to clock mode. Behind it all is the popular and easy to use Arduino.

This is my submission for the Make-to-Learn Youth Contest:

What did you make?
I made an old style analog VU meter and Clock using 2 analog panel meters, an Arduino, a real time clock, and other simple components. How it works: The unit plugs into a standard 3.5mm speaker jack. The Arduino reads the sound levels and converts it into electric pulses (PWM) to control the analog meters. When no sound is detected, the unit automatically changes to Clock mode and displays the time which is read from the real time clock circuit.

How did you make it?
I got the idea to make an analog VU meter from seeing them used in older audio receivers and amplifiers. I was always intrigued by the effect of a needle “dancing” to the beat of music. With my basic knowledge of electronics and the Arduino platform, I decided that I could make one myself. After searching around the internet to see if anyone had done anything similar, I found that many people create Clocks with analog panel meters. Well, why not include both functions?

Where did you make it?
I made this at home by myself. I like to listen to music a lot and I am always tinkering and playing with electronics. I thought that this would be a fun project to compliment my speaker system which I also built myself.

What did you learn?
I learned a lot from this project. The hardest thing to get right was the programming. I have never worked with analog panel meters before, so getting them to display time and sound accurately was challenging. For example: It was hard to get both meters to point exactly straight up at 6:30. I also learned that connecting the Arduino directly to an audio source can distort the audio. To fix this, I added some resistors and the distortion went away.


Video:


Step 1: Materials

Shopping List:

- 2, 5v Analog panel meters (Amazon) or (Amazon)
- Arduino (I used the pro mini) (Amazon)
- DS1307 Real time clock (Amazon)
- Protoboard (Amazon)
- 10K potentiometer (DigiKey)
- 2 tactile switches (DigiKey)
- 4 10K resistors (DigiKey)
- 4 white LEDs (optional) (DigiKey)
- USB cable (DigiKey)
- 3.5mm cable (DigiKey)

Total cost is around $47. It will be less if you have some of these parts already.

Step 2: Meter Lights

This step is completely optional, but I decided to put some lighting inside my meters.

First, I took the covers off the meters and drilled two small holes for the LEDs. Then I simply hot glued the LEDs into place. Be careful when drilling and hot gluing because the inside of the meters are relatively fragile.

It is better to use diffused LEDs for this application, but I did not have any diffused white LEDs around. So, I diffused some clear LEDs by using some sandpaper.

Don't forget resistors!

Step 3: Assembly

The assembly is pretty straight forward. See the pictures for more details.

Note: If you only want to use it as a clock, you do not need the audio cable or the potentiometer.

Wiring goes as follows:

- USB red wire (5v) to VCC
- USB black wire to GND

- 3.5mm Audio left channel to 10K resistor to Analog 1
- 3.5mm Audio right channel to 10K resistor to Analog 2
- 3.5mm Audio ground to GND

- Potentiometer to Analog 0 (follow potentiometer wiring)

- Buttons - Left/Down to Digital 2  (follow button wiring)
                 - Right/Up to Digital 3

- DS1307 RTC  - SDA to Analog 4
                            - SCL to Analog 5

- Left Analog Meter to Digital 5 (PWM)
- Right Analog Meter to Digital 6 (PWM)


Step 4: Programming

The programming for this is relatively simple, but the hardest part is getting your meters to display time accurately. For example, when it is 6:30 both meters should be pointing straight up. Because all meters are slightly different, the PWM values need to be adjusted based on your design. Feel free to use my code, but you will have to change some values because it is set to work specifically with my meters

To program the Arduino Pro I used my Arduino Duemilanove because I don't have a FTDI programmer. Just remember that if you use your Arduino, you have to remove the Atmega chip before you program a separate device.

The code is not perfect, but it works. I don't have a whole lot of programming knowledge, so let me know how I can improve it.

If you only want to use it as a clock, download the ClockONLY code.


Step 5: Enclosure

I decided to make the enclosure with only two pieces of wood. I drilled out the holes for the meters, painted the base, and screwed on a thin piece of wood which I covered in a thick felt material. I chose this design because it  was easy to build and allows easy access to all of the electronics.

Step 6: Custom Meter Backgrounds

Because these meters have to display time, I had to customize the backgrounds. I scanned the back plate of the meters and used MS Paint to create a custom background. Then I printed the design on card stock paper screwed it in place. You can download the designs that I have attached below if you have the same or similar meters.

Step 7: Finish!

It's finished! Plug it into a USB port and plug the audio cable into a jack splitter. Set the time using the buttons and adjust the audio sensitivity with the potentiometer.

Thanks for reading!

Please consider giving me a vote in the Make-to-Learn Youth Contest!

See the video:

Make-to-Learn Youth Contest

Grand Prize in the
Make-to-Learn Youth Contest