Simple music light show (lpt led)

Step 5 Final foto & software

Put it together and we are almost done.

Connect it to pc, sometimes it flashes randomly when booting.
If you are using speedfan, uninstall it.

For programmable effects I recommend you ( first half of my final video)
LPT LED EFFECT 0.9.4.beta
http://modding.cz/data/software/lle.zip

there are a lot of them, this is just example, you can select another one. Just search "lpt led". It can show your cpu / memory utilization, lots of effects, etc..

For music light show, you need a winamp plugin

a simple one
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/85973

Diskolitez is more customizable
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/8680
and here is my settings fot diskolitez if you want to try http://gigi.voatt.cz/1/case1/blik.ltr
you can even manage up to 32 leds (or big-lights) acording to plan on http://discolitez.com/

If nothing happened try if you have right parallel port adress (378) set in bios.

And if you run any OS based on the NT kernel (ie- Windows NT, 2000, or XP), you may need an additional program called Userport http://www.casemodgod.com/ModGuides/LEDmeter/userport.zip. UserPort allows you to control hardware resources (such as a parallel port), which is normally prevented in NT except by system functions. You will need to install then run UserPort and type "0x378-0x378" in the left hand box and then click "add". Then click "start" and "update". If you get a "Driver already started!" message, just click update. Now the plugins should work.

- solution found at
http://www.casemodgod.com/ModGuides/LEDmeter/led_meter_(2).htm

Comments

[wes115]

has anyone made one with all one color? im interested to see if it would look good or just blenf into a big.. blob. idk, i dont want alot of colors so i was thinking red blue red blue red blue ya know. but thnx man this looks great still not sure how to use the programs tho im not to goos at this stuff

[singh1234]

not red blue but this also looks good. made it yesterday. very awesome instructable. = )

[maroja]

how to connect this to the winamp..? to show the light show music..

[joudas]

download winamp plugin... just read the text man

[huang.wencong]

It would be more fun to create your own software ^. . Try using Visual Basic or Delphi.

[grey House]

If you're into python there's an extension called pyparallel that might help. There's a great example code here: http://pyserial.wiki.sourceforge.net/pyParallel

[mitch_feaster]

Couldn't agree more. I'd like to see it in plain old C though...

[wes115]

ok so i made mine with 4 red 4 blue and it looks great. Only problem is i got a new computer used my old graphics card and harddrive in my new computer. the led's blink when starting up but when i run the LLC or any other program it doesnt run the lights. anythoughts on what to do? thnx

[EyesOnMe]

hmmm thts odd that speedfan effects this! could you also get this to show HDD activitty?

[squeakyneb]

If you have a programming language that can write to the printer port, then you can display anything that language knows/can find. I know that on Linux, you could use a shell script to get the usage for everything (cpu, ram etc.), single out the number you need, convert it to an integer and display it on the LEDs. I saw a Python program that made an image out of such data and displayed it on a PSP screen, so doing a similar thing with the printer port should be easy.

[joudas]

maybe, there are a lots of programs, but usually it shows cpu or mem usage, hdd is basicly only 1value... or you can connect it straight to the hdd-led on motherboard no?

[squeakyneb]

Connecting it to the HDD LED on the Mobo would be risky, I'd tap into the wire running to the front of the case.