(Not Your Average) Flashing LED circuit

[walkerdata]

Short history then question.

I've lurked off and on here for several years.  I'm basically a guy that can solder on a vero board - nothing more.


Here's what I need to build:  Our drummer uses a metronome with two headphone outputs (he uses earbuds).  I would like to run a cord from one output to a box with a flashing LED circuit for a visual click track for the rest of the band.

Has this been done?  Can it be done?  Simple?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[petemoore]

  The envelop detector circuit of Nurse Quacky / Dr. Q.
  The LED brightness follows signal strength.
  Unless a simpler method comes up, this would seem a good place to start.

[walkerdata]

Thanks Pete.  But I don't think I'll be able to figure that out!

[snufkin]

if you amp the signal coming out of the metronome in to a small amp you could set up something like this

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sound-reactive-led/

I remember fooling with this sort of stuff a long while ago 

not perfect but interesting

[walkerdata]

I guess it's not going to be as simple as I was hoping.  Back to the search engines I go...

[Gurner]

An envelpope detector is excessive for such a simple requirement  - a simple comparator should suffice here (I'm assuming the metronome is electronic - if so, it's already acting as a strong 'gating' signal)

Something like the first circuit on this page....


http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/odds_and_ends/PDF/led_driver_ideas_assembly.pdf

[deadastronaut]

here ya go....nice n simple... take an audio out of your metronome into this..

works a treat..ive used it on lots of stuff..use 3mm superbrights for light to go completely off..

or 5mm superbrights to see it get brighter with sound ok....

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/chickpea/sound2light_.jpg.html

[Gurner]

One other option...

http://freecircuitdiagram.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/simple_logarithmic_led_bar_diplay_an6884.gif

it's a bargraph generator IC (costs 50p here in the UK), essentially, it has comparators inside ....but you only need connect the first led - the pot sets the sensitivity to suit your incoming signal.

[walkerdata]

Thanks guys.  I'll give it a shot.  I appreciate all of your help!