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Mono VU Meter


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    Bf1275b69e63393b78018e42ad287bfd74c00a22
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By: kurt

A VU meter is used to display the loudness of an audio signal. This open source VU meter lights up ten LEDs to show how loud a mono audio signal is. Two of these can be made to show the loudness of each channel in a stereo signal.

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Files

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Bill of Materials

Qty Part # Description Schematic ID Source
1 77deb0bedb11cb6f2fc5e7d60138b782eb28615f SJ1-3523N CONN JACK STEREO R/A 3PIN 3.5MM J1 Source
1 750ce2dcceaf752266214a5e57c209b74d3212d9 BS6I SNAPS 9V 6" LEADS I-STYLE JP1 Source
1 Cbe4164d07d891a1d538ad6c895b7f50ed321034 50-0015-00 SWITCH PB SPST ALT ACT PC MOUNT S1 Source
1 618ff9489734b7d0f5a3a3e481b07cbce19f1382 SK100M035ST CAPACITOR ALUM ELEC 10UF, 35V, RADIAL C1 Source
1 E5149a40cb54d228e4704c7a15b821f3412806fd EVN-D8AA03B14 TRIMMER 10K OHM 0.1W TH P1 Source
1 3fded271729ab570e419b2879e01e68d9c1b38a3 LM3916N-1 LED BAR GRAPH DRIVER, 3916, DIP18 IC1 Source
10 B10fcd91e54061e9748ca26c34782bc79400bf95 WP7113LID 5MM LOW CURRENT RED LED, LAMP THOLE, BULK LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5, LED6, LED7, LED8, LED9, LED10 Source
1 8231ad4289f80552e8b41fa3f0d841de6ec762ed 6LR61XWA/1SB BATTERY IND ALKALINE 9 VOLT Source
1 E1fe06bce45447331f6c95a9a7a6ec31da8a0e0b Y-Audio Cable 6inch 3.5mm Stereo Jack/Two 3.5mm Stereo Plug Cable Source
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Steps

6. Insert wires

Insert the red wires as shown.

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7. Collect LEDs

Collect your 10 LEDs. You can use any color LEDs that you would like. One common arrangement is LEDs 1-7: green, LEDs 8-9: yellow, LED 10: red. I used just red LEDs.

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8. Insert LED1

Insert the first LED as shown. The positive leg of the LED (the long leg) connects to the red wire. The short leg goes to the LM3916 IC.

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9. Insert LED2

Insert the second LED. The long, positive leg goes connects to the +9V rail on the far right side of the bread board. All of the following LEDs also have their long, positive legs connected to this rail.

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10. Insert LED3

Insert the third LED.

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Revisions


7 - updated description
6 -
5 - added youtube link. updated line numbers.
4 - changed LED part
3 - added description to project image
2 - added file descriptions
1 - Initial project release
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