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Mono VU Meter
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.
Download project description w/o images
Download project description w/ images
Files
- VU Meter.sch - VU Meter EAGLE Schematic
- VU Meter Schematic.pdf - VU Meter PDF Schematic
Bill of Materials
Qty | Part # | Description | Schematic ID | Source | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SJ1-3523N | CONN JACK STEREO R/A 3PIN 3.5MM | J1 | Source | |
1 | BS6I | SNAPS 9V 6" LEADS I-STYLE | JP1 | Source | |
1 | 50-0015-00 | SWITCH PB SPST ALT ACT PC MOUNT | S1 | Source | |
1 | SK100M035ST | CAPACITOR ALUM ELEC 10UF, 35V, RADIAL | C1 | Source | |
1 | EVN-D8AA03B14 | TRIMMER 10K OHM 0.1W TH | P1 | Source | |
1 | LM3916N-1 | LED BAR GRAPH DRIVER, 3916, DIP18 | IC1 | Source | |
10 | WP7113LID | 5MM LOW CURRENT RED LED, LAMP THOLE, BULK | LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4, LED5, LED6, LED7, LED8, LED9, LED10 | Source | |
1 | 6LR61XWA/1SB | BATTERY IND ALKALINE 9 VOLT | Source | ||
1 | Y-Audio Cable | 6inch 3.5mm Stereo Jack/Two 3.5mm Stereo Plug Cable | Source |
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Download BOM w/ images
Steps
21. Solder wires to audio jack
Solder a pair of wires to the audio jack as shown. The longer terminal in the middle is the reference gound. The other two pins are stereo-left and right. You audio jack may look differently. The pin in the middle/the pin that looks different is usually the reference ground.
22. Note: Stereo left vs. stereo right
It doesn't matter if you use stereo left or right. If you build another VU meter, then you can display stero left on one and stereo right on the other.
23. Connect audio jack
Connect one of the audio jack's terminals to ground and the other to pin 5 of the LM3916. It doesn't matter which terminal of the audio jack goes where because the audio signal is AC and the IC only measures the peak voltages.
25. Plug audio cable into Y-splitter
Plug the other end of the audio cable into a Y-splitter. The male end of the Y-splitter plugs into your PC/iPod. The female end let's you plug in your headphones/speakers.
Download steps w/o images
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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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