element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Project Videos
  • Challenges & Projects
  • element14 presents
  • Project Videos
  • More
  • Cancel
Project Videos
Documents Build a VU Meter with LED Pixelated Nixie Tubes -- Episode 564
  • Documents
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Project Videos to participate - click to join for free!
Related
Recommended
Engagement
  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: 21 Jul 2022 3:43 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 19 Aug 2022 7:24 AM
  • Views 315748 views
  • Likes 9 likes
  • Comments 10 comments

Build a VU Meter with LED Pixelated Nixie Tubes -- Episode 564

You don't have permission to edit metadata of this video.
Edit media
x
image
Upload Preview
image

Imagine you could build your own audio visualizer using Nixie Tubes without having to worry about the hard to find nixie tubes, the high voltage that would involve, and the price you have to pay when you do find a way to purchase them. It’s easier than you think! Using Pixel Leds, you can create your own look-a-like Nixie Tubes that you can use to build a Stereo VU meter. In this video, we are going to show you how to do just that.

 

Supplemental Content:

  • Link to GitHub:  https://github.com/donnersm/PixieVU
  • link to my tindiestore to buy the pcb ( optional): https://www.tindie.com/products/markdonners/pcb-tubebar-set/
  • links related to installing the esp32 board manager ( as mentioned in the video):  https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json
  • Episode 564 Resources

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
R13-24B-05-BB Push Button Switch Multicomp 2 Buy Now
P231-QC20BR10K Potentiometer Linear 10K TT Electronics 2 Buy Now
MAS70S DIN Audio Connector 7 contacts plug Hirschmann 2 Buy Now
PS000058 DIN Audio Video Connector 7 Contacts Panel mount Multicomp 2 Buy Now
PSG08664 Power connector Pro-signal 1 Buy Now
Power switch Multicomb 1 Buy Now
Resistor 10K Multicomp 4 Buy Now
Capacitor 100nF kyocera 2 Buy Now
 

Additional Parts:

ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT V1.0. You can use other ESP32 but you will have to adjust the wiring accordingly
2 Glass Test Tubes 150 x 15 mm 
PCB: https://www.tindie.com/products/markdonners/pcb-tubebar-set/  
PIXELLED Chips WS2812B
Or use ledstrip ( in that case no need for above pcb and pixelleds)
Power supply 5V 1,2A
Piece of plastic Screen MEsh from (fly) screendoor
wood panel 6mm thick ( of different thickness, but you will have to adjust the lasercutter file)
Glue for wood
Optional: Paint in whatever color you like
Glue for plastic/glass ( 2-component glue not super glue)
Wires, any will do, no high currents involved

element14 presents

element14 presents  |  About Mark Donners |  Project Videos

  • esp32
  • IN-9
  • VU-meter
  • diy
  • led
  • e14p_MD
  • nixie
  • Audio Visualizer
  • IN-13
  • arduino
  • friday_release
  • Share
  • History
  • More
  • Cancel
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
  • Sign in to reply

Top Comments

  • donnersm
    donnersm over 3 years ago +2
    If you are building the project from this episode or if you have any questions regarding my project as presented in this episode, leave a message here and I'll try to answer all to the best of my knowledge…
  • donnersm
    donnersm over 2 years ago

    I did a simular project on Instructabled called SPECTRUM ANALYZER WITH STEAMPUNK NIXIE LOOK.

    With it, I won the Grand Prize in the Microcontroller Contest 2022

    The link is here: SPECTRUM ANALYZER WITH STEAMPUNK NIXIE LOOK

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • Workshopshed
    Workshopshed over 3 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

    Not surprisingly there is a shortage of Russian values. www.gearnews.com/.../

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • donnersm
    donnersm over 3 years ago in reply to Workshopshed

    Yeah, I have seen that yesterday. Didn’t know about that. Good, that someone picked up where they left off

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • Workshopshed
    Workshopshed over 3 years ago

    There are still companies who make valves but not sure about Nixies.

    hackaday.com/.../

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • donnersm
    donnersm over 3 years ago in reply to kmikemoo

    Thank you very much sir. My pleasure.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo over 3 years ago

    donnersm  This is FANTASTIC!  I love it.  I really liked your creative use of the custom PCB and test tube to make the Nixie Tube.  Very well done project and project video. Thumbsup

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • DAB
    DAB over 3 years ago in reply to donnersm

    As a visual aid, it could alert the hearing impaired.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • donnersm
    donnersm over 3 years ago in reply to DAB

    That's a very nice idea...although  if thunder is so load for the device to mark it as dangerous, most likely you will hear it by the loudness of the thunder lol. But the idea of using this for something like a DB meter is nice.. we could use like 200 leds or just a few meter of ledstrip, mounted to your house.. Then at parties...who can should the loudest?

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • DAB
    DAB over 3 years ago

    Nice build.

    It would make a nice thunder strength meter.

    Instead of the Vu, you could set it up to measure peak sound levels and use the color to indicate threat level.

    When the sound gets loud, you go to condition red and maybe add an alert buzzer to get the user to pay attention that they are in a dangerous enviornment.  

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • donnersm
    donnersm over 3 years ago

    If you are building the project from this episode or if you have any questions regarding my project as presented in this episode, leave a message here and I'll try to answer all to the best of my knowledge.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube