This file is one of the Wolfstone archives of the Halloween mailing lists. You can find out more, and reach the entire collection here: http://www.pobox.com/~wolfstone/_r/HalloweenArchive.html This particular archive deals with "color organ" topics. This includes: o where to get them o how to build them o how to hook them to audion source o interesting uses It does NOT include related topics: o flicker and flame o fake storms A few of the postings are missing headers. Sorry! - - - - - One way you could do this, is with a small impedance matching transformer from Radio-Shack. Not very expensive. I've put up a wiring diagram for you, with the R-S # of the transformer needed. Please refer to: http://home.rica.net/jimk/help/chris.gif Jim =========== REF ===================== At 06:15 PM 9/19/98 -0400, you wrote: >A question for the group. I am using color organs for my lightning but like >to somehow hardwire them to my speakers so they are not effected by other >stray sound. Is there a way to remove the mic and connect it directly to >speaker wire. Yes you can you have to remove the speaker and put in it's place a 8:1 transformer. Hook the seconday up to were the speaker was and your input to the primary. That should work for you depending on the output of your stereo. - - - - - Subject: Re: HALL: no old 'Color organ' plans Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 20:37:59 -0800 From: Mike Wakerly To: "Halloween" , On 4/2/98 7:31 PM, Oliver Holler wrote: >Whoops. -and rats. >That would explain my fruitless searching! I build a color organ from Graymark when I was ten (which was 6 years ago, so it should still be available). Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but basically it was a box with audio inputs, as well 4 2-pronged plugs and 4 corresponding pots: - very high pitched audio - high pitched audio - lower pitched audio - very low pitched audio The POTs controlled the sensitivity. Basically, I had it set up to flash four strings of big outdoor C/D lights (in my living room) according to the music. Man, it got hot. But it worked quite well. I can fetch the catalog and info on Graymark (no big whoop) upon request. I think only a kit is available, ($10-$20, maybe) but it's worth it. - - - - - From: john_wolf@writeme.com Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 23:33:07 -0500 (EST) Subject: HALL: Oliver plans on way This ol' color organ' plans on their way.If you read this oliver tried to send them 2nd time you should get them soon.Sorry for delay e-mail problems. For the rest of you snooping in on olivers message two sites with color organ plans follow ---> http://www.execulink.com/~cake/circuits/organ.htm http://www.execulink.com/~cake/circuits/corgan.htm and the color organ plans from elect goldmine were printed in 91 issue of Electronics Hobbyists handbook by gernsback publications. - - - - - From: john_wolf@writeme.com Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 08:02:31 -0500 (EST) Subject: HALL: Re:Old 'Color Organ Plans' Hi all, Two more color organ plans at ---> http://www.darkportal.com/cc/library.htm one 3-ch and one 4-ch the 4-ch has more info. I wasn't even looking for them this time.Minding my own bussiness & they jumped up & bit me.Like eating "Pringles" once you start you just can't stop. - - - - - From: "Leonard Skinner" Subject: Re: HALL: Color Organ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 18:40:51 +0100 Hi Jerry, I not sure exactly what you mean by "color organ", but I have come accross a circuit that might be of use, go to www.darkportal.com/cc/circuit.lbr/0012.htm if this is not what your looking for, let me know, and between us we can design one. Oh, about the gas, I'm not sure about the number of gallons, but it's great for driving rams and such like, the only problem is that because it's stored gas and not generated like with a compressor, leaks can greatly reduce the life of a cannister. - - - - - From: ScottM2251 at aol.com Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 15:56:26 EDT Subject: Re: HALL: Color Organ Jameco Electronics has a 3 channel light organ kit. Their web page is http://www.jameco.com/. Here is the description from their web page: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ KIT,3 CHANNEL SOUND TO LIGHT LIGHT ORGAN),CE -Each channel reacts to a different part of the sound spectrum and can be adjusted to react to a different frequency range -Line or microphone input -Maximum load 2A per channel -Space for optional noise filters -Each output has individual sensitivity control -Complete housing and AC power connectors -Dimensions: 6.7"W x 5.6"D x 1.7"H -Weight: 1.2 lbs. Part 131684 , Product No. K5202, $54.95 - - - - - From: Frightphil at aol.com Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 01:13:16 EDT Subject: HALL: color organs Hey guys, I used some color organs before and got them from Tech America and Electronic Goldmine. Tec has a 1-channel color organ 120watts at 120v w/sound input reg. $12.95 on sale now for 9.95 part # 99-0318 needs to be soldered together but very easy to do. I takes about half hour.Its a very nice kit. Goldmine has one ,two and three channel color organs,prices are $8.85-25.00 the two ch is assembled with built in mic, reg. $5.95 on sale for $3.95. part#G3319 The one and three have sound inputs and need assembling. I used the two ch before to make a lightening control box,worked well. they all are 120v. I have'nt seen any low voltage ones anywhere. Maybe you can step it down with a power supply, but the only problem with that, I found if you have a lot of rapid change in the audio, the power supply will flicker to much and burn out. So in less you have sutler changes in sound it may work. Oh! I have these little amps called "Rock Power" I get them at a surplus near me their old but brand new. They run on 4 D batteries and have 1 red and 1 green light that flicker to sound, when a mic is plugged in. They're not very loud at all. If this is anything your looking for let me know I can ship you one. I get them for $2.50 each Tech # 1800-877-0072 or www.techam.com Goldmine # 1800-445-0697 or www.goldmine-elec.com Hope this helps, Phil Miller, NJ - - - - - Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 14:10:24 -0500 From: "Dan Oelke" Subject: Re: HALL: Color Organ Leonard - yes - that is basically it.Κ The typical color organ that you can buy or can find plans for uses an SCR and will control incadescent 120V lights. Here is a web site with a circuit for a typical color organ. ΚΚΚΚΚΚ 3 channel - microphone input ΚΚΚΚΚΚ http://www.darkportal.com/cc/circuits/circ0031.htm or ΚΚΚΚΚΚ 4 channel - left and right stereo channels (8ohm) plus ΚΚΚΚΚΚ microphone inputs. ΚΚΚΚΚΚ http://www.darkportal.com/cc/circuits/circ0070.htm Unfortunately myself (as well as others) only have enough electrical knowledge to be dangerous. Trying to develope a new circuit that works with 12V DC (instead of AC) would be beyond my grasp.Κ I do ok with TTL or CMOS digital stuff, but get into these pesky analog devices and I am lost. - - - - - Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 14:38:48 -0500 From: "Dan Oelke" Subject: HALL: Circuits Jerry, et al. If you need little circuits and don't mind tinkering with something once you have a basic plan - check out this site. http://www.darkportal.com/cc/index2.htm (Found based off my earlier post on a search for color organs). There are lots of good things there. I was just looking at "Fading Red eyes" that looks like I could use in a couple of places.Κ Sorry Jim - I see that is basically like your Terror Eyes - but if you don't want to hassle with building it - go see HauntMaster's and buy it there. (how's that for a recovery ;) - - - - - Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 17:40:40 -0400 From: Jim Kadel Subject: Re: HALL: Circuits Dan, How could apologies be needed whenever something germane is found and referenced on the Internet? I believe this circuit, or something very similar was published in HAPA # 3 (July 1998). The LED Eyes sold by HMPI do not use this circuit because: I wanted the "theater effect" to be better looking. Different color LED's to be possible (spec. jobs). A Strobing LED Eyes effect (new product this year) to be possible. Jim ============= REF ========== At 02:38 PM 4/7/99 -0500, you wrote: >Jerry, et al. > >If you need little circuits and don't mind tinkering with >something once you have a basic plan - check out this site. > >http://www.darkportal.com/cc/index2.htm > >(Found based off my earlier post on a search for color organs). >There are lots of good things there. I was just looking >at "Fading Red eyes" that looks like I could use in a >couple of places.Κ > >Sorry Jim - I see that is basically like your Terror Eyes - but >if you don't want to hassle with building it - go see HauntMaster's >and buy it there. (how's that for a recovery ;) - - - - - From: "Jeff Quaglietta" Subject: HALL: Color Organ vs. TBD's T&L Box Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 09:19:44 EDT Not sure if this was already answered in the many posts on Color Organs, just wanted to know from the electrical know-how's on the list: Is TBD's Thunder & Lightning Control Box a single channel color organ or some variation of it? Just wondering since I did some searching on the web and found a few sites that sell Color Organ kits that are pretty reasonable.Κ Centerpointe Electronics at http://www.cpcares.com/prod22.html has a 4-channel kit for $35.00 (includes shipping) that handles 250 watts per channel. Obviously there's some labor involved, but TBD's T&L Box is $85.00 plus shipping and it's one channel for 225 watts. I'm not knocking it, I bought one and it's great, just thinking that I could build another one for less. Are these the same product line or something totally different? - - - - - Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 14:12:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Dave Bell Subject: Re: HALL: Flashing LED's > for very cheap, even using Radio-Shack parts, > you can build it as diagramed here: > > http://home.rica.net/jimk/help/impdmatch.gif > > which is one of the "how to" things I have > listed under the home page on rica.net in > the sig. below. > > Jim > Haunt Master Products, Inc > >I'm trying to figure out is how do I make the LED's flash in coordination with Thanks for posting a simple, straightforward solution, Jim! Color organs are great in their place, but for this, they're really overkill... Only suggestion I'd offer is that the LEDs would be less likely to be damaged, if you add a diode (say 1N4001) in series with them. They just don't like to be reverse-polarized, and the diode would block that half-cycle of the audio... - - - - - From: "Carl Cowley" Subject: Re: HALL: Flashing LED's Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 08:16:53 -0700 Sorry, it doesn't look like the link I posted below worked very well, so - go to www.eki.com and choose ONLINE CATALOG, then choose ELECTRONIC KITS, then choose LIGHT KITS and scroll down to kit #2042.Κ BTW it costs $16.45. ----- Original Message ----- From: Carl Cowley Subject: Re: HALL: Flashing LED's >Check out the 12 volt LED color organ at EKI.Κ My students build these and >they work pretty well, though I would change the values of the filters a >little bit.Κ This company sells a lot to the education field, but they will >sell to anybody.Κ The link to the 12v color organ is: > <http://www.eki.com/cgi-bin/onlinestore/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=dummy page=2042.html&ORDER_ID=127323164> > >Hope this helps!Κ If you have any questions about it I would be happy to >help you out. - - - - - From: TDDoggett at aol.com Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 02:47:47 EDT Subject: Re: HALL: Color Organ up to high current? A triac that is handling that kind of power would require a *serious* heat sink.Κ Of course a color organ tends to be run intermittently which would help.Κ Most of the small color organ kits cannot have thier capacities increased by merely changing thyristors.Κ All of the ones I have seen use a B106 SCR which is a "Sensitive Gate" device which is easy for an audio level signal to trigger without being excessively "loud."Κ Using a standard device would require some modifications to the input circuits or a 'preamp' transistor.Κ The B106 is good to about 250-400 watts depending on mounting.Κ Adding a second one in reverse parallel would double the capacity and provide a full-wave (sort of) output.Κ Double the heat sink is also required. -Tim http://hauntinggrounds.org In a message dated 5/13/99 6:34:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time, jimk at rica.net writes: > Bill, >Κ I have seen 40 amp capacity (600 piv) >Κ in a TO-220 case for $ 1.39 ea. from JDR Micro devices >Κ catalog (800-538-5005). >Κ >Κ That's enough to handle 5 Kilowatts of lighting - - - - - Subject: Re: Hall: Color Organs From: Chuck Rice Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 13:43:55 -0700 At 03:40 PM -0400 1999/08/21, DJ31@daimlerchrysler.com wrote: >I saw a color organs for about $14 in the H and R catalog but it would = only >support 100w per cannel and was only a two channel organ. I am >looking to make >a lightning effect and need more wattage. "Captain, we need more power!" > Here is more power for you. How about a cascadable single channel 2000 watt color organ. Check out for the heavy duty = stuff (and price). -Chuck- - - - - - Subject: RE: Hall: Color Organs From: "Malcolm Little" Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 19:29:32 -0400 It gives light to the sound. A color organ is a device that takes sound energy, either by direct connection to an audio source, and produces proportionate output to lights. A single channel device will flash/flicker/light up one light (or one set of lights) for its' audio input. Multi-channel devices split the sound into high/low or high/mid/low frequencies and produce an output for each. For music/dance stuff, folks would typically set up blue, green, and red lamps for low, mid, and high - the lights would flicker/flash with their respective frequencies. The intensity varies with the amplitude of the sound. Haunters use them to flicker lights in sync with thunder sounds to produce lightning flashes as the thunder roars. I've even heard it suggested to record two individual sound tracks on a tape, with one time-delayed, so that the lightning could appear first from one channel, then the actual thunder sound follow. > What is and does a color organ do. An where can you get them? - - - - - Subject: Re: Hall: color organ question- hot side? returns? HUH? From: "Ralph W Mitchell" Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 15:06:11 -0400 Duff, I can send you a schematic for one, but you can buy one cheaper than you can get the parts for from Herbach & Rademan.($4.95) Go to: http://www.herbach.com - - - - - Subject: Re: Hall: Re: RE: Lightning effect.(T & L Machine From: Date: 24 Aug 2000 14:51:48 -0000 Here is the only URL i have for a color organ http://home.rica.net/jimk/help/12v_organ.htm - - - - - Subject: Re: Hall: RE: Lightning effect.(T & L Machine From: Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:24:47 EDT I know of two sites for scematics i will give you mine ASAP. www.aaroncacke.net www.hut.fi/~then - - - - - Subject: RE: Hall: RE: Lightning effect From: "brennus" Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:52:00 -0500 this site has color organ kits for $17, a color organ hooks up to lights = and is sound activated.IE simulated lightning,(for those who are saying What = the Heck is a color organ) http://www.cpcares.com/ - - - - - Subject: Re: Hall: Color organs From: Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 20:02:41 EST CHEAPLIGHTS.COM OR ANY DJing PLACE, EBAY TYPE IN LIGHT CONTROLLER. - - - - -