|
Homebrew Equipment A place to show, design and discuss the weird and wonderful electronic creations from the hands of individual members. |
|
Thread Tools |
26th May 2018, 11:53 am | #1 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 24
|
20'' sinewave display?
I've various sized LCD tv's in my garage and my HiFi (s!!) all set up on various speakers. I was browsing through the home-brew section and wondered if anyone has a cost-effective soloution to display frequency on an LCD to aCt as a 'lightshow'- for entertainment purpose- a sort of oscilloscope?
I'm sure I'm not the only one to have pondered this. |
26th May 2018, 12:06 pm | #2 |
Hexode
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 469
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Easiest way is to feed them with a camera pointing at an Oscilloscpe
__________________
If smoking is so bad for you, how come it cures kippers? |
26th May 2018, 12:09 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,287
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I think software is available enabling a PC to be used as a 'scope via the sound card.
You could feed the video output from the PC to the TV. Some TV's have an input enabling them to be used as a PC monitor, or you could use a convertor.
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
26th May 2018, 12:32 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
In the DOS/Windows era I used to have a program that you ran after starting a music player that displayed the waveforms with various randomly added distortion effects.
It would work on any modern flat screen with a VGA input. You just need an old DOS box to run it on. |
26th May 2018, 1:05 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I'm sure I've seen scripts to allow a Raspberry Pi to do this.
A Pi has all the hardware you'd need: audio-in, A/D converter, and HDMI output to the TV. The rest's just software.... |
26th May 2018, 1:49 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I am pretty sure that the software could be found for almost all operating systems with a search.
|
26th May 2018, 1:55 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
There is no A-to-D on a Raspberry Pi. You'll need an external USB audio in device.
__________________
If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments. |
26th May 2018, 5:06 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I'm sure I've seen input audio-sampling done on a Pi without an external USB audio-in or other hardware. Remember we're not after hi-fi here!
|
26th May 2018, 8:10 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,482
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
SoundcardScope is a free download. I tried it as I wanted a full screen display of waveform but unfortunately is shows typical scope controls. Might do what you'd like though.
It might be called "PC-scope" Graham
__________________
Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half! Last edited by llama; 26th May 2018 at 8:11 pm. Reason: PC-scope added |
27th May 2018, 12:43 pm | #10 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 24
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Llama- thats just the job for the amusement/entertainment value I was looking for! Thanks everyone who answered.
|
27th May 2018, 6:03 pm | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oban, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 1,129
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
(Composite) Video-toVGA converters used to be available. Would that not do the job you require?
|
27th May 2018, 8:22 pm | #12 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 24
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I didn’t really want to use a computer/laptop- and so I wondered what might be out there as an alternative- I also don’t own a Pi but have plenty of laptops (as they are throwaway nowadays). In the w95/98 days, WINAMP used to have a ‘scope visual-
I have made a CRT display sound- as its easy, but having a large screen Plasma or LCD display would be good for AV. There are so many cleaver individuals on here, I wondered if anyone had a CCT of a convertor. I’m happy with the feedback I’ve received- Even putting a camera/dashcam in front of my 'scope would have worked. The panel I've plugged into today has most inputs - the early ones had every eventuality. |
27th May 2018, 8:23 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,819
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Just a daft thought, Windows media player used to have ‘visualisations’ that basically made pretty patterns in time with the music, last time I remember it was back when I was using Windows XP! Might just be a case of using that on an old laptop and connect it up to the TV. I think one of the visualisations was a mock oscilloscope type display. Don’t know if they still do it in newer versions of media player?
Regards Lloyd |
27th May 2018, 10:27 pm | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 2,172
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
As Lloyd says XP and windows media player! I now use VLC but it's 'visualizations' are rubbish compared to the old WMP
Last edited by ITAM805; 27th May 2018 at 10:38 pm. |
28th May 2018, 1:56 am | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Posts: 3,456
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Windows Media Player is still in Windows 10, and still has visualisations.
|
30th May 2018, 7:05 am | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,657
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Am sure I have an old Elektor/ETI somewhere that had a audio visualization gadget that showed groovey changing patterns on your tele. From memory they weren't very far out, just diamond shapes.
Also dredging the memory banks i think Techmoan featured a commercial device that did the same not long back. For the ultimate scope display see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19jv0HM92kw which we've covered before here on UKVRR Andy.
__________________
Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far. |
30th May 2018, 10:02 pm | #17 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 24
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
Thanks Andy- I saw the same review of the Scope that he showed/demonstrated- its probably what sparked my request! There is some good stuff on Techmoans feed.
|
31st May 2018, 4:12 am | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,339
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
I built the Elektor one and couldn't get it to work at the time, probably still in a box somewhere if I haven't recycled the parts.
Will have a dig and see if I can find the article. |
31st May 2018, 6:36 am | #19 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,657
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
"There is some good stuff on Techmoans feed." He does good video's, well polished, must take him ages.
Audio visualization I found a bit heavy on the eyeballs, unless you had a suitable muscle relaxent, like 8 pints of Shipstones or Bass as suitable to hitching a ride on a Vogon spaceship. The Elektor project I guess was partly influenced by psychadelic's ( and cheap IC's) , but unless you've dropped a trip, tends to get boring. Those visualization's on WMP are good, but again you still need something other than Old Peculiar to appreciate them. Mind you I once had some 12 year old homemade wine that was decidedly mind altering. I guess nowadays a laser display would be practical at home, but maybe not a good idea, lest you blind the cat or the missus : ) If anyone's interested in the Elektor article and Terry can't find it, I'll see if I can find it. Andy
__________________
Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far. |
31st May 2018, 8:14 am | #20 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oban, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 1,129
|
Re: 20'' sinewave display?
IIRC the Elektor one put Lissajous figures on-screen using two adjustable sinewave oscillators that themselves were modulated Might be mistaking it for another project though. I do recall making one back in 86(?) though.
|