I would like to use audio level input from a cable to control DMX channel 1 intensity.
I bought the Arduino and DMX shield, there is someone that know something similar to tell me? thank you
I would Google on "Arduino + DMX" and see what it brings.
Welcome! Interesting question, It sounds like you purchased some part without having done the basic design work first. We cannot see what you have purchased so I will take a SWAG (Scientific Wild Assuming Guess) and say probably not but maybe yes.
Consider the following:
There are several different DMX shields available for Arduino, including those designed for various Arduino models like the Uno and Pro Mini. These shields can vary in features, such as the number of channels they support and whether they can function as DMX masters or slaves.
There are over 100 different Arduino products, including various boards, shields, and kits designed for different applications and user needs. These include popular families like the Nano, MKR, and Classic boards, each offering unique features and capabilities.
Audio level refers to the strength or intensity of an audio signal, typically measured in decibels (dB). It indicates how loud or quiet a sound is, with different levels such as microphone level, line level, and speaker level, each serving specific purposes in audio equipment.
Knowing the above it would take a lot of guesses to get you an accurate answer. Please expand your question with the needed details and links to technical information on the different items you plan on using.
Thanks.
My Arduino is UNO R3.
The Dmx shied MAX485 (CTC-DRA-10-R2)
I would like to use line level input from a single RCA or Minijack.
I’ve tried connecting the audio using directing the cable with some resistor and capacitor, following some IA advice, but I failed; maybe I can apply some device with the correct input for the audio level to Arduino.
The project would be raise the intensity level of the Dmx channel 1 in based of the intensity audio input.
Please be gentle with my ingnorance on the subject
I've made a few sound activated lighting effects but I've never used DMX...
As far as I know every DMX light has its own commands and I'm not sure if intensity is standard. Do you have the documentation for your light?
Work on the volume reading and lighting control separately before putting them both together.
Run the Analog Read Serial Example code to see your analog readings. (Take-out the delay.)
There are two issues -
1- You are "sampling" a waveform so the readings will "look random". You can either find the peaks every fraction of a second, etc., or take an average every fraction of a second, etc.
2 - The Arduino can only read the positive half of the waveform. There is a possibility of damaging the Arduino with negative voltages or "damaging" (distorting) the audio. The standard solution is to bias the input. The bias can then be subtracted-out in software.
Check my World's Simplest Lighting Effect for the bias circuit schematic (and possibly some software ideas to help you get started.)
All of my real effects use similar 20-second averaging for automatic sensitivity control so I can get good lighting action with quiet & loud songs or when the volume control is changed.
Here is a different circuit:
This one "kills" the negative voltage. That can be an advantage because you get twice the range, and with lower-level signals you can switch to the optional 1.1V ADC reference for more sensitivity. My real world effects do that automatically too.
This 2nd circuit (obviously) distorts the waveform so you can only use it for volume, not for any frequency analysis. (The same is true for the peak detector below.)
...My real world effects use a circuit called a peak detector. It can be timed to hold the peak for 1/10th of a second or so. That allows you to read the peak voltage about 10 times per second instead of reading a waveform thousands of times per second.
In order to work best (to read all the way down to zero) the peak detector should run off positive & negative voltages greater than 5V. And with the higher voltages you need an over-voltage protection circuit.
...I recommend starting with the simpler circuits and get everything working before thinking about a peak detector.
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