MSGEQ7 maxes out easily

Using Arduino Audio
1

I am making a color organ using Adafruit's WS-2801 LED pixels and the MSGEQ7 spectrum analyzer chip. Currently, I have the color organ working quite well, however, I am running into a bit of an issue with the MSGEQ7. It seems that the chip is only useful when the audio output on my computer is set to about 50%. Obviously, in a party environment, music levels won't typically be set to 50%... When I set the audio output to 100%, the frequency bands of the chip tend to "flood" into the surrounding frequency bands.

For instance, if I generate a 63Hz tone, I would expect to see the 63Hz band output a max value of 1023, and the six remaining bands would (in a perfect world) output the min value of 0. I am seeing near max values across all frequency bands. Is there some way that I could reduce the audio output to the MSGEQ7 without actually turning down the volume on my computer? I tried dropping resistors, but that had no effect...

2

When I set the audio output to 100%, the frequency bands of the chip tend to "flood" into the surrounding frequency bands.

Thats exactly what happens in real life as well

set your computer at 50%, read the info, and THEN send it to your noise generator, I mean overworked amp for your thump

:wink:

3

The MSGEQ7 is meant for use with line-level and not amplified audio.

kubiej21:
I tried dropping resistors, but that had no effect...

Then try others or explain how you used them.

4

Learn something new every day. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I will give it a shot and post the end results so that others might benefit from the info.