Sound-Reactive Light Emitting Diodes

Iole Geil C. Vengco, Leiko Armand L. Ravelo, Lloyd Nadimar S. Sagun

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
P. Velasquez St, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila
Abstract-In this project, we made a sound reactive LED using
LEDs, transistors, and a potentiometer.

I. INTRODUCTION

Transducers, as we already know, are electronic
devices which convert energy from one form to another.
Transistors can be regarded as a type of switch. It has three
elements, the emitter, the base, and the collector. A
transistor would only allow current to flow through it if a
current flows through the base and emitter.

In this project, we utilize this property of a
transistor and potentionmeter to make sound reactive
LEDs.

transistor and the audio right was connected the base of the
other transistor. The 3.5 jack outputs sound via electrical
signals. When there is audio on the left, the 3.5 jack would
send a current from audio left to the ground, this turns on
the switch on the transistor so current would flow from its
collector to the emitter. The LEDs would then glow since
there is current flowing through it. The current cannot
backflow on the circuit since the LEDs would only permit
current to flow on one direction.
C. Project Construction

II. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

A. Circuit Description
DC

1K

10K

9V

Figure 2: View of a 3.5 mm jack

For this project, we bought the following:

AUDIO LEFT

AUDIO RIGHT

Figure 1: Circuit Diagram for the SRLED project

A 9V DC source was used for the circuit. A 1k was

connected in series with a 10k potentiometer. 3 LEDs and
a npn transistor was connected in series with the collector
side of the transistor after the LEDs and the emitter side
connected to the ground. Another set of 3 LEDs and one
transistor in the same configuration was connected in
parallel.
B. Circuit Operation
The resistances were connected in the circuit to limit
the current drawn from the source. The 10k potentiometer
was used so that you can manually adjust the intensity of
the LEDs by varying its resistance. The 3.5 jack was
connected to the circuit via the transistors and the ground.
The audio left of the jack was connected to the base of one

6 LEDs
1 1k resistor
1 10k potentiometer
2 TIP31 transistors
3.5 jack
Wires
Voltage source (9V battery will do)

We constructed a circuit similar to Figure 1. We used

an unused 3.5 jack, not the one used for earphones. This is
because the wires from the 3.5 used on earphones are very
small and delicate and we were having a hard time
stripping the wires. We soldered wires on the jack similar
to the setup on Figure 2. Then we connected it to the
circuit.
D. Problems Encountered
One of the problems encountered while designing the
circuit is the connection between the 3.5 mm jack and the

wires. We had to ask our instructor to solder the connection

for the current to flow properly.
Another one is that the intensity of the LEDs also
depends on the choice of music, there are some types of
music that the LEDs would faintly glow and there are some
types music where the LEDs would glow very brightly.
Also, since there is only one output for the sound, the
LEDs would glow but no sound would play. This could
have been solved if there was a Y-splitter connected to the
3.5 jack so that theres also an output for the speaker or
headphones.
E. Division of Labor
We had one of our groupmates buy all the materials
we needed for the project. Once we had the materials, we
equally divided the labor in construction of the circuit.
F. Bill of Materials
Item

Price per
Item
(pesos)

Quantity

Total

Protoboard

165

165

Transistors (TIP31)

15

30

3.5 mm jack

20

20

LED (White)

10

40

1000 resistor

10k potentiometer

20

20

wires

TOTAL

225

III. PROJECT APPLICATION

This project can be used for entertainment purposes.
Sound reactive LEDs are of good use for disco lights since
it would synchronize with the sound input.
IV. CONCLUSION
Overall, the sound reactive LED is an entertaining
project. Judging by the cost to construct it, its pretty cheap
if you dont include the cost of the breadboard, which is the
majority of the price. The project is not that hard to
construct either, the most difficult part of the project, which
our group experienced, was soldering the 3.5 jack and
connecting is to the circuit.

This type of circuit is good for small scale sound

reactive LEDs, adding more LEDs would consume more
power so a higher voltage source would be needed to
supply necessary power to make the LEDs glow brightly.
V. REFERENCES
[1] Nilsson, J. and Riedel, S., Electric Circuits, 9th ed., Pearson, 2011
[2] electronics.indianetzone.com/1/working_of_transistor.htm