What is a VU Meter
VU meter or a volume unit meter circuit is a device used for indicating the music volume output from an amplifier or a loudspeaker system. It may be also considered as a device for displaying the PMPO of the amplifier at a particular volume setting.
It is also called music level indicator circuit since the music fed to the circuit is displayed through an incrementing LED bar graph illumination, where the number of LED illuminated is directly proportional to the level of the music volume or music power.
Though the unit looks quite technical, which is applied as a measuring device of audio power, in real terms these are more like decorative ornaments of an amplifier.
Without such devices attached, an amplifier system would look quite dull and without any juice.
The varying response from a VU meter certainly gives a whole new dimension to a sound system making it more dynamic with its features.
Prior to the days when LEDs were not so popular, moving coil meter type of displays were commonly incorporated as VU meters and surely these units with there back lights ON produced a distinctive visual effect as their needles deflected from left to right displaying the varying pitch of the connected audio system.
With the advent of the LEDs, the moving coil displays slowly got replaced with the ones which incorporated LEDs.
With color effect at its disposal, LEDs became the HOT favorites as far as VU meter were concerned, even today amplifiers employ a LED VU graph for displaying the music power in an amplifier.
For electronic hobbyists who are rather more interested in building a particular required gagdet right at home instead of buying a commercial piece, this cool VU meter circuit will interest them if they are intending to make one for their music system.
1) 20 LED VU Meter
The first circuit of a simple LED VU meter explained here uses the outstanding chip LM3915 from TEXAS Instruments.
The circuit diagram shows a very simple configuration employing two of the above ICs in the cascaded form for producing a good 20 LED sequencing bar type indication.
The music input is applied across pin #5 and ground of the IC. The music input can be directly derived from the speaker terminals of the music system.
R3 has been stationed for adjusting the typical dB levels between the LEDs for enabling visually more enhanced sequencing pattern in response to the fed music input.
The diagram shows a separate power supply being used for the circuit, however if the amplifier supports a 12 volt stabilized power supply, can be used for powering the circuit as well, this would help to get rid of the extra bulk involving the transformer and the associated rectification circuitry.
The color of the LEDs may be selected as indicated in the diagram or may be altered as desired by the user.
Everything is pretty straight forward and can be simply built over a general purpose board.
Assemble the IC first and then go on fixing the rest of the components and connect then to the relevant pin outs of the IC.
The LEDs should be soldered at the end, such that all of them are arranged in a straight line, preferably at the edge of the PCB.
An external enclosure may be used for housing the assembled circuit or possibly the circuit may be installed in the amplifier dashboard itself, if situation permits the required drilling and fittings.
2) 10 LED VU Meter
This easy maximum music level detector VU meter circuit employs 6 LEDs to display six signal levels from -14, -8, -3, 0, +3, and +6dB, or some other quantities keeping the identical spacing.
Approximately 24 mV peak to peak is necessary to be able to illuminate the last 10th LED, thus the circuit is actually highly sensitive and perfectly suitable with any standard product of sound systems.
The configuration ensures that with 0.12 V music input only the first LED indicator lights. When the music input rises to 0.24 V the second LED lights up; with a 0.36 V music supply enables three LEDs to light up and so on until an input signal of 1V2 or more is reached which causes all the ten LEDs to be illuminated.
The input signal is applied to a preset for allowing the sensitivity adjustment of the circuit to the appropriate degree. The trimmed audio signal from the preset fed to a low gain common emitter amplifier constructed around the BJT Q1 which enhances a 10 times higher sensitivity for the circuit. Capacitor C2 takes the output signal from Q1 to the input of IC1.
Resistor R5 works like the input bias resistor for IC1, and diode D7 safeguards IC1 from extreme negative input voltage. Resistor R6 controls the current to every single LED and restricts it at around 12 mA.
However, because IC1 can work with only the positive half cycles of the music signal, the LEDs are able to turn on for a only 50% of time. This allows an overall current of 6 mA for each of the LEDs.
The quiescent current consumption of the VU meter is not more than
What is a VU Meter
VU meter or a volume unit meter circuit is a device used for indicating the music volume output from an amplifier or a loudspeaker system. It may be also considered as a device for displaying the PMPO of the amplifier at a particular volume setting.
It is also called music level indicator circuit since the music fed to the circuit is displayed through an incrementing LED bar graph illumination, where the number of LED illuminated is directly proportional to the level of the music volume or music power.
Though the unit looks quite technical, which is applied as a measuring device of audio power, in real terms these are more like decorative ornaments of an amplifier.
Without such devices attached, an amplifier system would look quite dull and without any juice.
The varying response from a VU meter certainly gives a whole new dimension to a sound system making it more dynamic with its features.
Prior to the days when LEDs were not so popular, moving coil meter type of displays were commonly incorporated as VU meters and surely these units with there back lights ON produced a distinctive visual effect as their needles deflected from left to right displaying the varying pitch of the connected audio system.
With the advent of the LEDs, the moving coil displays slowly got replaced with the ones which incorporated LEDs.
With color effect at its disposal, LEDs became the HOT favorites as far as VU meter were concerned, even today amplifiers employ a LED VU graph for displaying the music power in an amplifier.
For electronic hobbyists who are rather more interested in building a particular required gagdet right at home instead of buying a commercial piece, this cool VU meter circuit will interest them if they are intending to make one for their music system.
1) 20 LED VU Meter
The first circuit of a simple LED VU meter explained here uses the outstanding chip LM3915 from TEXAS Instruments.
The circuit diagram shows a very simple configuration employing two of the above ICs in the cascaded form for producing a good 20 LED sequencing bar type indication.
The music input is applied across pin #5 and ground of the IC. The music input can be directly derived from the speaker terminals of the music system.
R3 has been stationed for adjusting the typical dB levels between the LEDs for enabling visually more enhanced sequencing pattern in response to the fed music input.
The diagram shows a separate power supply being used for the circuit, however if the amplifier supports a 12 volt stabilized power supply, can be used for powering the circuit as well, this would help to get rid of the extra bulk involving the transformer and the associated rectification circuitry.
The color of the LEDs may be selected as indicated in the diagram or may be altered as desired by the user.
Everything is pretty straight forward and can be simply built over a general purpose board.
Assemble the IC first and then go on fixing the rest of the components and connect then to the relevant pin outs of the IC.
The LEDs should be soldered at the end, such that all of them are arranged in a straight line, preferably at the edge of the PCB.
An external enclosure may be used for housing the assembled circuit or possibly the circuit may be installed in the amplifier dashboard itself, if situation permits the required drilling and fittings.
2) 10 LED VU Meter
This easy maximum music level detector VU meter circuit employs 6 LEDs to display six signal levels from -14, -8, -3, 0, +3, and +6dB, or some other quantities keeping the identical spacing.
Approximately 24 mV peak to peak is necessary to be able to illuminate the last 10th LED, thus the circuit is actually highly sensitive and perfectly suitable with any standard product of sound systems.
The configuration ensures that with 0.12 V music input only the first LED indicator lights. When the music input rises to 0.24 V the second LED lights up; with a 0.36 V music supply enables three LEDs to light up and so on until an input signal of 1V2 or more is reached which causes all the ten LEDs to be illuminated.
The input signal is applied to a preset for allowing the sensitivity adjustment of the circuit to the appropriate degree. The trimmed audio signal from the preset fed to a low gain common emitter amplifier constructed around the BJT Q1 which enhances a 10 times higher sensitivity for the circuit. Capacitor C2 takes the output signal from Q1 to the input of IC1.
Resistor R5 works like the input bias resistor for IC1, and diode D7 safeguards IC1 from extreme negative input voltage. Resistor R6 controls the current to every single LED and restricts it at around 12 mA.
However, because IC1 can work with only the positive half cycles of the music signal, the LEDs are able to turn on for a only 50% of time. This allows an overall current of 6 mA for each of the LEDs.
The quiescent current consumption of the VU meter is not more than
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