Group: Ujjwal Mahajan, Vighnesh Sadanand, Shreyas Mekhe, Suraj Das
PROJECT REPORT
Introduction:
A VU-Meter is an electronic device that measures and displays the level of an audio signal. It is
commonly used in audio equipment such as mixers, amplifiers, and music players. This project
report is focused on building a VU-Meter with 20 LEDs using two LM3915 ICs. This project is
intended to provide a clear visual indication of the audio level for monitoring purposes.
Objectives:
The objective of this project is to design and build a VU-Meter with 20 LEDs using two LM3915
ICs. The project aims to provide a reliable and accurate visual display of the audio level.
Additionally, the project aims to be cost-effective, easy to build, and scalable.
Components:
2x LM3915 IC
20x LEDs (3 colors)
20x 1Ω Resistors
2x 2.7KΩ Resistors
1x 100K Resistor
1x 50K Trimmer
1x 1uF 25V Electrolytic capacitor
1x 1N4007 Diode
Breadboard
Connecting wires
Design and Circuit Diagram:
The LM3915 is a dot/bar display driver IC that can drive LED arrays of up to 10 segments.
However, by connecting two LM3915 ICs in series, we can drive up to 20 LEDs in a VU-Meter
display.
The audio signal is fed into the VU-Meter through a capacitor that blocks the DC signals and
only allows the AC audio signal to pass through. The LM3915 IC then converts the AC audio
signal into a DC voltage, which is used to control the brightness of the LEDs.
The LM3915 IC has an internal voltage reference, which can be adjusted using an external
resistor. By adjusting this voltage reference, we can set the level at which each LED will turn on.
The LED display will start with the first LED turning on at the lowest input level, and additional
LEDs will turn on as the input level increases.
The LEDs are connected to the output of the LM3915 ICs through current-limiting resistors to
prevent them from burning out due to excessive current. A 1Ω resistor is used for each LED to
limit the current to a safe level.
Critical issues:
One critical issue in this project is to ensure that the audio signal is properly filtered to prevent
any noise or interference from affecting the LED display. This can be achieved by using a high-
quality audio input source and properly grounding the circuit.
Another critical issue is to ensure that the voltage reference is properly adjusted to set the level
at which each LED will turn on. This can be achieved by using a trimmer resistor and a
multimeter to accurately set the voltage reference.
Applications:
It has a wide range of applications in the field of audio equipment and signal processing. Here
are some of the applications of this project:
1. Audio Mixers: VU-Meters are commonly used in audio mixers to monitor the input and
output levels of various channels. This project can be used to build a VU-Meter display
for audio mixers.
2. Music Players: This project can be used to build a VU-Meter display for music players
such as CD players, MP3 players, and smartphones. The VU-Meter display can provide a
visual indication of the audio level, which can enhance the listening experience.
3. Amplifiers: VU-Meters are commonly used in amplifiers to monitor the input and output
levels. This project can be used to build a VU-Meter display for amplifiers.
4. Audio Processing: This project can be used in audio processing applications such as
equalizers, compressors, and limiters. The VU-Meter display can provide a visual
indication of the signal level, which can be used to adjust the parameters of the audio
processing algorithms.
5. Broadcasting: VU-Meters are commonly used in radio and TV broadcasting to monitor
the audio levels of the program material. This project can be used to build a VU-Meter
display for broadcasting applications.
Cost of making:
2x LM3915 - 120 INR
20x LEDs (3 colors) - 100 INR
20x 1Ω Resistors - 15 INR
2x 2.7KΩ Resistors - 2 INR
1x 100K Resistor - 1 INR
1x 50K Trimmer - 5 INR
1x 1uF 25V Electrolytic capacitor - 2 INR
1x 1N4007 Diode - 2 INR
Total estimated cost: 247 INR
Conclusion:
This project report has provided a detailed analysis of building a VU-Meter with 20 LEDs using
two LM3915 ICs. The project is cost-effective, easy to build, and scalable. By following the
critical issues, this project can provide a reliable and accurate visual display of the audio level.
