Illuminophony, or a return to the past in a different edition.

The discussion centers on illuminophony, an 18th-century concept involving the modulation of colored light based on audio frequency bands, originally using incandescent bulbs with colored filters to produce RGB-like effects synchronized with music. Modern implementations use RGB LEDs controlled via PWM to achieve smoother, visually linear brightness changes corresponding to audio amplitude in low, mid, and high frequency bands. Challenges include achieving proper color mixing without discrete flashing, linear LED brightness control despite non-linear current-luminosity characteristics, and replicating the original smooth modulation rather than sharp flashing. Solutions involve using buffers (FIFO arrays) for smoothing audio samples, FFT for frequency analysis, and microcontroller-based PWM control. Hardware considerations include selecting appropriate development boards (ESP32 Dev Module preferred over ESP32 C3 for compatibility), managing ADC sampling rates (Arduino core version 1.0.4 recommended for >40kHz sampling), and using power LED drivers like the PT4115 for higher power applications. Historical references include vintage colourophone circuits (e.g., Colorofon C23B), use of painted incandescent bulbs, and triac-controlled 220V lamps with isolation transformers. The project is noted for low cost (~20 PLN) and minimal programming requirements, with emphasis on artistic impression over perfect white light mixing. The discussion also touches on the limitations of LED voltage control, the benefits of PWM, and the potential for digital signal processing to enhance effects beyond analog methods.
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