Running programmed LED strip without Pi

[anderse87]

I am a beginner but I thought I might get more responses for this particular question in the Advanced users forum. Here is my question:

I would like to program an LED display to go with specific pieces of artwork but I don't necessarily want to have them all hooked up to a raspberry pi. Is there something that will allow me to write the program in python and then somehow export it to the LED strip or to something that the LED strip is connected to so it will just work once plugged in?

For example. If I wanted to write a program that had an LED strip light up and dim according to sound input, can I set it up so that all I have to do is plug the programmed LED strip into an outlet and it can work in response to sound in the environment?

Please let me know if my question makes sense.

[mfa298]

In most instances you're going to need some intelligence added to the led strip. Particularly if your using the cheap sets of leds that are popular on the pi.

The alternative to using a pi would be adding some other microcontroller instead of the pi to do the intelligent part. However whilst the hardware might be fractionally cheaper your then going to have to write code for that platform which may not be using python.

There are led fixtures that can do things based on sound (or control via dmx), these are the types of lights used in theatres and night clubs but they're also more expensive.