ESP32 projects are often useful, creative, and satisfying to make. Some of them can even add a touch of visual splendor to your home, whether that’s a piece of decor, an interactive toy, or a more immersive media consumption experience.
Here are some good-looking projects to try this weekend.
Patternflow open-source LED synthesizer
Beautiful interactive patterns at your fingertips
I’m a big fan of interactive “toys” that respond to your feedback with impressive visuals and fun sounds. I have a whole collection of iPhone apps that do nothing except respond to touchscreen input with lights and particle effects, and I recently invested in a second-hand synthesizer for that tactile analog warmth. Turn knobs, things happen, brain feels good.
Patternflow fits neatly into this category. It’s a visual synthesizer that you can play with your fingertips by turning four physical knobs. You can register to purchase a pre-built Patternflow unit, or you can build one yourself. If you choose the second option, you can pick between a custom PCB (which you’ll have to order) or a 3D-printed breadboard, which allows you to assemble the project without the need to solder anything.
You’ll find more information and firmware on the project’s GitHub page. The synthesizer is powered by an ESP32-S3 development board, an LED matrix, four rotary encoders, some jumper wires, a USB cable, and a power bank. You’ll need to 3D print the enclosure, flash the firmware, and then you’ll be able to turn the knobs and have some fun.
You can create your own patterns in a web browser and then flash them to your Patternflow.
Info Orbs LED “Nixie” clock and display panels
Get the best of both worlds
The “Nixie” clock is an iconic yet expensive piece of decor. The classic design uses pricey vacuum tubes to display numerals using analog circuitry. You can buy pre-assembled clocks or kits, but expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a quality item (the ones on marketplaces like AliExpress are cheaper, but quality control is a concern).
Info Orbs brings a little bit of the Nixie style to your home, while retaining the affordability and versatility of a more modern display technology. The project consists of five round TFT displays that can be used to mimic the warm Nixie glow or deliver information of your choosing (or both).
You can find wiring diagrams and firmware if you want to source the project yourself. Alternatively, you can purchase a kit for $60 that includes everything you need: displays, a custom PCB, ESP32, and buttons. You’ll need to assemble (solder) the project yourself, so it should still be a satisfying build.
The project author shared the project on Reddit, where a similar project called LIXIE II was shared (which is also worth a look if you like this sort of thing).
DIY Ambilight with HDMI 2.1
Get an immersive viewing experience on the cheap
The term “Ambilight” is a Philips technology that refers to LED strips on the back of a TV that reflect what is happening on screen. It has become synonymous with this type of lighting, which creates a more immersive viewing experience by making the screen feel bigger than it is. The good news is that you don’t need a Philips TV to get this effect (products like Govee’s TV Backlight do a similar job).
You can also build your own, using a variety of techniques. Some of these rely on a camera to relay what is on screen; others use a “rooted” TV to detect what is playing on screen. The DIY Ambilight by Vigonotion uses an HDMI grabber that keeps the responsiveness of the light high while maintaining HDMI 2.1 compatibility.
This is quite an involved build, making use of a Raspberry Pi and USB capture card, plus HDMI splitters and cables. The LED portion of the project uses WLED, a method of controlling addressable LED strips using an ESP32. Once everything is wired up, HyperHDR is installed on the Pi, which provides a web UI that you can use to pick a video source.
From here, configure your LED controller and layout and have some fun. The device works by splitting the HDMI source in two, but you could add an HDMI switch before this step to funnel more devices (like games consoles) into it. Just be aware that this won’t work with non-HDMI source content (like the TV’s built-in apps).
- Brand
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Govee
- Hub Required
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No
Govee’s TV Backlight 3 Lite features enhanced color-matching technology with an Envisual camera and a multi-quadrant light strip. Immerse yourself in your games, movies, and TV shows with ambient lighting that brings the onscreen experience to life.
Looking for more fun builds? Check out some impressive ESP32 projects.
