PROJECT: 32x32 WLED Pixel Art Frame using ESP32
In the winter of 2023, my fascination was piqued by the myriad of LED lighting projects that flooded the internet and YouTube. Their mesmerizing displays brought to mind the vibrant cityscapes of the movie "Blade Runner". Inspired, I unearthed my old 16x16 LED matrix display panel and paired it with an ESP32 that had been gathering dust. This marked the beginning of a journey deep into the world of LED Matrix projects.
I first spent many hours just watching various LED Matrix projects followed by hundreds of hours of watching and reading about the WLED and MoonModules projects. It was surprising to witness the leaps and bounds by which these open-source initiatives had progressed. After the holidays, the shipment of four 16x16 matrix display panels and other parts I ordered from Amazon have arrived. That weekend, I dedicated myself to assembling a prototype of a 32x32 Matrix Pixel Art Frame with the Sound Reactive capability (I since replaced the prototype ESP32 controller with bunch of wires on a breadboard to more trustworthy and certified WLED controller unit to make sure my invention does not get the house on fire. LOL). The picture above shows the operational model of the 32x32 Matrix Frame, running on WLED v0.14.1, “Hoshi”.
It's a daily delight to sit at my desk, watching the dancing lights sync harmoniously with the background music. This experience continually fuels my curiosity, especially towards the MoonModules project – a fascinating fork of the original WLED project. There's much more to explore and learn in this vibrant world of LED art.
Let the rhythms of 60’s psychedelic music fill the air! Let the lights dance!
Some of the videos and sites I have referenced:
