Phyllotaxis: An audio-reactive LED display(jagi.studio)
349 points by evakhoury 15 days ago | 50 comments
tl;dr: A developer built a sunflower-inspired LED display by generating a phyllotaxis pattern in code, Voronoi-tessellating it, and 3D printing cell walls to hold 89 addressable LEDs behind translucent mulberry paper. An STM32 (later ESP32) drives shader-style animations and runs FFT-based audio analysis via an I2S mic for real-time reactivity. A second version replaced the 3D-printed backplate with modular PCBs in 5-fold symmetry, now installed at Recurse Center with a web interface for uploading custom sketches.
HN Discussion:
  • ↑Appreciation for the 5-fold PCB symmetry and hand-soldering techniques for SMT components
  • ↑Practical suggestion to outsource LED assembly to the PCB fab to save time and avoid damage
  • •Noting similar existing commercial or hobby products as convergent examples
  • ↑Interest in replicating the build and requests for licensing, hardware details, and diffuser attachment method
  • ↑Nostalgic appreciation for audio visualization, favoring hardware over software versions