Kinda a crap day

Today was my first day recording with lightbulbs...

Here's a conversation I had with Random about recording with lightbulbs.
This really sums up what I did for the last 3 hours.

[5:28:05 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Hey random. How do I modify a boombox to power a lightbulb?
[5:28:29 PM | Edited 5:29:21 PM] Random Davis: well, you won't be able to power it through the headphone jack, as that's way too weak
[5:28:40 PM] Random Davis: you'll need to use actual cords meant for the speakers
[5:28:48 PM] Random Davis: like with your stereo system
[5:28:53 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Gotcha.
[5:28:58 PM] Random Davis: that would be very good with powering the bulbs
[5:29:03 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I'll get to work on that
[5:29:13 PM] Random Davis: an LED can be powered by a headphone jack easily
[5:29:31 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Should the lightbulb be making sounds?
[5:29:50 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Mine just did that when I connected it to the mic jack
[5:29:59 PM] Random Davis: headphone, not mic!
[5:30:08 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Sorry
[5:30:14 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Typed the wrong thing
[5:30:24 PM] Random Davis: if it's making noise, that's not a good thing usually
[5:30:38 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Yeah. It sounded like a tessala coil
[5:30:45 PM] Random Davis: buzzing?
[5:30:55 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, It buzzed back the input
[5:31:03 PM] Random Davis: don't connect it to a computer
[5:31:20 PM] Random Davis: only to an actual boom box or a stereo system
[5:31:22 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: No, I didn't.
[5:31:47 PM] Random Davis: and start the signal at a very weak level, then slowly add more power until the bulb actually gives light
[5:32:03 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I hooked it up to my amp via gator clips and a striped 1/4 inch cord. The lightbulb it'self was making that noise
[5:32:19 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Alright, that's good to know
[5:32:24 PM] Random Davis: bad idea hooking it up to the amp in my opinion
[5:32:32 PM] Random Davis: it gives a very strong signal
[5:32:41 PM] Random Davis: the stereo system would be much higher quality anyway
[5:32:49 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, I figured that out fast. I used a very low signal though.
[5:32:52 PM | Edited 5:32:58 PM] Random Davis: and has built-in 2-wire outputs
[5:33:03 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I need to mod my boom box soon
[5:33:36 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I'm not going to use the sterio system because my parents would throw a fit
[5:34:12 PM] Random Davis: well, explain to them why it's safe
[5:34:25 PM] Random Davis: I'll write a little paragraph explaining why
[5:34:45 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: theyre not here anyway
[5:35:18 PM] Random Davis: well, there's no way you could damage the stereo system unless you outputted power from the wires
[5:35:26 PM] Random Davis: don't connect the wires to a powered device
[5:35:33 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k
[5:35:37 PM] Random Davis: only to speakers with no power source
[5:35:48 PM] Random Davis: even shorting out the wires would do no harm
[5:35:49 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: also, I need a dark room
[5:36:07 PM] Random Davis: and having a lot of resistance in the connection would create no harm
[5:36:08 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I would have to move the entire system
[5:36:18 PM] Random Davis: you don't need a dark room
[5:36:21 PM] Random Davis: just have the lights off
[5:36:37 PM] Random Davis: the sun will not give any noise unless it's directly shining on the CDS cell
[5:36:44 PM] Random Davis: just cast a shadow on the cell
[5:36:56 PM] Random Davis: or contain the bulb and cell within a cardboard box or something
[5:37:04 PM] Random Davis: it's not extremely sensitive
[5:38:03 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Oh cool, I didn't know that would work. One test I want to do though is once in a dark room and once in a light room
[5:39:38 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I'm just going to go for it
[5:43:32 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: nothing
[5:45:33 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Sorry, my internet went down
[5:50:59 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: ...
[5:51:32 PM] Random Davis: what did you mean by "nothing"?
[5:51:37 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: no light
[5:52:07 PM] Random Davis: do you know if the bulb even still works after you potentially destroyed it by connecting it to the amp?
[5:52:19 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I dont
[5:52:34 PM] Random Davis: was it the bulb I gave you?
[5:52:58 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I think I ruined it, and I'll definately replace the bulb ofcourse
[5:53:07 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah
[5:53:19 PM] Random Davis: you don't have to. they're only like a dollar each. and I had no use for that one anyway
[5:53:31 PM] Random Davis: but try connecting a battery to it, pr putting it in a flashlight
[5:53:40 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k one minute
[5:55:11 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah. Destroyed
[5:55:24 PM] Random Davis: well, make sure the wires are connected properly
[5:55:33 PM] Random Davis: re-tape the wires to it if necessary
[5:56:14 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I did. I tried both to both sides, and pressed the wires against the base of the bulb which was working earlier.
[5:56:34 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Would a house hold bulb work, or do I need a small bulb?
[5:56:49 PM] Random Davis: a household bulb requires 120volts AC power
[5:57:03 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Yeah, I know
[5:57:03 PM] Random Davis: there's no way you could connect a stereo to it and get any sound form it
[5:57:13 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I thought so
[5:57:30 PM] Random Davis: you need flashlight bulbs, something that will work on a relatively low DC voltage
[5:57:47 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I have some old flashlights I could find some bulbs from
[5:57:57 PM] Random Davis: yeah, that would work
[5:59:47 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, working on that now
[6:00:53 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: so one cord should be attached to the saudering and one to the bottom?
[6:01:27 PM] Random Davis: one cord on the very bottom, the other on the side.
[6:01:43 PM] Random Davis: it would be better to keep it in its housing
[6:02:31 PM] Random Davis: and make sure that the stereo system is outputting at all, just in case it doesn't work when connecting it to the bulb.
[6:02:40 PM] Random Davis: have one spreaker still be connected, maybe
[6:03:32 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k
[6:10:00 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: No, not working
[6:10:16 PM] Random Davis: check to make sure hte bulb is in working order
[6:10:22 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k
[6:12:13 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, it works. I think the problem was it wasn't attached by the tape very well
[6:12:38 PM] Random Davis: hold the wires with your fingers]
[6:12:57 PM] Random Davis: but try it in its housing, which willl be much easier to connect the wires to
[6:13:21 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I can't get the housing out of the flashlight
[6:13:51 PM] Random Davis: no, keep it in the flashlight
[6:14:03 PM] Random Davis: connect the wires to where the batteries normally connect
[6:14:15 PM] Random Davis: but some flashlights may not work when the bottom is removed
[6:14:24 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: oh, duh, that seems really simple
[6:14:26 PM] Random Davis: or the shaft may be too long for you to put the wire in
[6:15:25 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yep
[6:27:34 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Got it to work
[6:27:41 PM] Random Davis: cool
[6:27:49 PM] Random Davis: wires just needed to be connected properly?
[6:28:27 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah. I ended up hooking them to gator clips then holing the other side to the bulb
[6:29:09 PM] Random Davis: So, are you getting an audio signal?
[6:29:55 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: No, I still need to buy batteries for the board. I'm going to the store right now to get some
[6:30:06 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Otherwise I'm good to go
[6:30:08 PM] Random Davis: I told yoy, you don't need batteries
[6:30:18 PM] Random Davis: you just need to connect two wires to the CDS cell
[6:30:45 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: oh, I haven't tried yet, I just assumed I needed batteries since there
[6:30:57 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: s a giant battery pack on it
[6:31:11 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K, well I'm testing it out now then
[6:31:29 PM] Random Davis: I told you that yesterday
[6:31:31 PM] Random Davis: er, sunday
[6:31:46 PM] Random Davis: you're connecting directly to the CDS cell witht he springs
[6:31:50 PM] Random Davis: it doesn't need power
[6:32:59 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Cool, sorry. I forgot everything you said on sunday
[6:33:31 PM] Random Davis: lol
[6:33:32 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Alright, I need to burn a CD of my tracks first then I'm good to go
[6:33:40 PM] Random Davis: cool
[6:33:58 PM] Random Davis: and don't connect my CDS cell to your amp
[6:34:05 PM] Random Davis: connect it to the mic port on your computer
[6:35:37 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Lol, yeah, I know
[7:00:21 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: For no apparent reason, my sterio system broke
[7:00:56 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Even the side that I didn't unplug won't play loudly. I find this to be stupid
[7:03:32 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: NM, there was something wrong with the sterio amp, it fixed it's self
[7:34:46 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: So I'm done now. I have really different results than you do
[7:34:52 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: wanna hear?
[7:34:58 PM] Random Davis: sure
Kai Wolf Paquin
[7:35:56 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I get more beeping than sounds
[7:37:22 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: what do you think?
[7:37:35 PM] Random Davis: try using your tape recorder
[7:37:58 PM] Random Davis: connect the CDS cell to the tape recorder's mic jack (not aux jack), then output the tape recorder to the PC directly
[7:38:15 PM] Random Davis: don't record to a tape - just feed the direct output
[7:38:28 PM] Random Davis: also, it apepared that the bulb was rather dim
[7:38:28 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I think I figured out the problem. I recorded in sterio, but I just realized I was using a mono jack
[7:38:41 PM] Random Davis: but use the tape recorder
[7:38:46 PM] Random Davis: you'll ger much better results
[7:38:51 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: If my idea fails, I'll try yours
[7:40:52 PM | Edited 7:40:57 PM] Random Davis: you're getting a DC level, but very little variance in that DC
[7:42:04 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: huh, really? I'm going to record through my tape player. I might need help setting it up though
[7:42:33 PM | Edited 7:43:10 PM] Random Davis: use a double-male-ended cable that feeds to your computer's line-in port
[7:43:02 PM] Random Davis: and connect the CdS cell to the mic port of the tape recorder just like you did for your laptop's mic port
[7:43:51 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I trick it to run without tape too right?
[7:43:57 PM] Random Davis: yeah
[7:44:21 PM] Random Davis: but it would be easier to put a tape in, press the pause button, then the record button
[7:44:34 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K that's good too
[7:48:46 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I'm getting a ton of electrical feed back. I'm using a DC current, should I be using an AC current?
[7:49:09 PM] Random Davis: what do you mean by electrical feedback? a loud 60hz tone?
[7:49:43 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: no a huge buzzing sound. It sounds like when you plug a 1/4 inch cable half way in
[7:50:06 PM] Random Davis: even with the tape recorder off?
[7:50:44 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: no, just when on. I think it may have been due to volume. I just saw it was all the way up. I'll try in when it's down
[7:51:00 PM] Random Davis: it may be amplifying an idle current
[7:51:14 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: nah, still there
[7:51:21 PM] Random Davis: connect the CDS cell, then flicker the lighbulb
[7:51:25 PM] Random Davis: with music
[7:51:30 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k will do
[7:52:09 PM] Random Davis: also, unplug the laptop from the wall and just use battery power
[7:52:20 PM] Random Davis: it will unground the connection, reducing the buzzing
[7:52:38 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: it is
[7:52:56 PM] Random Davis: ok
[7:53:43 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: here
[7:53:51 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: s a copy
Kai Wolf Paquin
[7:55:05 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: I'll try AC
[7:55:18 PM] Random Davis: no, that won't make a difference
[7:55:30 PM] Random Davis: unplug it frmo the computer, and plug headphones directly into the tape recorder
[7:55:33 PM] Random Davis: tell me what you hear
[7:56:58 PM] Random Davis: and it sounds like you're just receiving electrical feedback, not actual light vatiations
[7:56:59 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: k
[7:57:58 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: same except better quality
[7:58:09 PM] Random Davis: so, lots of humming?
[7:58:18 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah
[7:58:31 PM] Random Davis: try reversing the wires connected to the CDS cell
[7:58:52 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Sure
[7:59:26 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Wait, I think I got it
[8:00:42 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: If I push the button halfway down it's fine. Also, the play button goes down at the same time when I record. I think that's why I'm having this problem
[8:00:49 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Any solution?
[8:01:15 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: brb
[8:02:06 PM] Random Davis: the play button going down at the same time is normal. Make sure the tape player is paused when doing this, too
[8:02:12 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: had to go get some halloween candy
[8:02:28 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: oh, K I'll try that
[8:03:22 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: nope. Still having problems
[8:04:14 PM] Random Davis: but you said it was better when you held it down halfway
[8:04:21 PM] Random Davis: also, make sure the lights are off in the room
[8:04:24 PM] Random Davis: or
[8:04:37 PM] Random Davis: cover up the CdS cell and see fi hte humming goes away
[8:05:18 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, it has to do with the CdS cell, becuase it acts normal when Its on it's own
[8:05:41 PM] Random Davis: did you try covering up the CdS cell?
[8:06:14 PM] Random Davis: remember, it's the one that looks like one of these: http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11285760/Cds_Photoconductive_Cell_Photoresistor_LDR.jpg
[8:07:11 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K I fixed it. It was really dumb. I just had to wiggle the wires for a while then suddenly it went away
[8:07:32 PM] Random Davis: huh
[8:07:54 PM] Random Davis: try varying the audio output levels to the bulb, too
[8:08:05 PM] Random Davis: make it stronger, or weaker
[8:08:11 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K one sec
[8:14:32 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Crap, no It's still doing it.
[8:14:42 PM] Random Davis: mess with the wires again
[8:14:55 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: It only was reduced on the headphones, not in the recordings
[8:15:06 PM] Random Davis: weiird
[8:15:19 PM] Random Davis: so it even hums when you compleyelt cover up the CdS cell?
[8:15:37 PM] Random Davis: and make sure you're not touching any exposed wires, as that will add humming
[8:16:07 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: nope, it's all good
[8:16:55 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Maybe I should put this on hold and work on underwater recording. Then we could possibly get together and work on this
[8:17:05 PM] Random Davis: sure
[8:17:11 PM | Edited 8:17:15 PM] Random Davis: I'd love to help
[8:17:18 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K,
[8:17:44 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: So maybe this weekend or if I can get a ride from my mom or dad, after school one day
[8:18:19 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Oh! this friday I have no school. Would that work for you afterwords>
[8:18:20 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: ?
[8:18:36 PM] Random Davis: I can come over there if you want
[8:18:43 PM] Random Davis: is your weekend free, too?
[8:19:07 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, except saturday. I have the SAT
[8:20:09 PM] Random Davis: at what time?
[8:21:07 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: 730
[8:21:10 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: am
[8:21:23 PM] Random Davis: how long is it? (just curious)
[8:21:48 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: till 1
[8:23:14 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K, I need to talk to my parents first. I'll tell ya later
[8:23:33 PM] Random Davis: I can come over friday and help
[8:23:43 PM] Random Davis: maybe I could sleep over at sam's that day too
[8:24:12 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: yeah, you should ask him soon though
[8:24:19 PM] Random Davis: I will
[8:25:05 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: K, I have to go work on some other stuff, but thanks for helping me out.
[8:25:15 PM] Random Davis: no problemo
[8:25:19 PM] Random Davis: 8-)
[8:25:25 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Haha
[8:25:27 PM] Kai Wolf Paquin: Awesome

Basically I couldn't get a good recording, broke a lightbulb, and ruined a 1/4 inch cable.

Today kinda sucked.