Here is a video of the working prototype running some basic spectrum analyzer code. Thanks again to everyone who helped me!
My next step is to figure out a good way to mount everything as a single piece. I was thinking I could mount the strips to a sheet of something(aluminum, plexiglass, wood). I’m looking at a few options but I’m not sure what will work well and be relatively cheap. So I wanted to see if anyone here had any recommendations for building supplies or place to look.
After I mount the strips I want to find a way to diffuse the leds. I was looking at some plastic tubing that I could hopefully cut in half to create a dome tunnel kind of shape over each strip. I was then going to either scuff the surface of the tubes or line them with something like parchment paper to help diffuse the light. Has anyone tried that kind of approach? Does it work well? I’m hoping to get some feedback before I spend a chunk of money on supplies.
Thank you all for your help and support!
https://instagram.com/p/BWGbQAonA1i/
Hi , great work . I recently saw cheap led lamps masked as luminiscent pipes with body difuser … etc. Some of them actually used white led strip. I havent tested it yet but soon will by one and will post video. Another idea is to add two strips per pipe if your setup allows it of course. Most time colors are more vivid refracted or mirrored then watching directly to leds
Using you 1/2 pipe idea, you could try cottonballs trapped over the leds. I had one design that was single lights with a 1/2 pingpong ball over. That worked well too… for long strips can also try simple toilet paper sheets… 
Yes but toilet paper dont suit for deployment , as you mentioned cotton balls recently watched video on youtube people making cloud like lamps with cotton and leds
Hi Nice work, I built something similar initially with a diffuser but I found that I preferred it without. I mounted mine on some Faulty LED tubes and use the diffuser that came with them. check this out if you are interested. https://plus.google.com/photos/photo/109267541091202583931/6308798044226014802?icm=false&sqid=109127054924227823508&ssid=f932cd25-77bc-4f5d-ba7a-1917d4b9f9ac I built 10 of them in total.
How about frosted glass or plastic in front of it?
These are $14 per meter (or less in larger quantities), and they work well for mounting and diffusion.
@Jason_Coon . That is actually on the expensive side – these are a little under $6/meter and work well in my experience: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JZ7GK9S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@Dustin_Yoxall do you have access to a router? If so, just get a sheet of plywood, route 3/4" grooves in the plywood, paint the plywood if you like, then put the aluminum channels in the grooves with liquid nails, and voila.
ps you can also cut the grooves with a circular saw or table saw making repeated passes, but a router is much easier.
Looks awesome ! any chance to share some code ?