Kindly Morrow
16x24 RGB LED Music Spectrum Display Panel
384 individually addressable RGB LEDs react to live audio in real time, no cables or capture cards involved. A built-in microphone splits the signal into bass, mids, and highs and maps each band across a 16x24 grid with intensity-driven color gradients. Spectrum visualizer out of the box, programmable pixel canvas when you want more.
The companion app (iOS and Android) connects over Bluetooth and gives you full control: draw pixel art frame by frame, set scrolling text, build looping animations, or lock in a static gradient. At 5V over USB-C, it sits on the included desktop stand or mounts flush behind your monitor. Compact enough to clear a 27-inch display without crowding your desk.
Things to build with this
- Stream audio visualizer with zero software integration: mount the panel behind your monitor, set it to spectrum mode, and the built-in mic picks up your room audio live. No OBS plugin, no virtual audio cable, no capture card. Your stream reacts visually without touching your broadcast setup.
- CI pipeline status board: use the Bluetooth app to push scrolling text to the panel from a build hook or webhook script (via a phone shortcut or simple mobile automation). Red gradient pulse on failure, green sweep on success. Your build state is visible across the room without opening a browser tab.
- Looping pixel art badge for booth or desk calls: author a frame-by-frame 16x24 sprite animation in the app (retro character, bouncing waveform, custom logo) and let it loop continuously. The onboard animation engine runs it independently once loaded, no phone or computer needed to keep it alive.
Key Features
- LED grid: 16 rows x 24 columns, 384 individually addressable RGB LEDs
- Built-in microphone: picks up bass, mids, and highs independently with no audio cable required
- Bluetooth connectivity: pairs with iOS and Android companion app for full pattern and brightness control
- Display modes: music spectrum, pixel art, scrolling text, custom animations, and static color fills
- Pixel art mode: 16x24 canvas with frame-by-frame animation authoring via the app
- Power: USB-C at 5V, compatible with any standard desk power supply or hub port
- Mounting: desktop stand included, wall-mount compatible for flush behind-monitor placement
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I control it programmatically, not just through the app?
Out of the box, control goes through the Bluetooth companion app. There is no documented USB or serial API. Programmatic control would require reverse-engineering the Bluetooth protocol or modifying the hardware. Worth knowing before you buy if open control is a hard requirement.
Will the microphone pick up audio in a quiet room or at low volume?
The mic is tuned for ambient pickup at normal listening volume. Very quiet environments will show minimal reactivity. It captures everything in the room, not just your audio output device, so speaker placement relative to the panel matters more than you might expect.
Does it show up as a display or monitor to my PC?
No. It is not a USB display device and your OS will not recognize it as a screen. Content is either generated onboard by the spectrum visualizer or pushed through the Bluetooth app. It cannot mirror or extend your desktop.
Will it physically fit behind a 27-inch ultrawide?
The panel fits behind a standard 27-inch monitor footprint. Ultrawides vary in stand width and base depth, but wall-mounting or using the included stand clears most bases. Measure your monitor's stand spread before committing to a specific placement.
How bright is it? Can I use it as ambient lighting in a lit room?
At full output across 384 LEDs it is clearly visible in a normally lit room. The app includes brightness control, which is worth dialing down if you are using it as ambient fill rather than a focal display. At full blast it will catch your eye even in daylight.
Why we stock this
Curated by Kindly Morrow. We test and vet every product before it hits the store. If we wouldn't use it in our own builds, we don't sell it.
Things to build with this
Fun projects to try once you get your hands on it.
Split-flap board connected to Claude
Hook up a display to the Claude API and have it show you a new message every morning. Motivational quotes, weather, or passive-aggressive reminders to drink water.
Spotify now-playing display
Shows album art and track name on your desk display. Updates only when the song changes. Zero battery drain between updates.
Real-time crypto/stock ticker
Pull prices from an API, show them on the display. Flip between assets. Try not to check it every 30 seconds.
Ambient room dashboard
Temperature, humidity, air quality, and time on a bedside e-ink screen. Updates every 5 minutes, uses almost no power. Looks like a museum label.
