ReyGay
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I'm sharing these images since I think it's cool and that I'm a sucker for blue hues 
My Otari MX5050 BII has had all 4 VU meter lamps blown out a few days ago (after owning it since the early 90's). The OEM replacement bulbs cost $18 each!!! To cut costs, I decided to use Blue diffused LEDs as a substitute which looks awesome to me but the issue is, Otari uses AC to drive the lamps and LEDs run on DC.
The solution is to cofigure the LEDs as a half wave rectifier, since LEDs are essentially diodes  and I do use limiting resistors. The total cost: 4 LEDs and 4 resistors = $11 compared to those genuine lamp replacements ' $72, ha! The exception is, the LEDs fluctuate at 60Hz but not that we humans notice it anyway - it's a bit of an issue when taking photos tho - shutter speed higher than 1/60th per sec will mean irregular brightness on the LEDs... which is coo.l
The Otari MX5050 BII is a great classic machine (still in production as of now) and altho unconventional, they make great line preamps - just clean, loud and uncoloured sound. The new blue VU meters adds a fresh look to this ageing machine and it contrasts well to its warm sound.
No photoshopping and cropping on all images. Just loaded straight to NX2.
One of the busted lamps:
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 blown out lamp by ReyGay, on Flickr
Replacing it with LEDs:
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, ambient light
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Nikon D1X, Carl Zeiss Luminar 25mm f/3.5
Blue is Blue by ReyGay, on Flickr
Painting with Light : Nikon D1X, Micro Nikkor 55mm Auto f/3.5 nonAi, LED lamp and Heliopan 85 warm up filter
Otari MX5050 LED VU meter upgrade by ReyGay, on Flickr
Yes the highlights were blown up , but it does look better on B&W(yellow filter). Coverted to B&W on NX2:
B&W Macro : Nikon D1X, Carl Zeiss Luminar 25mm f/3.5, ReyGay Flash Diffuser, SB28
Black and White Bug by ReyGay, on Flickr
** If anyone wants to attempt to this on your own, reference LED design is on this page, in case your respective machines run on AC: http://www.qsl.net/yo5ofh/hobby%20circuits/led_circuits.htm
Have fun!
My Flickr Gallery
My Nikonians gallery
My interesting photos on Flickriver
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