Hey there holiday geeks!
Let’s go over some possible issues and solutions for problems you might be having with the PBS music box controller!
So right off the bat your probably really excited to have a controller that no one else on your block probably has, your ready to plug it in and start dominating the neighborhood or vehicle with your Christmas light spectacular! This should be a given, so here are some troubleshooting steps:
**My music box doesn’t keep channels one and two solid when music stops or seems to be inheriting some noise.**
- Solution 1: a shielded 3.5mm audio cable needs to be used. Ferrite cores also help a lot with noise issues, these can be purchased cheap on Amazon. I’ve found it helpful to use two on each audio cable especially if using a Y adapter for a FM transmitter
- Solution 2: your audio cable is laying on or around your supplied 120vac and/or the outputs. your going to want the audio cable coming from the music box to be a straight line away from all power cables and directly to mp3 source. No Winding excess cables or extra length that isn’t needed. The shorter route the better.
- Solution 3: your mp3 player and/or signal device is being charged while playing. To resolve this issue you’ll need a Bluetooth receiver plugged into the audio jack of the music box to isolate any interference from the charging circuit on your device. These can be purchased at Walmart and Amazon. Just be sure your mp3 device is Bluetooth capable
- Solution 4: your mp3 device is defective and/or the 3.5mm jack has been compromised due to bending or improper handling.
- Solution 5: there is a open female 3.5mm jack that isn’t being utilized. This can be caused by using a 3 in 1 adapter and leaving the third female to open air, this will cause noise interference.
So you have no noise issues but when you pause your music, just channel one and two become solidly active, that’s great!
Removing noise is the hardest issue we’re going to have, now time for the fun.
**My music box is powered up and mp3 source is running and I don’t like the way the lights are synchronizing?**
-Solution 1: move your lights around on the music box outputs, I’ve found that when trying to sync lights is best to have left and right side house lights on the same channel to add some rhyme to rhythm. Keeping the lights looking in sync.
-Solution 2: adjusting your mp3 device equalizer. Since this controller activates the outputs from audio recognition, adjusting the equalizer you can really dial it in. You’ll notice when adjusting the lower frequencies on the equalizer certain channels will be more active. The same goes with the higher frequencies. Dial and tuning to where you like it.
Have a great holiday!
Stan Fikel
PBS Lighting
stanfikel@gmail.com
