YOUR TV CAN LIGHT UP THE WHOLE ROOM WITH THE COLOURS OF WHAT IS ON SCREEN
Your TV can light up the room with the colours on screen — Raspberry Pi, a cheap LED strip, and open-source software that works with any HDMI source.
HomeDisplays
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE3,823 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · MIT · 3,823 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
Hyperion samples the picture in real time and drives an LED strip on the back of your TV, so the wall glows with the colours at the edge of the frame. It runs on a Raspberry Pi (or similar SoC) with a WS2812B or SK6812 strip and works with any HDMI source — console, streaming box, PC — through a capture device. Commercial ambient lighting systems only work with their own hardware; this one is MIT licensed and free. The software side is well-documented and the web interface is multi-language, but the project assumes you know how to wire an LED strip and choose a compatible HDMI grabber. There is no official parts list or build guide, so the first hour of your weekend will be spent cross-referencing forum threads to find a capture device that works on your OS and does not add lag. Once the hardware is sorted, the rest is configuration rather than soldering. The built-in effects are scripted, not adaptive, but they cover the common cases. If you have a spare Raspberry Pi and a TV on a wall, this is worth the weekend — just buy the capture device first and test it before you stick anything down.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —MIT licensed, no restrictions on commercial use.
- —The repository contains the software, documentation, and configuration examples.
- —No wiring diagram or step-by-step installation guide is provided — you assemble the hardware list from community posts and the docs.
- —The README lists dozens of supported LED devices and video grabbers but does not name specific models or sellers.
- —A supported HDMI capture device is required; the repository does not recommend one.
- —3,819 stars as of July 2026, active commits in the last month.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterBluHub reads and burns Blu-ray/DVD/CD, adds USB-C, USB-A, SD/TF and 10 Gbps data — plug and play, grand-piano finish.
Videos
Community demonstration video from the payload — no official channel exists, walkthroughs are user-made.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the documentation (The README and wiki cover installation, supported hardware, and configuration — start there before buying anything.)
- 2.Choose and test an HDMI capture device(The project supports many grabbers but does not recommend one — search the forum or Discord for recent working models on your OS.)
- 3.Flash and configure the Pi(Install the Hyperion image or package, then open the web interface to set LED count, layout, and capture source.)
- 4.Wire and test the strip(Connect the LED strip to the Pi GPIO, power it separately, and run a test pattern before sticking it to the TV.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
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KNOWN ISSUES
- The HDMI capture device is the single point of failure — cheap no-name grabbers often add lag, drop frames, or do not work on Linux. Buy from a seller with a return window and test it before proceeding.
- The repository does not provide a wiring diagram — you need to know which GPIO pins to use and how to power the strip separately from the Pi.
- LED count and layout must match your TV size and strip placement exactly, or the colours will map to the wrong zones. Measure twice.
- Some HDMI sources (especially DRM-protected streaming apps) will not pass through a capture device. Test your actual use case early.
- The strip needs enough power — a 2-metre WS2812B at full white draws more than a phone charger can supply. An underpowered strip will flicker or dim at the far end.
- The software has no official mobile app — all configuration happens through the web interface on your local network.
Does it work with Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming apps?
It works with whatever your HDMI capture device can see. Some streaming apps block HDCP-protected content from passing through a grabber; test yours before building.
Can I use it with a projector instead of a TV?
Yes, as long as the projector outputs HDMI and you can place the LED strip around the projection surface. The software does not care about the display type.
What LED strip length do I need?
Measure the perimeter of your TV. A 55-inch panel needs roughly 5 metres of strip to go all the way around. The repository supports up to 512 LEDs per controller.
Does it add lag to the picture?
The capture device can add 10–50ms depending on the model. The Hyperion software itself is low-latency, but the grabber is the bottleneck.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
3,819 stars and no official parts list — which HDMI capture device actually worked for you without lag?
Hyperion Project
Hyperion started as a single-developer project for Kodi-based home theatre PCs and grew into a multi-platform ambient lighting system with a web interface, dozens of supported LED devices, and a community maintaining drivers and configs. The .ng fork is the actively developed branch.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM28d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the README is thorough on software configuration but assumes you already know how to wire addressable LEDs and choose a compatible HDMI grabber, which is the make-or-break decision. There is no official YouTube channel — the linked demo and all the walkthroughs are community-made. The repository moved to the hyperion-project organisation and the .ng fork is the live one; links to the old repo redirect. The single biggest time sink is not the Pi setup, it is finding a capture device that works on your OS without adding visible lag — buy that first and test it before you buy the strip.