Need help with LED strip project

I have been getting into electronics the past few months, learning what parts do what, de-soldering electro boards to get a hang out of it and researching circuits. For the project i'm doing i need some help doing the following things:

Here's my project:
http://cdn.instructables.com/FUN/3GTH/I31C3IJ9/FUN3GTHI31C3IJ9.LARGE.jpg

He used a light tube but i want to make this special. I really like the light effect it gives off so here's how my design is going to be:
It's going to have a square pole in the middle with an LED strip on each side.

This is what i need your help for:

1. Choosing the right brightness for the strip for the circle light affect.

2. The strips must be able to do these things: Change color, fade, music sensitive (i don't need it to do this but it would be really cool if you guys gave me the resources too)

3. Help me design the circuit for it. As it's going to have 4 strips i'm assuming it's going to need a decent power supply with some sort of heat sink and a system to include the ability to program it for the color change, fade (i'm assuming use of capacitors and resistors as i have just learned about what the parts can do and not what IC's are capable of currently), and other features.

4. The circuit has to be reliable, i want to keep this project for a few years.

Much appreciated for any help given, be it a schematic, resources for me to find the information myself, sourcing, tips, etc.

Cheers, Huestan.

What's your budget like?

200 - 400 $

Just a basic though, but what if you put a square tube in the middle and put an LED Light Strip down all the sides, facing outwards. you can use a LED Strip like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BD4734/?tag=cpf0b6-20 and a controller like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGRJ36/?tag=cpf0b6-20

I dont know if those will work together but thats the basic idea

for the structure if your on a budget you could get a 2x2 piece of wood or for more strength a 4x4 post and mount it to a bottom plate. Then just run the LED Strip down the center of each side and that will give you your light source.

mds82 said:

Just a basic though, but what if you put a square tube in the middle and put an LED Light Strip down all the sides, facing outwards. you can use a LED Strip like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BD4734/?tag=cpf0b6-20 and a controller like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGRJ36/?tag=cpf0b6-20

I dont know if those will work together but thats the basic idea

for the structure if your on a budget you could get a 2x2 piece of wood or for more strength a 4x4 post and mount it to a bottom plate. Then just run the LED Strip down the center of each side and that will give you your light source.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much that was what i was looking for!
Here's my plan: I'll buy the strips then for MAXIMUM EFFIECIENY i'll measure the width of the strip. Then make a wood pole that will match how many i want to put down the sides of it.

I like the tube idea but it doesn't have much weight for structural integrity if it's plastic. Why a square tube instead of a circular one? Do they not stick if its round and flat? If they don't stick fi its round here's a solution: ZAP STRAPS in between the LEDs so it doesn't interfere with the light + they're white for extra light refraction.

Will i have to make a circuit or will those two pieces be all i need? Will i need to design a power circuit to go with it?

I already have the wood painted (just did a layer). I'll post pictures of it after i have the outer wooden structure completed.

May or may not help. But you may get some ideas if you go check out adafruit.com. They have some neat stuff there. Look at some of the NeoPixel stuff too.