MOVIE LEVELERWhispered dialogue, then an explosion or a loud ad that rattles the room. You grab the remote. Again. The Movie Leveler listens along with you and does it for you: it turns quiet dialogue up and loud scenes down, automatically.
Buy the kit, $24Check my TV firstDIY kit for Raspberry Pi 4 · Instant digital download · 30-day refund if it won't work with your setup
Installed in our living room
The Leveler handles the three things that make you reach for it.
A small mic hears the TV. A Raspberry Pi measures the loudness, and how much of it is people talking, about 10 times a second. Then it changes the volume one of two ways.
Uses the same network remote as the Google TV phone app. No cables to the TV, no wiring.
The Pi learns your soundbar remote's Volume + and Volume − and sends them like your remote does. Works with Roku TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Fire TV, soundbars with their own remote, and more.
Private by design: the voice detector runs on the Pi itself. Nothing is recorded or sent to the internet.
Pick a mode from your phone.
Phone control page for iPhone and Android. Turn it on or off, see what it's doing, switch modes, calibrate to your ears in 20 seconds, and fine-tune with sliders. Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app.
Instant digital download.
Our finished Leveler Pi, powered up and ready.
Real photos from building ours, Wi-Fi setup first, then the optional IR add-on.
Then flash the card, run the installer and pair your TV. The guide walks you through each step.
Not included. Common parts you can order online; price ranges are from the guide.
| Part | Notes | Approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4, 2 GB or more | Or a CanaKit Pi 4 starter kit, which already has the power supply, case and card | $55–100 |
| Mini USB microphone | A plain plug-and-play USB mic (avoid conference mics with noise cancelling) | $6–15 |
| microSD card, 16 GB+ | SanDisk or Samsung, Class 10 / A1 | $8–15 |
| Power supply, USB-C 5V / 3A | The official Raspberry Pi 15 W supply is best | $8–12 |
| Case | Any Pi 4 case | $6–10 |
| Optional: USB extension cable | Lets the mic sit by the soundbar while the Pi stays out of sight | $5–8 |
| IR path only: IR receiver and transmitter boards | Plus jumper wires. Full list in the guide, including an optional stick-on emitter | $2–6 each |
You'll also need a computer with an SD card reader for the one-time setup.
Answer 3 quick questions to see whether the Wi-Fi setup or the IR add-on fits your TV. It takes about a minute.
Run the compatibility checkEmail john@energyriskclaims.com within 30 days for a full refund.
Over Wi-Fi: Google TV and Android TV sets and boxes the Google TV phone app can control, such as TCL, Sony, Hisense, Philips and Sharp Google TV models, Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer and NVIDIA Shield. With the IR add-on: TVs and soundbars that use a regular infrared remote, including Roku TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Fire TV and soundbars with their own remote. The compatibility check tells you which fits.
No. Sound is measured on the Pi and thrown away. Nothing is recorded or sent to the internet. Put the mic near the soundbar and the movie is much louder than people talking on the couch.
No. The guide walks you through every step and gives you the exact commands to copy and paste.
No cable to the TV. On the Wi-Fi path it talks to the TV over your home network. On the IR path a small transmitter points at your soundbar or TV, like a remote.
The kit is a digital download (software and guide). You buy the Raspberry Pi and mic separately, using the list above.
Instant download. Build it this weekend.
Buy the Movie Leveler kit, $24Not sure about your TV? Check it first.