How to Connect TruLight to Music
Get your TruLight lights to dance to music using Bluetooth, the built-in music library, or your phone's microphone.
Music sync makes your lights react to the beat of a song. It is one of TruLight's newer features, and it has two requirements: your phone connects to the box over Bluetooth, and the Music Library input only plays music files you own.
In this tutorial, you will:
- Switch your TruLight app to Bluetooth mode and connect your control box
- Navigate to the Music section in the app and select the right audio input for your setup
- Upload your own music files using the Music Manager when streaming services aren't available
Understanding the Bluetooth Requirement
Music sync is a newer TruLight feature. Before you start, know that it needs a Bluetooth connection. Skipping that step is a common reason music sync doesn't work.
Key Concepts
Music Sync Only Works Over Bluetooth
Unlike controlling your light colors or schedules (which works over Wi-Fi), the music sync feature requires a Bluetooth connection. Your phone needs to be paired to the TruLight control box via Bluetooth for the lights to respond to audio.
Action Step
Before going any further, make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone. Open your phone's Settings, go to Bluetooth, and confirm it's enabled. You'll need it on for the next lesson.
Connecting to Bluetooth and Getting to the Music Screen
How to switch the app to Bluetooth mode and navigate to the Music section.
Key Concepts
Switching to Bluetooth Mode
In the TruLight app, tap the + button in the top right corner of the main screen. This opens connection options. Switch the mode to Bluetooth and connect to your control box from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
Finding the Music Section
Once connected, scroll to the bottom of the app and tap Music. This is where all music sync controls live: inputs, effects, colors, and palettes.
Action Step
Open the TruLight app, tap the + button in the top right, switch to Bluetooth, and connect to your box. Then tap Music at the bottom of the screen. Stop there and confirm you can see the Music screen. You don't need to do anything else yet.
Choosing Your Audio Input
The Music screen has multiple audio input options. Pick the one that matches how you play music.
Key Concepts
The Three Input Options
- Device Mic: Uses your phone's microphone to pick up ambient sound. Best for playing music from a nearby speaker, since the phone "hears" the music.
- Line In: Direct audio input from an external source. Best for a wired connection from a stereo, mixer, or speaker output.
- Music Library: Plays music files stored locally on your phone. Best for songs you own and have downloaded to your device.
The Important Catch with Music Library
The library input only shows music you own and have downloaded to your phone. Songs from streaming subscriptions (Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal) will not appear, even if they're downloaded for offline listening. This is a licensing restriction, not a bug. You must have purchased or otherwise own the files outright (e.g., bought on iTunes, or have MP3 files transferred to your phone).
Customizing the Light Response
Once you've selected an input and music is playing, you can customize how the lights respond:
- Effects: choose how the lights react to the beat
- Colors: pick which colors pulse to the music
- Palettes: pre-set color combinations for different moods
Action Step
Look at your phone's music library. Do you have any purchased/downloaded songs (not just streaming)? If yes, select Music Library as your input. If all your music is from a streaming service, plan to use Device Mic for now and continue to Lesson 4 to learn the workaround.
Uploading Your Own Music with Music Manager
If you don't own any music files, TruLight's built-in Music Manager lets you upload MP3 files directly from your computer to your phone's TruLight library, with no purchases required.
Key Concepts
What Music Manager Does
Music Manager creates a temporary local web server on your phone that you can access from your computer on the same Wi-Fi network. You upload MP3 files from your computer directly into the TruLight app's music library.
Step-by-Step: Using Music Manager
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi (same network as your computer; this is required)
- Open the TruLight app and go to Music then Library
- Tap the envelope icon with a + button in the top right corner of the library screen
- The app will display an IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.105)
- Keep this screen open on your phone. Closing it stops the Music Manager
- On your computer, open a browser and type that IP address into the address bar
- The Music Manager interface will load in your browser
- Upload your MP3 files. They'll transfer directly into your TruLight music library
- Return to the app and your uploaded songs will now appear and be playable
Supported File Formats
MP3 and MP4 audio formats are confirmed to work. Stick to MP3 for best compatibility.
Important Notes
- Your phone and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network
- The Music Manager screen must stay open on your phone during the upload
- You can get MP3s legally from royalty-free music sites or by buying tracks
Action Step
Find one MP3 file on your computer (a purchased song, a royalty-free track, anything). Follow the steps above to upload it to your TruLight library using Music Manager. Then play it and watch your lights sync up. After the first time, the whole process takes under 2 minutes.
Summary
Quick Reference:
- Music sync requires Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi, to connect your phone to the TruLight box
- The Music section lives at the bottom of the app and offers three input types: Device Mic, Line In, and Music Library
- Only owned/purchased music files show up in the library. Streaming service songs (Spotify, Apple Music) won't appear
- Music Manager is the workaround: upload MP3s from your computer via a local Wi-Fi connection while keeping the app screen open
Next Steps:
Next, see Setting Up Timers to turn on specific colors at set times, or Setting Up Motion Sensors for motion-triggered security lighting.