i did not read all of the replys but it seems to me that the problem is adjustment . LEDS are diodes and are min voltage sensitive and current sensitive in other words the more the current the more they becomes bright the trick is not to destroy them by over power dissipasion. i have biuld for christmas 115 v ac to music lights using triacs LEDS ARE ALL STRUNG IN SERIES using 2 v average per unit but i put a current driving source to limit the current safely now no matter where the music is set they light up by adjusting the unit value input.

 

Hi Neon,
How did tou isolate the input of your circuit from the mains?
A microphone or a transformer?

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Uncle $crooge