DIY WLED Smart Broadcast Tally Light WS2812B ESP32

We needed a simple way to show our camera operators which camera was live during church services. Commercial tally lights are expensive, so we created this DIY solution using cheap parts and 3D printing. It works great for us, and you can build as many as you need!

What you'll need:

• ESP32 or NodeMCU ESP8266 (any microcontroller that works with WLED)
• WS2812B 16-LED Ring (easily found on Aliexpress)
• 3D printed case and diffuser
• USB power supply
• Basic wiring skills

Assembly is super simple:

1. Print the parts - everything pressure fits together. A bit of tape or glue helps if needed
2. Wire up the LED ring (just 3 connections: 5V to 5V, ground to ground, and one data pin)
3. Flash WLED to your microcontroller
4. Set up the Python script to talk to your ATEM switcher

We printed ours in marble PLA to match our setup, but any color works fine. The diffuser cap is only 2 layers thick which gives a really nice, even light spread.

The case is intentionally roomy to fit different microcontroller types, so don't worry if it seems a bit large. This makes it really easy to work with when assembling.

For automation, we use a simple Python script with the PyATEMMax library to read which camera is live and send colors to WLED over WiFi. If you need help setting up the code or run into any issues, just leave a comment!

This works great for churches, streamers, or any other video production setup where you need to indicate active cameras. Feel free to modify and improve the design - would love to see what you make with it!

Post in the comments if you need any help with:

• WLED setup
• Python script details
• Print settings
• Assembly tips