To use Python to display a VU meter that looks like this:

• This has been tested on Windows but should also work on Linux and Apple.
• Download and install Python, Pygame and PyAudio.
  Make sure you get the versions of Pygame and PyAudio for Python 3.2
• Download the Python file here.


Also here's a clock with VU meter.

It requires the logo file to be in the same folder.
It detects silence and is a work in progress.

See also http://www.darkwooddesigns.co.uk/pc2/meters.html