diff --git a/python/dsp.py b/python/dsp.py
index 5734408..7458e8f 100644
--- a/python/dsp.py
+++ b/python/dsp.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class ExpFilter:
         self.value = val
 
     def update(self, value):
-        if not isinstance(self.value, (int, long, float)):
+        if isinstance(self.value, (list, np.ndarray, tuple)):
             alpha = value - self.value
             alpha[alpha > 0.0] = self.alpha_rise
             alpha[alpha <= 0.0] = self.alpha_decay
diff --git a/python/led.py b/python/led.py
index 4a22857..e3e4971 100644
--- a/python/led.py
+++ b/python/led.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 from __future__ import division
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import socket
 import numpy as np
 import config
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ def update():
             continue
         m += chr(i) + chr(p[0][i]) + chr(p[1][i]) + chr(p[2][i])
     _prev_pixels = np.copy(p)
-    _sock.sendto(m, (config.UDP_IP, config.UDP_PORT))
+    _sock.sendto(m.encode(), (config.UDP_IP, config.UDP_PORT))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':