My Christmas Light Display. Using Light-O-Rama controllers.

[actaeon277]

Next future song.

Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls.

This is what I might call "non-traditional" Christmas music.
I don't think it's a Christmas song, but I think it could be.

Here is a good example, I like what these people did. I'd probably use the Tree of Lights for the singers voice.
And these people have WAY more money than me apparently.

[video=youtube;lkoLn84GYFQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkoLn84GYFQ[/video]

 

[actaeon277]

I actually have dozens more songs on a list.
These are the 3, possibly 4, that I think are possibilities this year.
In reality, with my work hours, I'd be lucky to get the 3 done.

 

[actaeon277]

Wizards.


I think that programming the way I do gives me GREAT results. But it can be meticulous.
The software has 4 "Wizards" to make things simpler.
You can see back on my "Boogie Woogie Choo Choo" song how the Beat Wizard worked out.


Other Wizards are: MIDI Wizard, Tapper Wizard, and VU Wizard.


MIDI Wizard. (I'm going to copy a section from their help, since I haven't used these other Wizards)

The Light-O-Rama Sequence Editor's MIDI Wizard can be used to automatically populate a musical sequence that is based on a MIDI file with timings and lighting effects based on the MIDI file itself. For example, lights can be set up to chase each other in time to the music, or to turn on and off when certain notes are played.

The MIDI Wizard is available (for musical sequences based on MIDI files) as an option when creating a new musical sequence or a new track, and can later be accessed via "MIDI Wizard" on the Tools menu.

The MIDI Wizard has three main screens, each on a different tab:

The Effects Summary tab can be used to visualize the song while it is playing - for example, to see which instruments are playing what notes at what time, and to show the overall beat of the song. It can also be used to listen to only certain instruments in the song, by muting others. This tab cannot be used to insert timings or lighting effects into a sequence - instead, it is used to get an idea of how the other tabs might be used for the song.

The Various Effects tab can record timings and lighting effects based upon the beat of the song. The lights can be made to behave in a variety of ways, such as chasing each other or rotating around a tree, in various patterns.

The Individual Notes tab can be used to record timings and lighting effects based upon the notes played by individual instruments in the song. For example, a channel can be set up to turn on whenever a tenor saxophone plays a C note.

Tapper Wizard

The Light-O-Rama Sequence Editor's Tapper Wizard is a tool that lets you populate a musical sequence with timings and lighting effects simply by tapping along with the song, on your keyboard or your mouse. The Tapper Wizard will remember the moments in the song that you tapped at, and will insert timings and effects into the sequence at those times.

VU Wizard

The Light-O-Rama Sequence Editor's VU Wizard can analyze the song associated with a musical sequence to try to find peaks in the audio - much like a VU meter - and can insert timings and lighting effects into the sequence based upon them.

 

[actaeon277]

Then there is another option for programming.
Light-O-Rama has sequences that you can buy, and I'm pretty sure you can find sequences people will let you download.

The disadvantage of that is, their sequence is designed for the lights they have, in the order that they have them.
Their display may go left to right, but your display may not, since you have a different line up of outputs.

But, you could always use their sequence for the timing, then just highlight an output, and copy it to the output you want to mimic that action.
Copy-paste
Copy-paste.

 

[actaeon277]

Ok. Enough for tonight.
I need to get some other stuff done.

And sleep, so that I can get back to work on the other half of the lights.

 

[Roadie]

Wow, incredible work man!

As for Little Drummer Boy, how about the Bing Crosby and David Bowie version?
[video=youtube_share;DiXjbI3kRus]http://youtu.be/DiXjbI3kRus?t=1m47s[/video]

August Burns Red does a pretty cool instrumental..



http://youtu.be/CvCijhcxC3s

 

[actaeon277]

Wow, incredible work man!

As for Little Drummer Boy, how about the Bing Crosby and David Bowie version?
[video=youtube_share;DiXjbI3kRus]http://youtu.be/DiXjbI3kRus?t=1m47s[/video]

August Burns Red does a pretty cool instrumental..



http://youtu.be/CvCijhcxC3s

While I love the classics, I think I'll go with Pentatonix.

 

[ghuns]

Just for fun, I would love to see the light show with this...

[video=youtube_share;xnKhsTXoKCI]http://youtu.be/xnKhsTXoKCI[/video]

 

[actaeon277]

Just for fun, I would love to see the light show with this...

[video=youtube_share;xnKhsTXoKCI]http://youtu.be/xnKhsTXoKCI[/video]

That would probably be more Halloweenish. They can do that also.
[video=youtube;UfcNoMnKjrY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcNoMnKjrY[/video]

 

[Piobair]

My company was a Light-O-Rama dealer, but dropped them earlier this year. This was a part of my show last year. Not big, compared to some. This one is 32 channels. Didn't set it up this year - the weather worked against me, and when I had a decent day, I went to the range. [video]http://www.lights-alive.com/video/wizards_2013_sm.mov[/video]

 

[actaeon277]

My company was a Light-O-Rama dealer, but dropped them earlier this year. This was a part of my show last year. Not big, compared to some. This one is 32 channels. Didn't set it up this year - the weather worked against me, and when I had a decent day, I went to the range. [video]http://www.lights-alive.com/video/wizards_2013_sm.mov[/video]

Very nice

 

[actaeon277]

If anyone wants my address to see the lights, let me know. Drop me a PM, or if you don't have 50 and can't PM, just leave me a post here asking. I'll PM it back to you.

 

[Piobair]

Very nice

Thanks. My show includes:

Christmas Eve (Sarajevo): TSO
Deck the Halls: Mannheim Steamroller
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: BareNaked Ladies
Jingle Bells: Michael Bublé/Puppini Sisters
Linus and Lucy: Vince Guaraldi
Silent Night: Mannheim Steamroller
Wizards of Winter: TSO

I need to finish programming We Three Kings, by Keith Emerson. And I really do want to build a four-color mega tree. Maybe I can get lights at the after Christmas sale.

 

[actaeon277]

Thanks. My show includes:

Christmas Eve (Sarajevo): TSO
Deck the Halls: Mannheim Steamroller
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: BareNaked Ladies
Jingle Bells: Michael Bublé/Puppini Sisters
Linus and Lucy: Vince Guaraldi
Silent Night: Mannheim Steamroller
Wizards of Winter: TSO

I need to finish programming We Three Kings, by Keith Emerson. And I really do want to build a four-color mega tree. Maybe I can get lights at the after Christmas sale.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - BareNaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan is on my list.
But I don't think there's any way to get to it this year.
Well, there is one way. As many hours as I'm putting in at work, take my old laptop in and program there.
Don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[actaeon277]

FINISHED setting up the display. Well, up to where I've had it the last two years anyway.
Next day off and I'll try to build my new addition.

Well, there are a couple things to finish tomorrow.
1) My sister-in-laws mother is repainting my sign that displays the radio frequency.
Last year, the snow actually tore paint off the sign. So, this time once she's painted it, it's getting a clear coating over.
I farmed that out, because my artistic skills are non-existent, and I didn't feel like making a stencil for it.
2) I need to run to Menards and pick up 2 more 40 watt LED bulbs. I added 6 plastic hollow candles to the front, and for some reason, I picked up
four 40 watt LED bulbs, and six 60 watt LED bulbs. (Note about LED bulbs in another post)

 

[actaeon277]

I updated the Original Post with FM frequency 100.1.

In case anyone comes by and the sign isn't up.
Hopefully, I'll get family to set it up while I'm at work.

 

[actaeon277]

Note about 40 and 60 watt LED bulbs being used with items such as the hollow plastic stuff, with a bulb inside.

Regular bulbs fit easily into these sockets.
LED bulbs, not so much.
The base of the 40 watt and 60 watt LED bulbs are a lot bigger.

When I tried using the 40s, I thought something was wrong. Couldn't get the bulb to light.
Turns out, it wasn't all the way in the socket.
Had to turn it REAL hard.
You have to be VERY careful.
1) make sure you don't break the base of the bulb.
2) make sure you don't break the lamp socket.

I ran out of the 40s, and Menards was closed by then. So I grabbed a 60 that I had on hand.

I even tried to dremel the top of the socket, to try to get the 60 watt LED bulb to fit.
Still ended up twisting the metal socket apart and broke the solder joint.

The savings in wattage is worth it (40 watt). But you just have to twist it deep, and be CAREFUL.

 

[actaeon277]

The socket in post 57 was in one of these

 

[actaeon277]

Now a note about those hollow lit items.
I have some candles, shown above, and some elves

The problem is, keeping them upright.
The elves have a hole in the bottom, so to add sand, you'd have to seal the hole somehow.
The candles have no hole, but a narrow base, so even with sand, not so good.

So, I came up with a new solution, at least new for me.
I grabbed some scrap lumber while at Menards.
4 wood screws to anchor the lumber to the bottom of the elf or candle.
Then I used some "L" shaped stakes to keep the lumber anchored to the ground.

 

[actaeon277]

Net lights.

I HATE THEM.

If a string goes out, or half out, you can pull bulbs till you find a bad bulb, or a rusty connection.
On a net..... pain in the butt trying to figure what you've checked and not checked.
NO MORE NETS FOR ME.

I'm only using up the nets I had from my original display.
I think next year, the 4 nets on 2 different bushes are getting tossed.
Any spare nets will stay in the tote for when I think of something to do with them.


Also, NO long strings.
Shorter strings, such as 50 or 70 are a lot easier to troubleshoot or replace.