Wanted... a used starter kit?

[Boobiehatch]

Boy i'd love to do a LOR system this xmas. Just joined. I'd love to set up a very basic system to start out & then buy a few of those [Wow] sequences...

Sadly I can't afford the new Beginning kit... I have the laptop & speaker... but b4 I go away sad, I just wanted to ask if anyone would be willing to sell any used controllers  [CTB16 PC; LOR1602 or CTB04]

Also... The software is steep... could I run those sequences w-out the software?

Sorry if these r dumb questions. Just trying to see what the possibilities r.

Thx

Boobiehatch

[Orville]

Even if you got the Controller{s} you MUST have the software and ADDITIONAL HARDWARE {USB485 Adapter{s}, Cat5 Cables} to run and create shows.  Each software IS LICENSED to each user INDIVIDUALLY, so you would have to either purchase the software from LOR or find one that might be free to use.  The LOR Software CAN NOT be given or transferred to anyone, it requires a purchase.  If you lack funds for these things, this hobby really would not be for you.

It is very time consuming in sequencing music to lights, setting up, creating your display set up, configuring controllers and other things associated with doing this hobby.

This is NOTHING like those Mr. Christmas boxes {are they even still selling those things? I haven't seen one in the stores for quite a few years now}, which are basically plug in your lights, turn it on, and it works.  This hobby is very in-depth when it comes to sequencing and learning the software to use it.  It takes a lot of time to just grasp how to make everything work together.

Coming into this late in the season, it is very doubtful you would get much done, if anything at all for a show this year.

Most of us work ALL YEAR long at sequencing and continually learning how to do things, or someone comes up with another method that may work better, it's an always learning experience. 

Being this is already December, it's really far too late to even get a show up and running at this time.  It takes many of us a month or more to get our display set up and operational, we run tests before we start our actual shows, because what you see on your computer monitor, is NOT necessarily how it's going to look in the real world, we are always tweaking, modifying, adding or changing sequences around.

Not trying to dissuade you from the hobby, but just telling you how this hobby truly is.   And if you get into RGB lighting, and you probably will want too, that is even more complex, and can be quite daunting to someone that's just getting into it, and it is also an expensive aspect of this hobby.

Again, not trying to turn you away, just trying to give you some facts that this hobby is not for someone that is trying to do things on the cheap, or as a plug-n-play system, by no means can you just plug in lights and make it work.  You have to really work at this to make things function, and even then you'll encounter issues that you may have to resolve or fix.

Best of luck on what you decide.   All I'm trying to do is to let you know WHAT YOU are getting yourself into with this hobby.

Edited December 4, 2019 by Orville

[TheDucks]

18 hours ago, Boobiehatch said:

Boy i'd love to do a LOR system this xmas. Just joined. I'd love to set up a very basic system to start out & then buy a few of those [Wow] sequences...

Sadly I can't afford the new Beginning kit... I have the laptop & speaker... but b4 I go away sad, I just wanted to ask if anyone would be willing to sell any used controllers  [CTB16 PC; LOR1602 or CTB04]

Also... The software is steep... could I run those sequences w-out the software?

Sorry if these r dumb questions. Just trying to see what the possibilities r.

Thx

Boobiehatch

Orville said it. The software is not transferable.

Your list puzzles me a bit.:  A CTB04 has just 4 AC ports , but the others have 16

Getting a Mini director would save a pc BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO BUY SEQUENCES

 

[Orville]

Oh, and most of us use an FM transmitter for the music to get the music into a persons vehicle watching the display. 

In this hobby, speakers just don't always cut it, as they'd have to be set far too loud, and the neighbors would be complaining about that.  I use outdoor speakers, but they can't be heard inside a vehicle, especially when it's very cold outdoors or inside a running car if someone is running their heater.  An FM transmitter is another investment you really need to add to your list of things needed for this hobby.  My speakers are set so you can hear them if walking by the display or on a bicycle, but are barely, if at all, audible across the street

[Boobiehatch]

To Orville...

THANK YOU!!!!! I truly appreciate your honest & wary commentary. I will definitely take heed of your warnings... But just to give u a brief back story of what brought me here...

I went from a circus clown to a professional juggler w a very large vocabulary of tricks in 5 yrs. I then headlined on cruise ships & then eventually landed writing a few shows for CBS. [All these take a great deal of determination & detailed craftsmanship] Loving live performing I went back to working as a variety comic juggling; playing 7 odd instruments & currently playing accordion & now midi accordion.

I recently taught some of these skills at a convention & found myself saying that nothing I do is really amazing... that everything has a trick to it so to speak. My point here is not to brag. It's simply to say that I have spent a lifetime figuring out what is to others... amazing. [Playing 'Purple Haze' on a ukulele is not amazing... if u know patterns, etc.] When I wasn't working my craft I was drawing. [Search 'Boobiehatch' in Google Images.] Nothing amazing... just a constant thrill of creating & making art.

7 years ago we bought a house & for fun I started instilling my silly creativity into my Xmas decorating. I happen to live in an area where people enjoy driving around & cheering our efforts. I won a few prizes... but again, here's the thing... I wasn't trying. I just love creating.

Nonetheless, I am not oblivious to the immense time & effort & money it must take to master these Light o Rama sequences. But boy do I love them... & kudos to you all who create these dandy & miraculous eye parties. So to be clear, yes, I have too many irons in the fire... I probably won't dedicate the time it takes to perfect what many of you brilliantly have. But Boy... I would sure love to eventually create a system that would at least run those neat sequences I see on eBay. Even a simple one. So that is where I am at. Is this not possible? Do u have to create your own sequences? & if I were able to just plug in 1 of those 'pro' sequences, would they include a list of the lights required etc?  

Anyway, Thx again Orville for taking the time. 

-Boobiehatch      

[Boobiehatch]

Ducks...

Thank u also for your input. I know... i wasn't trying to pirate the software... just didn't know if there were a better way to learn the basics. I joined the mailing list & will wait for a deal here & there.

When I decided I wanted a midi accordion I couldn't believe they were $5000, $7000 even $10,000! Sadly I searched & waited & waited & SAVED!!!! I was miffed somewhat since I just wanted to play orchestrations & produce music but sadly needed $$$ just to do what I already knew i could but w-out the tools. Anyway, about 7 mos in I found a lady who was selling 1 for $2500. I bought it!!!!!!!!!!!! This taught me to b exhausting & to not give in simply b/c i don't have the means. 

Again, I can't pursue this beyond my means... so for now... I will remain a huge fan. Truly.

-Boobiehatch

[Orville]

I started in this hobby in 2009, bought my first controller, a CTB16PC used, found out in less than a month I was going to need 4 more of them, my first year and first display was Halloween 2010.  I also bought an Mp3-Director to run my shows, and then had to add the FM Transmitter to the mix.

It wasn't the best show, but wasn't all that bad either.  I also found in that same time frame that my license just wasn't going to work, I had bought the Basic Plus License, but needed to get the highest license at the time, so went all the way to the Advanced License in less than a couple of months.   And now that I've added RGB to my Christmas Show {no longer do Halloween} I've upgraded to the PRO License and added a few more things here and there.

But you can still get into the Hobby, for a simple start,  if you bought the basic starter kit from LOR, this comes with a BASIC license level.   That would be the best way to get into and start in this hobby.  That way you get a license and the equipment at the same time.

The Basic Starter kit is $317.00 and if you haven't seen it, all the info is here:

Residential Series 16 Channel Starter Package

This comes with EVERYTHING you need to get set up and running.  The Basic License gives you a limit to 2 controllers {32 Channels}, Basic Plus, limit 4 controllers {64 channels} and upgrade cost is only $18 for Basic + if you upgrade at the time of purchasing the Starter Kit.

With the experience and things you've posted you've done, it seems to me, you should be able to afford at least this as a new start in this hobby.  I have a friend that is also a professionial clown and she makes some really good money at it.  And having done many of the things you have posted about, I can't really see why you couldn't afford this simple set up.  When I got into this, I paid practically that price for just ONE controller and nothing else, mu USB adapter, cat5 cables and everything else I needed was all extra.  I think I spent close to, or somewhere around $4,000-$5,000 when I started in this hobby for everything I needed.

Good Luck.

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by Orville

[Boobiehatch]

You r an excellent man... thank u sir. There's no question I will keep my eye on the ball & probably try the basic kit next year. & thanks to your input I am encouraged to do so. W-out going into to much detail, I have a wife w a chronic disease & parents at that age where they r having health challenges. There's no off position w me but I am aware & sensitive to the time & $$$ it takes. What really hit me this year was the fact that I can actually comprehend this technology & w gr8 zeal I can't wait 2 attempt a project or two. [This is y I am so giddy]

Until then... Thx again sir, you're aces!

T. 

[TheDucks]

3 hours ago, Boobiehatch said:

You r an excellent man... thank u sir. There's no question I will keep my eye on the ball & probably try the basic kit next year. & thanks to your input I am encouraged to do so. W-out going into to much detail, I have a wife w a chronic disease & parents at that age where they r having health challenges. There's no off position w me but I am aware & sensitive to the time & $$$ it takes. What really hit me this year was the fact that I can actually comprehend this technology & w gr8 zeal I can't wait 2 attempt a project or two. [This is y I am so giddy]

Until then... Thx again sir, you're aces!

T. 

Do keep your eye open for good used controllers (be aware of the speed limitation on older controlers. That just means those can't be on a fast network). You only need to buy 1 New as a part of the order to qualify for the starter discount.

IIRC if you bump your level at the time, you save over bumping levels later. Pixels slam your needs to Advanced or Pro (Go for Pro: to get enhanced mode needed for a Pixcon)

ALSO Get a RED adapter or 2. Pixels eat speed and red can do slower.

[Orville]

On 12/5/2019 at 12:24 PM, Boobiehatch said:

You r an excellent man... thank u sir. There's no question I will keep my eye on the ball & probably try the basic kit next year. & thanks to your input I am encouraged to do so. W-out going into to much detail, I have a wife w a chronic disease & parents at that age where they r having health challenges. There's no off position w me but I am aware & sensitive to the time & $$$ it takes. What really hit me this year was the fact that I can actually comprehend this technology & w gr8 zeal I can't wait 2 attempt a project or two. [This is y I am so giddy]

Until then... Thx again sir, you're aces!

T. 

I can understand that about your wife.  My wife has issues as well.  So now, let me tell you a little about me, an d you might be amazed that *I* even pull this off, I'm disabled, bad knees, fibromyalgia, arthristis in both hands, right handed, and of course that's the one that has it the worst!  But the two that really get folks is I am legally blind, my vision is really skewed in such a way, along with mild dyslexia,  So all these issues make it a real challenge to me, but I do it, and then add in the 55-70% deaf to the mix, along with Asthma, COPD, MVP and Constant Migraines among a few other ailments here and there.  So when I tell folks about my medical history and they see I pull this off, well, my sequences may not be the best there is, but from a person with all this pulling this off, even just a little amazes some folks.   Even amazes me at times that I still do this.

I see you don't have your location posted in your profile {the area under our names that shows area, software and license level}, so if you don't want to disclose that in a public forum that's okay, would you mind sending me a PM with where you are located, so I can possibly discuss something with you.

Thanks.

[Boobiehatch]

Dearest Helen Keller [Ha!] You should give a TED talk. I marvel at your story... Kids today want to hold onto victimhood & quite frankly it's whiney & futile. I saw a story on TV a few weeks back about a fella w no arms who's become a world champ archery specialist. His story, much like yours, was so uplifting & inspirational & truly a breath of fresh air.

Anyway I got hit w a lousy flu a few days ago & been down for a bit. Today I am able to sit upright. [Whoo hoo!] I updated my profile... Las Vegas Nevada... [Moved here from Hollywood Ca. a few years ago.]

Let me know how to PM u & I will gladly do so. Incidentally… do u do Facebook? I post 5 artworks a week & 5 funny tweets as well. I think u might enjoy them.  Type in 'Timothy Simpson' in the Facebook search. I'm the one holding the umbrella during a brainstorm.

T.

[LaughsBrightly]

On 12/4/2019 at 12:20 PM, Orville said:

 

This is NOTHING like those Mr. Christmas boxes {are they even still selling those things? I haven't seen one in the stores for quite a few years now}, which are basically plug in your lights, turn it on, and it works.  

Menards is selling a 3 channel Mr. Christmas in stores for $60 and the original 6 channel Lights and Sounds is on Amazon for $125. Both have 20 songs and a speaker. I used one for 5 years and went LOR when it died. Because I had already gotten the lights, bought a transmitter, zillions of extension cords,  and essentially had a working show, I was able to move to LOR 16 channel in one week and add 16 more a week later. So I completely agree with Orville that this year is probably not the time to do LOR. But for $125 and some Wal-Mart lights and some trees from Big Lots you could be running a show like I did that still gets people to stop when driving by. Mr. Christmas is a great to do this without too much time and money and gradually work on building a show  That being said, once you go LOR you never go back and my wife already has plans for 64 channels next year. I'm watching eBay and waiting for the LOR sales in the spring.

[Orville]

6 hours ago, LaughsBrightly said:

Menards is selling a 3 channel Mr. Christmas in stores for $60 and the original 6 channel Lights and Sounds is on Amazon for $125. Both have 20 songs and a speaker. I used one for 5 years and went LOR when it died. Because I had already gotten the lights, bought a transmitter, zillions of extension cords,  and essentially had a working show, I was able to move to LOR 16 channel in one week and add 16 more a week later. So I completely agree with Orville that this year is probably not the time to do LOR. But for $125 and some Wal-Mart lights and some trees from Big Lots you could be running a show like I did that still gets people to stop when driving by. Mr. Christmas is a great to do this without too much time and money and gradually work on building a show  That being said, once you go LOR you never go back and my wife already has plans for 64 channels next year. I'm watching eBay and waiting for the LOR sales in the spring.

Well at least I know they ar still selling them, but I wonder if anyone is even buying and using those Mr. Christmas boxes.....? 

Most animated displays I've seen are far more complex than those Mr. Christmas boxes that are animated lights to music. 

Once you start using the LOR stuff, and some of the others more sophisticated controllers, it's easy to spot one of those Mr. Christmas displays immediately! 🤣

Edited December 10, 2019 by Orville

[Orville]

18 hours ago, Boobiehatch said:

Dearest Helen Keller [Ha!] You should give a TED talk. I marvel at your story... Kids today want to hold onto victimhood & quite frankly it's whiney & futile. I saw a story on TV a few weeks back about a fella w no arms who's become a world champ archery specialist. His story, much like yours, was so uplifting & inspirational & truly a breath of fresh air.

Anyway I got hit w a lousy flu a few days ago & been down for a bit. Today I am able to sit upright. [Whoo hoo!] I updated my profile... Las Vegas Nevada... [Moved here from Hollywood Ca. a few years ago.]

Let me know how to PM u & I will gladly do so. Incidentally… do u do Facebook? I post 5 artworks a week & 5 funny tweets as well. I think u might enjoy them.  Type in 'Timothy Simpson' in the Facebook search. I'm the one holding the umbrella during a brainstorm.

T.

I did send you a PM here on the forums, to access it, you should see an envelope in the upper right hand corner, it should have a 1 on it {could be more if others have tried sending you a PM}, click on the envelope and it'll open the PM messages waiting for you here on the forum.  PM = Private Message, just in case you weren't aware.

I'll look you up on FB as well.

 

[Boobiehatch]

FYI... 3-4 yrs ago I bought the I-Twinkle lights... still use them. They change color & flash to music... but it's more from the beat or pulse... & not an assignment. 2 yrs ago I bought some reels [strips] of LEDs... Found a neat app that gave a lot of choices but still... nothing like the LOR. This year I bought the 'Twinkly' lights for the tree [they have a really neat app] & a $20. 4 plug thing that gives me 8 choices [Chasing; Stacking; Shooting star etc] which also simulates a basic light show. Then, get this, for $45 I bought the Mr. Xmas thing at Walmart. [My goal w this is to set up a surprise Xmas show for my wife's in house office.]

What made me turn to LOR was the realization & understanding that I actually may be able to pull such a dandy show off. Initially I thot u had to be a journeyman electrician or some union lighting technician... but from what I gather it looks like there's a software that allows me to choreograph & assign various fx to lights, etc. My budget is usually $50 - $150 every yr. So sadly, when I saw the price of the software I was rather detoured. As I have mentioned b4, I have many irons in the fire... so I pulled the reins on this new hobby but only for the present... Hopefully if the spring sales r good I could b running a LOR project by next Xmas.  

T.

Yay!!!!!! Thx for joining my Face Book... I hope u will find it silly & worth your time!