Cary D Coxwell Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I just received my 16 channel starter package. Wanted to start out small to get a feel and add more next year.I hate to ask the same ole question, but is there a dummies guide for beginners??? I've been reading some of the post here and it is a lot to take in at one time.Any info on what direction to go in would be an unbelieveable amount of help.Thx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Showalter Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Cary D Coxwell wrote:I just received my 16 channel starter package. Wanted to start out small to get a feel and add more next year.I hate to ask the same ole question, but is there a dummies guide for beginners??? I've been reading some of the post here and it is a lot to take in at one time. Any info on what direction to go in would be an unbelieveable amount of help.Thx.LOR has downloadable tutorials. Try this link:http://www.lightorama.com/Documentation.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry oneill Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 plan a layout of what you want in your show put up the lights and other decorations then buy extension cords then buy more cords then buy more cords. but serious read all you can on this forum and at pc ask any questions that come up everyboby here and over there is very helpful. and dont think it hasnt been asked before do what you want with your show because by this time next year you will have added and changed everything more than once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wglyons Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Then go buy more cords...Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeA Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 wglyons wrote:Then go buy more cords...GregAnd after that you may want to consider buying more cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LENNY RUEL Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Cary:It isn't as overwhelming as it first looks like it may be. But it will take more time than you could have imagined when all is said and done. For a fairly decent average of time for the big consumer of that, it's sequencing at about an hour per minute of music for each 16 channel controller you end up with. You are starting with 16 which is a good way to start, so figure something like a Wizards in Winter at a little over 3 minutes you are probably looking at 4 hours or so of sequencing time. Not bad, but remember as you grow so does your time usage. That same song with 10 controllers could take upwards of 20 hours very easily. One other thing that can catch people off guard once they start to get bigger is the amount of extension cords and how long it can take to hook everything up. Buy on sale, but if you can... get bulk 18-2 zip from some of our on line vendors along with the vampire plugs. A spool of 1000' can cost between $85 and $120 so with the plugs it's the cheapest way to go plus you can make to length. Have fun and good luck.Lenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyT Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 You'll also need boxes or crates.... to store all the cords! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cary D Coxwell Posted December 1, 2010 Author Share Posted December 1, 2010 Thanks for all the info. I'm definately gonna need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallleyes Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Welcome to the addiction...did anyone mention to buy extension cords.I cleaned menards out 3 times and still had to rob the last 15 extension cord i had for using in my living room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shfr26 Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 But spt wire and make your cords. And then when you run short, go buy more cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLICK Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I did what was said above. And bought cords! LOL Also I took a pic of the outside of my house and made a few copies. Then I just drew on it. Plan#1. plan#2, plan#3 Or whatever. After that I went and bought more cords! LOL I spent a lot of time zip tying lights together. Strand of red strand of green and strand of clear. This was my first year also, so I really was lost for the most part. I used this forum for most of my research. Plus the tutorials. As far as sequencing goes......it is for sure the most time consuming! No questions about that! Thank god there are nice people that help out around here! There are some real pros that are kind enough to help out on here! Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Batzdorf Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 The easiest way to start is just to animate your static display. If you have been setting up the same stuff in the same locations, you are have way there. I think the most important thing to keep in mine is - don't change your layout once you have it on paper. you can move or change an item or two, but keep with the plan.Did any one mention to buy lot of cords! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wingert Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Starting right now. Everytime you go to Lowes, HD, Walmart...Grab an extention cord and throw it in the buggy. Then get some big a$$ bins to store them all in.Your coming in about the same time I did last year. I planned this sucker for months! Asked 14,568 questions, got 14,567 smart ass answers. But it worked! I then programmed for 11 months. Set all my stuff up 1st week of November! I love it! Its fantastic. Only problem now is I spend my days planning for 2011. AND NOW the wife is involved. That means DO this, DO that, MOVE this. LOLBest of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saul Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Hi Cary, Welcome to the insanity!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carsonpassey Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I think it is worth the ten minutes to take the new Light-o-rama controller, and hook it up right next to your computer. Plug a strand of lights into it and the run the hardware tool. You have to first search for the controller etc... there are a few steps and it is easy to stumble a bit....but then........... it turns on. Finally you can sent a few commands, like shimmer...or off or fade..... after playing around for a few minutes, I felt a lot better and hooked up an ok site. I now have 80 channels, an angry wife and a therapist..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubado Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 Menards has 20' extension cords for $2 with rebate. It is much cheaper than making your own, but making your own has some advantages as well, correct length needed and less connections and less bulk. Stock up now while you can, it's definately the best time of the year to get cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shfr26 Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 carsonpassey wrote: I think it is worth the ten minutes to take the new Light-o-rama controller, and hook it up right next to your computer. Plug a strand of lights into it and the run the hardware tool. You have to first search for the controller etc... there are a few steps and it is easy to stumble a bit....but then........... it turns on. Finally you can sent a few commands, like shimmer...or off or fade..... after playing around for a few minutes, I felt a lot better and hooked up an ok site. I now have 80 channels, an angry wife and a therapist.....Dump the therapist and get more controllers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cary D Coxwell Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 too funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwsievers Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 The thing that helped me was just to set my controller, computer, and some lights on the dining room table - and just start messing around with the program. Download a free sequence and watch it play and then start changing the sequence and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cary D Coxwell Posted December 5, 2010 Author Share Posted December 5, 2010 If anyone has any 16 channel sequences I could dnload and look, that would be great.Thx for replying to my post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts