eschlomach Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 i have a little over 20 thousand lights and really want to get started with LOR. i have a really big yard so its gonna take a lot of channels. if any one has any suggestions let me know.
jimswinder Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 Looks like you are well on your way with this addiction...er.. I mean hobby...I would definitely download the free LOR Demo Software and start playing around with it as it does have a slight learning curve and try and figure out how many channels you will want/need by playing with the animation visualizer.Then sit back and wait for the Spring Sale LOR always has and order MORE channels than you think you will need...And of course..you'll need LOTS and LOTS of extension cords or SPT2 wire to make your cords with.Good luck..will be looking for some videos of your 2011 LOR display synced to music!!!
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 2010 was my first year with LOR, I initially started with 16 channels, ended up with 80 and still need more.I second the other posters comment about extension cords, I started out making a few of my own in 2009 when I used a Mr. Christmas unit and made them from old defective incandescent light string male and femal ends, then when it was time to put up my first 2010 display for Halloween, I was short a LOT of extension cords, so I went out and bought about 30-40 cords initially, dadgummit, NOT ENOUGH, by the time I was done, I now have over 1500 extension cords, that number includes all the ones I made up as well as some I already had. I think all in all I bought around 750 brand new extension cords. And you know what, I *KNOW* I'm going to need even more when I get back into a house. having to move to an apartment for awhile, so my display will be very, very small and scaled way down for 2011, unless some miracle happens and I get re-employed and can get back into a home before Halloween 2011 (here's hoping).But no matter how many extension cords you think you'll need to start out with, if you're buying them pre-made, double or triple what you think you'll need. Chances are you'll still need more than you figured!Welcome to the madness of LOR!
ainsworth Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 The YouTube video title says you live in Kingsville Texas!? I thought I got out and saw all of the displays this year, but I don't recognize your display, it's hell to get old!I am here in town (over by the College), and will be glad to help you if I can. I don't know, maybe you came by and saw my display this year?Let me know, maybe we can meet somewhere over a cup of coffee and talk about it.Bruce
Bob Wingert Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 eschlomach wrote: i have a little over 20 thousand lights and really want to get started with LOR. i have a really big yard so its gonna take a lot of channels. if any one has any suggestions let me know.Suggestion? As big as that yard is and with as many parts that could be animated ----- You're GONNA need A LOT of channels! WOW> Have fun...And get started, NOW.
Guest Don Gillespie Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Bob Wingert wrote: eschlomach wrote: i have a little over 20 thousand lights and really want to get started with LOR. i have a really big yard so its gonna take a lot of channels. if any one has any suggestions let me know.Suggestion? As big as that yard is and with as many parts that could be animated ----- You're GONNA need A LOT of channels! WOW> Have fun...And get started, NOW. Nice display, when you do decide to make the switch to LOR you will not be sorry, it is the best thing I ever did, it will totally change the way you look at Christmas lights, and the people on this forum are the best you couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to ask questions from because you always get the answer you need to make your display great, any other questions don't be scared to ask.
jimswinder Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 and the people on this forum are the best you couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to ask questions from because you always get the answer you need to make your display great unless you see Bart's Butt...then run like hell!!!
scubado Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 This last year was my first year too. LOR is second to none in customer support.Depending on your comfort level with computers, electrical, etc, you may want to consider limiting yourself the first year. This gives you time to get familiar with the software and build your infrasructure without getting everwelmed and discouraged. Sequencing takes a lot of time especially in the beginning till you start learning the software. I started with 48 channels and plan to double that this year. I started early summer, you are starting sooner, so 48-96 channels is a nice start with enough time. If you're feeling pretty competant and have the budget go for more.And welcome to the madness!
Guest Don Gillespie Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 jimswinder wrote: and the people on this forum are the best you couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to ask questions from because you always get the answer you need to make your display great unless you see Bart's Butt...then run like hell!!!I didn't want to scare him Jim LOL
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 From my experience as well as most here can tell you, no matter how many channels you start with, you'll find while setting up your display you'll need even more than you figured. It seems as soon as you start sequencing and getting it all together, get it up and start connecting your elements, you find you either want something more to add or find you have more elements than you thouht, requiring even more channels. I don't think it ever ends, really! LOLAfter I set up my 80 channel Halloween display, again, very first animated, sequenced musical display, I found I still had some decor I wanted to add, but funds did not permit more channels so I had to "double up" on some display elements to get them in there. So some channels were used for 2 or 3 seperate pieces, not what I wanted to accomplish but still came out pretty decent, but again, even whewn you think you're done, you'll find something that you just want to tweak even more. I started my sequencing in Decemeber 2009 playing with the demo software to get a feel of it, then bought my first controller used, then I bought another and then 3 more controllers as well as the MP3 Showtime Director to run my shows, I also purchased a Mobile Black Box Eclipse-4000 FM Transmitter so folks could tune in and listen and watch from the comfort of their car. And I still needed about 32 more channels for my Halloween Display. Christmas wasn't as grand as I had wanted and I did only use 79 channels for that display, but once I get back into a home with a yard again, this will definitely grow larger as will the Halloween display.But as others have said, if you have already purchased one controller and gotten the actual working version of the software, then you can do a lot more, if just the demo, you can play with it, just can't save your goodies in the demo.I would also recommend spending the few bucks more and getting the "ADVANCED" version of the LOR software suite, you can't go wrong with the Advanced version as it has a lot more features incorporated into it, it also is not limited by a specific number of controllers as many of the lower versions of the software are.Again, welcome to the madness of LOR and the world of Musical Animated Computerized Lightshows!
scubado Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 If you are in the northern part of the country (please update your profile so we can see where you are located) a transmitter is a must. I didn't have one for 2010 and people just drive by not knowing the lights dance to music. Plus, we had a cold December to be standing outside for too long to listen to the lights. I did finally put out a sign stating the music schedule and that helped some. If you use just speakers, you will hear the music indoors and may get tired of hearing it too much or interfer when trying to watch a movie.
jimswinder Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 scubado wrote: you will hear the music indoors and may get tired of hearing it too much or interfere when trying to watch a movie.you are inside watching a movie while your lights are on???this is blasphemy!!!!! :X
Guest Don Gillespie Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 jimswinder wrote: scubado wrote: you will hear the music indoors and may get tired of hearing it too much or interfere when trying to watch a movie.you are inside watching a movie while your lights are on???this is blasphemy!!!!! :X What is this world coming to, watching a movie instead of your lights?
miaskiewicz christian Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 You don't have to synchronize the whole display the 1st year.Little by little.It was my 1st year with 32 channels this year and I have no regret. :-))))))))
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2011 Posted February 4, 2011 scubado wrote: If you use just speakers, you will hear the music indoors and may get tired of hearing it too much or interfer when trying to watch a movie.I had one speaker mounted right outside my Living room window on the eve of the house, the other was mounted on the eve on the garage, the speakers were about 60-80' or so away from each other.We never heard the music inside the house, even when I had the windows opened near them. Never bothered us at all, we only heard it if we were right at the windows. Otheriwse since they were directed outward away from the house, we got very little feedback from them whatsoever.Didn't interupt anything going on inside at all. And they were played at a very moderate level where they could be heard by passerbys on the sidewalk about 80-100' from the living room window and about 40-50' from the garage mounted speaker. I used an FM Radio inside the garage to feed the external weatherproof speakers I had installed. No issues inside or even from the neighbors.
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