Ryan Gardner Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 Some of you may have seen the large 60ft tree we put up here at Fiesta Texas. We currently run a LOR show up near our front gate with 12 boxes and about 72,000 lights. It is weak because the area we have to do it in just doesn't scream LIGHT SHOW. We have this beautiful 60ft fake tree that does SCREAM LIGHT SHOW. A bit about the tree. There are 906 branches on it. Currently there are LED C7 retros on it. I wanna replace with m5 LEDs 5 colors q strand of each red, blue, yellow, green, purple. For those doing the math at home thats 4,530 channels or 283 boxes.OK I KNOW FIRST PROBLEM LOR network can only support 240boxes. So some thoughts we have on that is either split the tree in two and run the front off a computer and the back and run 140 boes on each. Have it do the same show only opisite. Or Run it off two computers that are set to the exact time have the front off one the back off another, but program it as one show? That is how far I have gotten on that problem so far.Next question I have is has anyone here gotten close to that many boxes?I guess what I am getting at is before I go and have a "great idea" to my boss does this seem something that can be way to much? I have thought about pairing branches up as well.Thanks,Ryan Attached files
Surfing4Dough Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 Either route, I think that will make the list of the most expensive Christmas trees ever. :shock: And I thought I had a lot of extension cords.
Ryan Gardner Posted March 4, 2011 Author Posted March 4, 2011 Intrestingly enough because of the way the tree is made. I would only need about 5 spools of zip cord. Which is still almost a mile of wiring, but not that bad when it is in perspective. LOR seems to be the most cost effective way to go for sure. Being that we operate many theaters here at the park (large real ones too in fact 2 of the top 3 largest indoor stage decks in Texas are in the park 1. Zaragoza Theater and 3. Rockvillehigh theater.) we looked into portable dimmer racks and for that sacle it is like nearly 5 times much EEEEK! IF IT CAN BE DONE. The price would be well worth the show piece. Our little front gate show gets people in the park all excited and I think it is lame(I have a right to say that as it is my programming and design... but the space I have to work with is aweful)
Surfing4Dough Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 One quote I noticed on LOR's site:"More than 200 16 channel controllers can function on one giant Light-O-Rama data network giving you the ability to independently control 3,200 lighting channels. If you need more, give us a call."http://www.lightorama.com/ShowtimePro.html
Ryan Gardner Posted March 4, 2011 Author Posted March 4, 2011 Oh good one did not see that... I know that IF I do this there will probly be more than a few calls made. Like I said the biggest question is does it seem like a huge task. Keep in mind we have a set up crew, but I am just wondering if this is like something that will consume everything that is me hahaha.Ryan
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 Just me, or is that tree leaning to the right a bit?
Ryan Gardner Posted March 4, 2011 Author Posted March 4, 2011 oh it leans... The top does that is.... The final 10feet are like a typical tree in someones house. It is branch around a pole. Well this year a nice 60mph wind hit it and gave it a kink. This was in the middle of the run so the repair could not be made until the off season. But because of this it made the whole thing look like it was gonna fall over. If you stood at the base and the clouds were moving rigt you would really swear it was falling hehe.Ryan
jimswinder Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 I guess my question would be..Is it necessary to be able to control each of the 906 branches?I know you would be able to get some cool effects, but would it look just as good with two branches per channel?Going from 192 channels now (is that right?) to 2265 I would think would be a GREAT improvement!!!
PaulXmas Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 OMG!I wanna see that tree in action.Sequencing is going to take a lot of your time.Could you even use the visulizer for that many channels?I want one...honey can I have ... $56,000 to buy a couple of controllers and another $50,000 or so for a few lights?
Guest Don Gillespie Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 PaulXmas wrote: OMG!I want one...honey can I have ... $56,000 to buy a couple of controllers and another $50,000 or so for a few lights?LMFOROF if she lets you get this stuff I wanna marry her LOL :D:D:D
cmoore60 Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 Ryan,A LOR network will support 240 devices (controllers) max. However, the software can have multiple networks. I believe presently that is 4 networks, but is going to become a significant larger number of networks.Just checked version 2.9.4 supports 16 networks in the sequence editor. So 16 networks X 240 units X 16 channels. Provided the bandwidth does not kill you.Chuck
Ryan Gardner Posted March 4, 2011 Author Posted March 4, 2011 Hmmm so we could do each branch... I guess thats what it comes down to. The branches exposed area on the tree are about 1.5ft wide by 2.5ft tall. So do yall think that would look ok with 2?Ryan
Don Posted March 4, 2011 Posted March 4, 2011 Ryan Gardner wrote: Hmmm so we could do each branch... I guess thats what it comes down to. The branches exposed area on the tree are about 1.5ft wide by 2.5ft tall. So do yall think that would look ok with 2?RyanBy looking at the outside of the tree, and your description of the top of the tree, I've got a pretty good guess about how that particular tree is constructed. (Yes, I could be wrong ... but if it's not the style I'm thinking of, then getting that number of controllers in there would be extremely difficult.)If the tree infrastructure is the style that I'm thinking of, the original idea of 4,530 channels is going to be a logistical headache. (Never mind the fact you've only got a 1 in 4,530 chance of getting it hooked up right the first time, the resulting troubleshooting will take a while.) Reducing the number of channels used would, in my humble opinion, be advisable.If you want more advice, send me a PM or email.
paul sessel Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 That seems like massive overkill. You could do a really cool tree with 6 to 10 controllers by slices or panels rather than each branch. It would also be a lot easier for programing and setting it up year after year.
Ryan Gardner Posted March 8, 2011 Author Posted March 8, 2011 Yeah I agree Paul it is WAY OVER THE TOP... Basically we have 6 LOR on it now, but it is not a real show. We do a tree lighint that lights it up on a countdown from 10. so 10 "rings" light up to the top star. We hooked it up this year to sim a show with the 6 boxes and it was Ehhh so so. Mainly because it was just a on of and no color chance as the branches have c7 retros on them. So if we make it a show it needs to be a "Center piece attraction" I am now for sure not going branch by branch, but 2 branches per or even 2x2 I could see. The setup should be easy after the first year since the tree is a frame and we can attatch all the electrical to it for easy up every year. So I guess the new goal is how to make it OVER THE TOP with out OVER KILL heheheRyan
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