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Getting a bit Nervous...


marsh28

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So my plan had been to do a 32 channel Halloween show for the first time this year. Although I have downloaded the software and finished the sequences I want to do, I decided to wait for the summer sale to get two partially assembled PC controllers cheaper. Now I'm concerned I won't have a light show for the weeks leading up to Halloween as LOR's website lists the PC controllers as being on "backorder". Even worse, other LOR vendors like Minion's and WOW Lights all list these controllers as being on "backorder". Can someone talk me off the ledge? I'm very concerned I won't have enough time now.

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I would not worry so much. I'm sure all the backorders are the exact reason that the summer sale has not happened yet.

If your holloween planning is complete, then move on to Christmas planning. You'll either have your controllers in time for this holloween or you won't. It might have to wait til next year. Life goes on.

I still need 2 more controllers for my Christmas show, I've got a lot of stuff to do, so worrying about when the summer sale is going to be doesn't even make my list of Sh..tuff to worry about.
I'll get done what I can. Set everything up and I'll either have my controllers or I won't. If not, then it becomes a static display.

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Problem is, Halloween was the only thing I was planning on doing this year :? I've already bought all the LED spots I plan on using and have literally EVERYTHING ready to go. I guess its now possible that all that time, sequencing and planning was a complete waste of time. My wife is going to kill me. :P

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Setup Halloween for Christmas! :P

I think everyone is getting nervous, we have a new sub panel going in, charities beating down the door, went from 48 - 128 channels this year, plus CCR and RGB's and 2 songs done! On top of breaking my hand three weeks ago which really has set me back.

I was waiting for the new S3 to hopefully make my life easier .. but well ya know. We've just focused on what we have and what we can make work. we'll make it work! You will too!

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trankin79... I guess I could do a Halloween/Christmas show like they do at Disney's Haunted Mansion every year:) In truth, I think I'll probably just need a few weeks to get the hand of using the controllers as my display only uses a combo of LED and incandescent spot lights with some strobes mixed in.

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David Rise wrote:

I would not worry so much. I'm sure all the backorders are the exact reason that the summer sale has not happened yet. If your holloween planning is complete, then move on to Christmas planning. You'll either have your controllers in time for this holloween or you won't. It might have to wait til next year. Life goes on. I still need 2 more controllers for my Christmas show, I've got a lot of stuff to do, so worrying about when the summer sale is going to be doesn't even make my list of Sh..tuff to worry about. I'll get done what I can. Set everything up and I'll either have my controllers or I won't. If not, then it becomes a static display.


Had a 50W RV outlet installed and I built a portable sub panel with 6 more outlets. My primary concern is how to keep all my stuff from being stolen in the middle of the night. This could be my first and only year.
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The controllers are pretty much, plug and play. Set the I.D., plugsthe lights into the correct channel, thats if you have for config all done already, which it sounds like you do.

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That's what I was kind of thinking. I guess I'm just a bit intimidate since I've never used the controllers before.

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Marsh... you'll have your first controller assembled in about an hour... your second will take less time than that. Then you'll attach them to your PC one at a time to set the addresses, (5 minutes each, max), and then you're ready to start plugging in your lights... piece of cake, and you always have us to help you through the rough spots...

D.T.

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Remember, there are a bunch of users here with over 500 posts, any of which should be able to help you through any issues. And, the controllers all come preassigned with ID 1 now, so there is not that initial difficulty of how exactly do I get the ID set for the first time. If you have everything looking good in the visualizer, and are willing to share your files if needed when troubleshooting, initial set up issues are generally easy to work through in a week, if not in a single night..

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marsh28 wrote:

Problem is, Halloween was the only thing I was planning on doing this year :? I've already bought all the LED spots I plan on using and have literally EVERYTHING ready to go. I guess its now possible that all that time, sequencing and planning was a complete waste of time. My wife is going to kill me. :P
if you had a fellow LOR member close by, they could lend you their controllers if all you need to do is test.
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Everyone is of course correct: Using the actual hardware is gravy. The hard part is the planning and sequencing, which you have done.

The software doesn't care if it's talking to the Animator, the new S3 Visualizer, or any of the supported hardware: It all works the same once you put the colors in the grid :P

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marsh28 wrote:

That's what I was kind of thinking. I guess I'm just a bit intimidate since I've never used the controllers before.
I feel your pain, last year was my first year ever and a Christmas show. had everything plugged in and wired but nothing. long story short, a quick reboot and reinstall of the USB driver and all was good (and turning on the power to the controllers, they are funny that way).
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caniac wrote:

marsh28 wrote:
That's what I was kind of thinking. I guess I'm just a bit intimidate since I've never used the controllers before.
I feel your pain, last year was my first year ever and a Christmas show. had everything plugged in and wired but nothing. long story short, a quick reboot and reinstall of the USB driver and all was good (and turning on the power to the controllers, they are funny that way).
You're supposed to make me feel better . . . not worse :P
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marsh28 wrote:

caniac wrote:
marsh28 wrote:
That's what I was kind of thinking. I guess I'm just a bit intimidate since I've never used the controllers before.
I feel your pain, last year was my first year ever and a Christmas show. had everything plugged in and wired but nothing. long story short, a quick reboot and reinstall of the USB driver and all was good (and turning on the power to the controllers, they are funny that way).
You're supposed to make me feel better . . . not worse :P
i was hoping to make you laugh, my significant other picked on me for days about forgetting to plug the main cords in. Lost count of the times I heard "you know that works better now that you plugged it in"!!
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One other thing, do you have the demo software ora licenced version??? Demo will not work the lights.

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Marsh-

If you can't get the pre-built boards go for the PC KITS! I got one last week and it took about 4 or 5 hours to complete (and the last time I assembled a PCB was well over 30 years ago!) I did not rush the assembly, just took my time and double checked before soldering. Very good instructions to work with, even a tutorial on good soldering practices is included.

Highly recommended, (and a great ego boost when it tests correctly the first try!)

Regards,

Jim H

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