Newbi to lor in Texas lots of questions!

[WeissWonderland]

Wow I am going crazy thinking about how I want everything to blink but need some advise on where to start. First I have received 2 - 16 channel boxes for my birthday. That's when you know you have a problem when family buys you Christmas stuff in may. I have a 45,000 light display but it is stationary and I want it to dance. First I need to know what type of lap top to buy to run show, than I was going to see if there was anyone close to north richland hills than can help me learn the programs and secrets. I know it will cost me.:shock:

[Arnoldc]

First, welcome to the maddness! Second, you can use any cheapy laptop you have laing around. My "show" computer is 9 years old.. But for my sequencing, I use my pc with good quality headphones.
There are a lot of us around dew area, I'm in Addison.. Would be happy to help where i can..

Arnold

[WeissWonderland]

That's awesome, I have a friend that sells computers really cheap so I was going to see what he has because the one I have laying around the house has viruses and is done. I have moved all to Mac

[WeissWonderland]

Also how do you get the counter at the bottom of the post?

[Max-Paul]

Weiss,

first lets talk about your location. Ok, so you tell us "North Richland Hills". But what state is that in?

My only suggestion is that you got more lights and items in your display than channels. So, your going to have to select 32 items you want to blink this year. Pick things that will go with the music your going to sequence to. Like I did Snoopy's Christmas. So, I made two rope light bells for when the bells are ringing. I have 4 10' long arches. And when the Red Barron pops the cork on the champagne bottle. I made one arch do a rapid scan to look like a cork taking off from the bottle. I have a couple window frames that flash so that it looks like they are talking or singing. I have a couple of those wire deers that do the ooooh, mow, mow that a bass singer would do. Its just a matter of imagination and deciding what element of your display is going to represent what part of a song.
Though some will just light up any element for a given beat or note. Your going to be a choreographer for your display.

this is your first year. I strongly suggest that if you can find any videos of peoples displays that you watch them. And keep in mind that you will spend about 2 hrs for every minute of the song. Might get faster with time, but right now your going to be getting a feel for it and learning the software and how to make things happen.

Good Luck

[james campbell]

WeissWonderland wrote:

Also how do you get the counter at the bottom of the post?

http://www.planetchristmas.com/signatures/

[WeissWonderland]

Sorry I live in texas

[james morris]

oops too fast i live in arlington texas

[WeissWonderland]

Ya I install Christmas light professional during the winter time but really want my house to pop we have been doing a can food drive and toy drive every year for the lights and wow so many people come by and do ate but I want to step it up

[Mwhite7097]

I would suggest a laptop with Windows XP instead of the MAC. LOR is more friendly with Windows.

[PaulXmas]

EXTENSION CORDS!
You will need at least one for each channel.
Allow your self lots of time to sequence or convert sequences done by other people (try to find someone with a similar setup).

[shakeonit]

I'm in Prosper, you can check out my videos and ask me any specific questions.

You said you install lights, so I assume you know of short cuts, and cost saving measures. I can definitely help there, as I always take the shortest distance between two points.

You can PM me if you like.

[MikeHeather]

Hello:

I'm a newbie from Allen Texas.

I am jumping into this lighting stuff face first. I ended up with 2nd place in the neighborhood competition last season with a static display, so I'm determined to correct that this year and ensure that I get that $25 Home Depot gift card and that sign in the yard. You got to love that competition. Lot of neighbors started feeling the pressure last year and have started putting stuff up as well. It's great when more and more folks get into it.

Bought five controller kits in the recent LOR sale and they are all soldered together and working. That went very smooth and they all worked the first time!! I think I'll get one more in the summer sale.

I bought a bunch of lights during the CDI sale. However, couldn't afford 100% LED, I'm going with a mix of LED and incandescent.

All the electrical requirements are near completed.
I have my spreadsheet near completed; giving the mapping of all the channels and circuits to ensure nothing is overloaded.
Have my lights setup in the LOR Visualizer
Currently have three songs identified, and will adapt someone else's sequences for two of the songs. I will attempt to create my own sequence for the third.

Still need to do least the following:
Make the arches
Figure out how I'm doing the mega tree
Re-wire stick trees to have 3 separate channels
Make Bethlehem star
Make/obtain extension cords
Acquire the music, modify to constant bit rate, and do the sequencing
Need to get that FM transmitter

There is so much to do. Only six months left before Thanksgiving. Actually have less time then that, got to start the setup immediately after Halloween. I'm running out of time. :shock:

Cheers,

Mike

[Ryan Johnson]

Welcome to all the new folks from Texas.

There's lots of great info on the forums here and you'll learn a lot. You should also consider checking out Lone Star Holidays (http://www.lonestarholidays.com) and signing up for those forums as well. There you'll get the low down on all of the workgroups and events we have across the state.

Also consider joining us at the Academy in June (www.theultimateacademy.com). Very economical way to learn a lot and meet a couple hundred other holiday lunatics... I mean enthusiasts!

Take care, good luck, and welcome to the fun!

[james campbell]

MikeHeather wrote:

Hello:

I'm a newbie from Allen Texas.

I am jumping into this lighting stuff face first. I ended up with 2nd place in the neighborhood competition last season with a static display, so I'm determined to correct that this year and ensure that I get that $25 Home Depot gift card and that sign in the yard. You got to love that competition. Lot of neighbors started feeling the pressure last year and have started putting stuff up as well. It's great when more and more folks get into it.

Bought five controller kits in the recent LOR sale and they are all soldered together and working. That went very smooth and they all worked the first time!! I think I'll get one more in the summer sale.

I bought a bunch of lights during the CDI sale. However, couldn't afford 100% LED, I'm going with a mix of LED and incandescent.

All the electrical requirements are near completed.
I have my spreadsheet near completed; giving the mapping of all the channels and circuits to ensure nothing is overloaded.
Have my lights setup in the LOR Visualizer
Currently have three songs identified, and will adapt someone else's sequences for two of the songs. I will attempt to create my own sequence for the third.

Still need to do least the following:
Make the arches
Figure out how I'm doing the mega tree
Re-wire stick trees to have 3 separate channels
Make Bethlehem star
Make/obtain extension cords
Acquire the music, modify to constant bit rate, and do the sequencing
Need to get that FM transmitter

There is so much to do. Only six months left before Thanksgiving. Actually have less time then that, got to start the setup immediately after Halloween. I'm running out of time. :shock:

Cheers,

Mike

Mike that looks like a good list,but I am sure you will think of more. It is also nice to see that you have done some reading and kinda know what your getting into:)

[Ryan Johnson]

Max-Paul wrote:

first lets talk about your location. Ok, so you tell us "North Richland Hills". But what state is that in?

WeissWonderland wrote:

Sorry I live in texas

No need to apologize. The TITLE of your thread clearly says you're in Texas.

[texascop]

Texas ain't a state. It's a whole 'nother country.

Used to be a slogan. I'm just outside Wichita Falls. Lived in Hurst for about 10 years.

[mmaness]

I'm in Forney, which is a bit to the East of you, but in Texas miles, it's just down the block and across the street.

DFW is one area that has quite a large base of LOR users. You won't have to go far to find help.

Welcome to the madness .. and start buying extension cords now .. you'll quite often have too few, but you'll never have too many.

[Dennis Cherry]

Do you know if you live in Dallas and traveling to southern California, buy the time you reach El Paso you are half way there.

[texascop]

And Texas in in the Central Time zone, except for El Paso, which is the Mountain Time zone.