Any chance to do something meaningful THIS Halloween?

[lowepg]

Ive been reading through here for hours.... my head is spinning.

2 months seemed like a lot of time to put together a halloween display, after lots of reading, now that seems laughable :-(

If I were to get one of the starter kits sold, ie:

http://www.wowlights.com/ProductDetail.asp?Category=19&Product=390

Is it REASONABLE to try to get THAT setup in a month (assuming 2-3 weeks delivery time)?

(assuming I use some pre-made sequences to start with)?

It SEEMS like they inlucde everything to get started. The only things Id shoot for would be mount the faces onto windows and perhaps add some dumb LED strips to accept the roofline and or the vertivle lines on the front of my house.

Have I lost my lind with this idea?

2nd Question:

Assuming I havent lost my mind, does that package at least give me the building blocks for a more custom solution next season?

[TJ Hvasta]

holy crap, thats a lotta money !!! I'm sorry, let me start over properly.. Welcome to the addiction that is LOR.. holy crap, thats a lotta money !!!

If you want some whiz-bang display and dont care about the bux, and want something right now, then order away! Otherwise:

1) Order the LOR Starter kit and one, maybe two controllers from LOR or an authorized seller (if you can solder, order one completely assembled kit, the other, either a partially assembled, or a total you-build, using the fully assembled as a pattern),

2) find some sequences on the number of websites offering shared sequences. There are a bunch of us here that share out the sequences we've made.

With less than 58-ish days to go, a month ago would've still made it tight, but unless you've got two weeks of Vacation starting the day you get this stuff, I wouldnt attempt it, and I've been doing this a while, but thats just me.

Really if I were in your shoes (and had your wallet), put up a few ghosts, some colorful tombstones and play some spooky music, but plan right now for a Christmas show.

Edited September 2, 2012 by TJ Hvasta

[digdeepfundraising]

i agree with tj thats is a lot of dollar for what it is and i think your pushing your luck a bit being set up for this halloween

but i supose with a overpriced chuck it together kit you could do it

[travis p]

tj is ooooh so right im going into my second year and have said i was going to do a Halloween show but its sept and im feeling like i wont be ready for christmas

[james campbell]

if you can find a lor certified dealer close to you(it helps to have your location iin your profile) you can pick you items up yourself. I also agree with Tj and the others,what you don't know is the amount of secondary items you will need ie extension cords. you will save a ton of money if you buy the starter kit and build all the props yourself, Welcome and get ready for a crazy ride

[MtDew4me]

lowepg: First, Welcome to LOR.

A 2 controller package with the the SPK-ST Generic Starter Package kit ordered directly from LOR would be significantly cheaper. You can check out Holidaycoro.com for easy to assemble singing faces and tombstones. There are several vendors that sell wireframes also so look around the forum - It just depends on what you prefer. Color Flood lights and fixtures to color wash your house are cheap and available at HomeDepot/Lowes etc. IMHO, color washing the house is a big impact for the money.

There are many free sequences available and several places to buy sequences. Search the forum, you'll find them easy enough.

Also, if when you refer to "dumb LED strips" you are taking about dumb RGB strips, you'll need a DC board to control them. The controllers listed in the WOW light package you linked will NOT control dumb RGB strips. You need something like: http://store.lightorama.com/cmdedcca2.html which will require you build the controller box (ie: enclosure, power supply, 4-core connectors).

I recommend the first thing you do is layout and lock down what you want to do. Then calculate the time and cost. Putting together a big show in this amount of time will be HUGE undertaking. Best of luck!

[MCas4380]

one thing no one mentioned those kits do not include lights. if you don't already have your lights this could also add up quick

[lowepg]

lowepg: First, Welcome to LOR.

A 2 controller package with the the SPK-ST Generic Starter Package kit ordered directly from LOR would be significantly cheaper. You can check out Holidaycoro.com for easy to assemble singing faces and tombstones. There are several vendors that sell wireframes also so look around the forum - It just depends on what you prefer. Color Flood lights and fixtures to color wash your house are cheap and available at HomeDepot/Lowes etc. IMHO, color washing the house is a big impact for the money.

There are many free sequences available and several places to buy sequences. Search the forum, you'll find them easy enough.

Also, if when you refer to "dumb LED strips" you are taking about dumb RGB strips, you'll need a DC board to control them. The controllers listed in the WOW light package you linked will NOT control dumb RGB strips. You need something like: http://store.lightor.../cmdedcca2.html which will require you build the controller box (ie: enclosure, power supply, 4-core connectors).

I recommend the first thing you do is layout and lock down what you want to do. Then calculate the time and cost. Putting together a big show in this amount of time will be HUGE undertaking. Best of luck!

Yikes....

Thanks for the link- Im now insulted at that package cost! :-)

Apparently I still need to learn how the RGBs are controlled- I missed the controler card piece- I assumed you could drive these off one of the channels duh...

Im in Raleigh, NC- btw- in case anyone knows a local distributor!

guess I will start planning for 2013!

[Guest wbottomley]

Yikes....

Thanks for the link- Im now insulted at that package cost! :-)

Apparently I still need to learn how the RGBs are controlled- I missed the controler card piece- I assumed you could drive these off one of the channels duh...

Im in Raleigh, NC- btw- in case anyone knows a local distributor!

guess I will start planning for 2013!

Here's a list of partners that could be close.

[scubado]

Look up wbottomley, he's in NC also. Send him a PM, ask him if he's got time to give you some advice. A lot of us are kicking into high gear to get ready for the holidays.

Welcome to the madness!

[TJ Hvasta]

Was in no means trying to scare you away from doing this, just the timeline wasnt going to work for you unless you had a lotta time off between when you got these shipped and Halloween.. Independently wealthy (or close to it) wudda worked, maybe as you could just buy everything done, pull it outta the box, set up, plug in and go, but thinking of reality, 'knew it wouldnt really happen that way.. One, maybe two big faces you could do if you already had a supply of ropelight, frames (just 3/4" pvc) and time. but with just 58 days to go, working 5 days a week of that time, just Sat/Sundays free, knew even seasoned guys couldnt pull it off.

Bill Bottomly is the resident egghead in NC.. he's in Charlotte, Raleigh's jus' a bit down th' road (I was based there with AA in the 90's) but he's the local-est/best-est expert you'll find... Bill's got High Country Lights website, several shared sequences on his site, get the LOR Starter package, d/l some of his seq. and play with them.. If he's doing a road trip btwn now and Halloween, maybe he can help, certainly for Christmas, as we can too..

You didnt mention if you can solder, if you cant, get one/two Partially Assembled boards, they only require plugging in the cords, screwing them down in the clamps and you're good to start, will save you abt $50. If you can solder reliably, try the -16PC kits, they go together in 2-4hrs depending how good you are, but will save you close to $100 on each kit from Fully/Partly Assembled..

Your learning curve will be a vertical line, no getting around that, but it will level off.. Just dont forget to eat, breathe, and ask for help (but try to do as much searching as you can!)

[Techster]

Yikes....

Thanks for the link- Im now insulted at that package cost! :-)

Apparently I still need to learn how the RGBs are controlled- I missed the controler card piece- I assumed you could drive these off one of the channels duh...

Im in Raleigh, NC- btw- in case anyone knows a local distributor!

guess I will start planning for 2013!

I didn't believe I had enough time last year, but took advantage of Halloween to prep for Christmas. I was able to run some SPT wire to static props and lights I placed around the yard (pumpkins, skeletons, blowmolds and a fabricated cannon) also had two fog machines and a bubble machine for my skeleton in a barrel (tub). The SPT wire stayed for the Christmas setup, but because of my location I had to move a little in Nov for leaf raking and mowing.

I put up a tiny tot friendly display not scary, the day after Halloween two little neighborhood kids stopped by with a home made thank you card. While I didn't think the display was much the kids thought it was "cool". I've learned alot through the forums (PC, Lightorama, Halloweenforum, Hauntforum, etc.) This year I built 3 axis skulls and RGB lighting - hopefully I'm still cool this year.

In my neighborhood you can see the standard static yard displays, but not much else. I learned that what I think of as a little others may think of as alot. Start small for Halloween this year, and prep for Christmas.

Good luck,

Mike

[tjflory]

I would encourage you to go for it but at a simple level.

You could do a few simple things for your Halloween display, thus getting your feet wet and learning how things work in preparation

for your Christmas display.

As far as hardware, I would buy the complete assembled controllers. The cost savings with the build-yourself controllers

is minimal when you consider your time and the peace-of-mind knowing that the thing was assembled and tested by professionals.

Welcome to the Lunacy!

tj

Edited September 3, 2012 by tjflory

[ShaggySS]

There is still plenty of time for a 32 channel display. Go for it. Once you get started the excitement will keep you going

[lowepg]

Thanks for the advice. I think I AM giong to at least try to get my feel wet this FALL....

What would be a good LOR "starter package"?

[TJ Hvasta]

Your first order, me personally, I would go:

Partially assembled controller, (you plug in the cords, saves $30): http://store.lightorama.com/ctascpa.html

Starter pack, have to get it with a controller, like above: http://store.lightorama.com/spk800.html

That's a controller, software & adapter.. You can add another partially assembled if you like, for 32ch..

[scubado]

You could easily do a 16 channel setup for Halloween and 32 channels for Christmas. For Halloween, you could have Halloween Music playing independent of your LOR setup and have LOR control Thunder and Lightning and general lighting for tombstones or whatever you have. If you think your going to expand next year it's cheaper to get the advanced license with the starter package. As far as the controllers, get the residential ones with the enclosure. I personally would not get the cord set, I use SPT-2 extension cords and make my own dongles, less bulk and get the length you need.

[tjflory]

You could easily do a 16 channel setup for Halloween and 32 channels for Christmas. For Halloween, you could have Halloween Music playing independent of your LOR setup and have LOR control Thunder and Lightning and general lighting for tombstones or whatever you have. If you think your going to expand next year it's cheaper to get the advanced license with the starter package. As far as the controllers, get the residential ones with the enclosure. I personally would not get the cord set, I use SPT-2 extension cords and make my own dongles, less bulk and get the length you need.

Agreed. Get the advanced software license.

tj

[scubado]

You can also download the software now and start learning it. You can start sequencing right away in demo mode, when you make your purchase, you will get the license key right away so you can play with your controllers when they arrive. Since time is important, buy extension cords at Menards if you have one close, they have the best prices, especially when on sale or rebate. Next year you can look into making your own cords. Don't look at RGB ribbon this year except to learn, they use different controllers and time is not on your side.

[DanielWayne]

To the OP, if it's any consolation, you aren't alone. I got my LOR starter kit (from LOR, not the $2000 kit linked above, thats wayyyy over my budget) and an additional controller less than 2 weeks ago (fully assembled as I know my limitations!) I spent the weekend visiting my elderly parents, but brought my netbook with the software installed so I could play with the visualizer and start to figure it out. I told my better half it is FULL THROTTLE until Nov 1. We are taking a weekend vacation in a few weeks, and I fear the netbook with LOR software installed is coming with us haha! I've made about 5 trips to Home Depot so far to get wood and mesh, etc. Rope light coming in the mail as we speak. If I don't make it, then I will be better prepared for 2013 (or even Christmas 2012). But I am in all in. I have a thick notebook full of my own 'research'. I'm also nursing a hurt shoulder, but some shots have given me my 'zip' back haha!

As part of the negotiations, I had to promise the girlfriend a trip to the new outlet mall when everything is said and done.

Edited September 4, 2012 by DanielWayne