newbie put on hold till next year

[greywolf]

OK here's my plans and ?'s

i'm already planning my purchases for next years displays

2 pc controllers

2 CCB's

software kit... basic + or ?

what else will i need to complete this package to get me up and running

and since i'm still a newbie at this i was planning to try again for the newbie scholarship fund for next year

due to circumstances beyond my control i wasn't able get started on this years light show set up an purchases

[cenote]

lights, cat 5s, extension cords

[scubado]

Start saving for after Christmas deals! Start planning your layout now using the software in demo mode, this will help guide you on lights to keep an eye out for.

[Orville]

greywolf, go with the ADVANCED License, otherwise you may not be able to control those CCR's or any additional DMX type devices you might add later. The Advanced license gives you unlimited controllers, whereas the lower levels are limited to a specific number, the lower levels also, if I'm remembering correctly may not give you access to the DMX settings you may need.

I started with Basic+, but upgraded to Advanced within less than 2 weeks after I started sequencing for my first display, Halloween 2010.

Believe me, you will not regret getting the Advanced License, it'll come in handy sooner than you realize!

[Ron Boyd]

http://store.lightorama.com/rese16chstpa.html Basic software is included. ($18 upgrade to Basic +)

http://store.lightorama.com/ctascpa.html Connect a few wires and install the strain relief and save a few bucks. (Instructiions are included)

http://store.lightorama.com/suse.html (If you can swing it, this is a very nice add-on. Makes sequencing the CCBs a breeze)

http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4400-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346776432&sr=1-1&keywords=kill+a+watt. You will need one of these if you are going to be using incandescent lights, and it's a nice addition for LEDs too.

As mentioned above, you'll need Cat5 cables, 1 for the second controller (1 is included in the Starter Package) and 2 for the CCBs. SPT-1 or SPT-2 and vampire connectors for the extension cords is the least expensive way to go and you can make custom lenghts going this route.

Most all of the light sites have pre-season and after-season sales.

This will pretty much get you up and running. with a quite nice show.

Hope this helps.

Good luck,

Ron

[Dave Batzdorf]

You'll also need a transmitter. If you are not familiar with soldering i would recommend the PC kit. The board is assemled, all you do is put the cords on and install it in the box. oh yea, one more thing - lots of TIME.

[Max-Paul]

Get the demo version of the software now. Dont cost a thing and you can save any sequence work you do now. Then when you get the licensed version of the software, you can make those sequences work the controllers and lights. Also this gives you time to start learning how the software works.

[greywolf]

oh i have played around with the software using 3.5 then 3.6 for the past month i now have the 3.7 to play with

an i can wire a house with cat5's LOL

the lights i have are all LEDS or being changed to LED retrofit bulbs anyway C9 i gave up on mini's an the old styles long ago

i forgot the transmitter shame on me

thanks for the info on the advanced licence

[Santas Helper]

Greywolf,

If you only knew...

I couldn't wait for next year after doing the playing around you've already done.

It would drive me nuts to wait another year after getting the bug and even purchase one controller to make stuff happen for this year.

Even if it was just a small little display.

But I understand.

[greywolf]

thanks tom

i look at this way ... you can knock me down but i always get up an stronger for it

i'm not the only 1 who is interesting to get this started (wife an kids )

thanks for all the ideas an help

[Santas Helper]

It's going to be a loooooooong winter if you don't do it.

Then next year will be eating you up for 11 months.

Okay, I won't push it no more. But I'm just sayin........

I'm just talkin of my own experience years ago. It was tough too.

[greywolf]

lol

kk ? ron ... the add-on superstar sequencer software you mentioned ..

isn't that included in the advanced level ???

[DownTown]

lol

kk ? ron ... the add-on superstar sequencer software you mentioned ..

isn't that included in the advanced level ???

Superstar is a seperate purchase and is an add-on to your sequencing software.

D.T.

[Ron Boyd]

lol

kk ? ron ... the add-on superstar sequencer software you mentioned ..

isn't that included in the advanced level ???

Yeah, it is a seperate purchase. If you can swing the purchase price though, it's a very nice add-on. I don't know what you plan on doing with your CCBs, but it will make 600 channels easy to program. You said 2 CCBs, right? That, as I'm sure you already know, is 200 bulbs x 3 channels each. That's a bunch of gridwork. I know there's a whole slew of folks on here that do it by hand, but Superstar makes pixel programming simple. Of course there's a learning curve, and at first you'll say, (my own quote earlier this year) "What in the world have I gotten myself into". Once you have that "Aha" moment, I think you'll find how simple it is. Play around with the demo while you're on hold and see how it works. Brian at Superstarlights.com has a couple of freebies for I think 2 CCRs. Be sure and see his tutorials also:

http://www.lightorama.com/S3TutorialLinks.html There are 10 tutorials there and they are very helpful.

That being said, I have to agree with Santas Helper. If you can possibly swing it this year, even if it's just one 16 channel controller, you'll be quite happy.

Happy lighting,

Ron

[TJ Hvasta]

If I remember right, the SS add-on includes the Instant Sequencer.. thats -big- bonus and the reason I went Advanced/SS..

[greywolf]

i have a very small pallet to work with here (yard)

the CCB's are placed on the edge of the roof i'll use the controllers to animate the blow molds an yard decor

that's why i want to keep the amount of equipment to only max of 2 pc controllers

i can make the plans work with the minimum of :

​1 pc controller

1 CCB kit

with this in mind

what level software will work including the SS add-on to set up and control the CCB i will need