How To Setup Lor Show To Run Every Night?

[deej012160]

I posted this topic on PC website too, Help needed here please!!! This is my first year to synchronize using LOR, but I just got "stationed" on a job up in Illinois for most of the "display season". I should have adequate opportunity to do the physical setup & initial runs Thanksgiving weekend. Here's what I am thinking and where I need feedback. I am thinking I can setup the shows to run automatically from, say, 6 to 8 PM Sun thru Thurs and 6 to 9 Fri & Sat and that "someone" will need to turn the PC on that runs the show every day. Is it that simple to run a show? I plan on doing some "test runs" here in Illinois so I can provide good step by step instructions how to run the shows each night. Feedback GREATLY appreciated!!!!! Please don't sugarcoat if I am totally out to lunch on this.

[timmydatoolman]

If you can get the programming done, you will be able to set up the show times.

There is a scheduling utility, just tell it when you want your show to start and stop. As for the computer, I leave the machine that runs the show on24 hrs a day for the season.

Hope that helps.

[Aaron Maue]

If you can get the programming done, you will be able to set up the show times.

There is a scheduling utility, just tell it when you want your show to start and stop. As for the computer, I leave the machine that runs the show on24 hrs a day for the season.

Hope that helps.

+1. Just leave the show computer running. Your show will start up and shut down each night with no other interaction required. As long as the power doesn't go out, you'll be good to go.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Aaron Maue

[Jerry]

Don't forget to adjust Windows to "never sleep" or it will shut the show down. Happened to me my first year !

[-klb-]

Also disable automatic updates for the show season. You can manually do the windows updates if you want during the season, but you don't want the updates to reboot the PC, because the shows won't run if a user is not logged in, and the LOR Control Panel not running.

The show at the fire station runs basically unattended for the whole season. I'm almost never there when it starts, and even less likely to be there when it shuts down. I'll be there roughly every night just to check for issues that need attention, like GFCI's that have tripped, or damage to the show. But starting or stopping is not one of my concerns.

[Guest wbottomley]

Also disable automatic updates for the show season. You can manually do the windows updates if you want during the season, but you don't want the updates to reboot the PC, because the shows won't run if a user is not logged in, and the LOR Control Panel not running.

The show at the fire station runs basically unattended for the whole season. I'm almost never there when it starts, and even less likely to be there when it shuts down. I'll be there roughly every night just to check for issues that need attention, like GFCI's that have tripped, or damage to the show. But starting or stopping is not one of my concerns.

Same here unless it's the weekend.

[Dave Batzdorf]

Another thing to disable are the Windows sounds.

[columbus27]

Mine isn't connected to the internet, I do everything as above, and I shut off my anti virus. Also if you have a transmitter that is capable of being put on a timer do that also.

[Max-Paul]

Shoot, once I turn on my transmitter a few days before thanksgiving for testing. It stays on till a few days after the new years. My show computer will not be on the network during this time. It also stays on 24/7 for the season and the sound card is quiet as a mouse during non-show times. So all that is there is the dead carrier. I would leave the transmitter up and running if all possible. See the electronic components will shift frequency a slight bit while it warms up some. No Virginia, PLLs are not without some shifting. PLLs are only as stable as the master osc. is. And it needs to be at a stable temperature so it does not drift.

[paralegalnc]

ok, well let me ask this. I am sequencing on my laptop. I can run the show on my lap top. I know about not letting it sleep during the show. what happens if I disconnect it from that little thing that comes from the controller? sometimes I need to take my computer to work? and if I were to install the LOR software and utilties and all on a desk top... I should be able to just move all my files right? as long as I move the media file and the lms file and those two or three other ones for each song?

[Santas Helper]

Shoot, once I turn on my transmitter a few days before thanksgiving for testing. It stays on till a few days after the new years. My show computer will not be on the network during this time. It also stays on 24/7 for the season and the sound card is quiet as a mouse during non-show times. So all that is there is the dead carrier. I would leave the transmitter up and running if all possible. See the electronic components will shift frequency a slight bit while it warms up some. No Virginia, PLLs are not without some shifting. PLLs are only as stable as the master osc. is. And it needs to be at a stable temperature so it does not drift.

Ditto on everything MP mentioned.

[TJ Hvasta]

ok, well let me ask this. I am sequencing on my laptop. I can run the show on my lap top. I know about not letting it sleep during the show. what happens if I disconnect it from that little thing that comes from the controller? sometimes I need to take my computer to work? and if I were to install the LOR software and utilties and all on a desk top... I should be able to just move all my files right? as long as I move the media file and the lms file and those two or three other ones for each song?

You mean the USB485 dongle? Yes, you can remove it, but do it as the normal Windows "Remove Hardware", dont just pull it out without stopping the hardware.

[TJ Hvasta]

I posted this topic on PC website too, Help needed here please!!! This is my first year to synchronize using LOR, but I just got "stationed" on a job up in Illinois for most of the "display season". I should have adequate opportunity to do the physical setup & initial runs Thanksgiving weekend. Here's what I am thinking and where I need feedback. I am thinking I can setup the shows to run automatically from, say, 6 to 8 PM Sun thru Thurs and 6 to 9 Fri & Sat and that "someone" will need to turn the PC on that runs the show every day. Is it that simple to run a show? I plan on doing some "test runs" here in Illinois so I can provide good step by step instructions how to run the shows each night. Feedback GREATLY appreciated!!!!! Please don't sugarcoat if I am totally out to lunch on this.

Go into Programs, LightORama, then choose Simple Show Builder, click it, choose the method you're using (computer, MP3 Direstor, etc), Next, click radio button for All Files, select the sequences for the show, Next, choose the days, time, then how to run the show, then Next, Finish. Again, click Programs, LightORama, then LOR Control Panel, you'll see a red light bulb in the Sys Tray, right click, choose Enable Schedule. Light bulb turns blue. Then disable: Windows Updates, Sleep & Hibernate and you're set.

Edited October 2, 2012 by TJ Hvasta

[paralegalnc]

that's kinda how I've been doing it for my test runs... so I'm not so dumb after all there is another show scheduler thingy program... sorry, don't have my laptop with me... but the simple show builder seemed... well..... Simple. Still need to know if I should change to my desktop but I like sequencing on the laptop and it makes it easier to carry it to the garage for testing props

[deej012160]

Thanks so much to everyone who responded & provided ideas. I really appreciate all the inputs & ideas!!!

[-klb-]

that's kinda how I've been doing it for my test runs... so I'm not so dumb after all there is another show scheduler thingy program... sorry, don't have my laptop with me... but the simple show builder seemed... well..... Simple. Still need to know if I should change to my desktop but I like sequencing on the laptop and it makes it easier to carry it to the garage for testing props

On my home show, I use a dedicated laptop as the show PC. The city show uses a dedicated desktop PC for the show. I do sequencing and testing for both off of my personal day to day laptop. The files move back and forth fairly easily.

With some minimum considerations to the directory layout, you can set things up so they just copy over. I haven't bothered with that, I just copy them over, then I have to open each file I copy to the show PC in the sequence editor, point it back to the right media file, and save.. Not too bad for having my laptop available to sequence during the show.

[Santas Helper]

Same here klb.

I used a thumb drive to transfer updated sequences between my laptop and PC (one computer for home show, one for business show). Since neither computer was hooked up to the internet, this method was the easiest.

[PaulXmas]

You can use the calendar to schedule your shows.

Mine run S-T 5 - 9 F-S 5 -11

EXCEPT for Christmas day where it runs for the whole day (I know you can't see most of the lights in the day time) and New Years eve it runs until 11:59.

You could set it and forget it but what if something goes wrong, PC/transmitter dies,

[Steven]

So all that is there is the dead carrier. I would leave the transmitter up and running if all possible

If you're going to leave the transmitter on, it would be much better to at least have some music playing. Some use ZaraRadio. I turn my transmitter off (automatically) at the end of the show. It only takes 30 seconds or so for it to stabilize when powered up the next day. It's generally considered bad form to transmit dead air for an extended period.

[Max-Paul]

Who cares if it is bad form. But then too, are you talking about a commercial station? Two blocks away you wont hear my dead carrier anyway. So, again I ask, who cares Steven? In other words, blow it out of your sphinx (the big cat over in Egypt in the sand next to the pyramids).