The torch has been passed to me...

[mjgeraci]

Newbie here --

I inherited 64 channels from my late father-in-law. My wife and I are carrying on the tradition in memory of POPS and for the family. We've got lights up, extension cords run, circuits ready to go... I'm waiting on a replacement converter box and FM transmitter which should arrive Wednesday to fire it up.

I have a bunch of his old sequences - however I'm only running on 16 channels (actually 13 so far), so my show won't be as impressive... but not bad for 2 weeks worth of panicked planning... I want to write my own sequences in the next week so I can at least "Own" a song or two.

I have previous music recording experience, so I can see how this works. My big question is how does everyone assign their channels -- what makes channel 1 your "#1" and so on... is it chance assignment, or is it best to have Channel 1 be the most lights, channel 2 the second most lights... or is it random based on individual set ups. I want to set a good foundation for next years and follow on shows - so I want to program this right the first time. Any tips on organization of circuits, channel assignments, and what-not would be appreciated!

I have 4 trees that span across the front of my yard. Bushes that run both sides up to the front door in the center of the house. I'll post a pic of the house if it'd help? No fancy arches, mega-trees, or chasing trees... yet!!! I just want to get organized (I'm a West Point grad and military veteran -- I need structure!!!)

Thanks ya'll!!

Matt

[George Simmons]

As long as you follow the rules for what loads you can place on channels, and also the total load limit for each side of the board, it makes no difference at all which channels are assigned to do what. That should be whatever makes most sense to you based on how you conceptualize things or how your yard is laid out.

No matter how you lay it out this year, your life will be easiest in the future if you leave this year's channel order alone. Forever. As your display grows, you want to add new channels to the bottom of the list. Always to the bottom - never in the middle. Year after year. That way you can always copy your current channel list into old sequences and update those in one easy and error-free step.

Edited November 27, 2012 by George Simmons

[kelly jett]

an easy way to set up your channels is either up/down or side to side. my channels are set-up from the top down. i start with the top of my house and work my way down. then they are set up from right to left for the things in the yard. it works for my because if you set up a fade over many channels you can go from the top of the house down or from side to side and get some really cool effects and fades.

i must agree with george. i made the mistake of setting my channels and then adding some new items on my roof and changing the order of the channels by adding the new stuff in the middle. it would have been ok but everytime i wanted to the add the new items the a chase or a fade i had to change alot more channels than i wanted.

think of your display in group ways. i mean arches are a group. mini trees are a group. mega tree---group. it can make it alot more fun breaking things down in small more understandable segments.

best of luck

keep asking questions cause there are so many wonderful people on the forums that will help you with anything you can imagine.

[mjgeraci]

Thanks guys! That's the direction I was heading but wanted some confirmation. Thanks for the quick replies! I just got off work and will be sequencing for a couple of hours tonight!

Matt