captainron19 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 As I am getting readyf ro my purchase I would like any input on if you prefer the MP3 Upgrade or running directly to a PCI thought it would be best with a poll but also please include any comments or suggestions.I do have the ability for a PC to be dedicated to my first show - I just want to have the easiest setup possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westport Lights Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I think that either one is "easy." Personally, I use my old computer for mine (upgraded to a faster one last year). It's a AMD 1.8Ghz, which is more than plenty to run what I've got. I set up the cmos to automatically start the computer, so it doesn't have to run all day for the show to start. It also shuts down after the show is over, so it's completely automated.I think that the MP3 director is great for those that don't have a spare computer to use as a dedicated show computer or for those cases where a computer is not feasible (like in a park).Bottom line (IMHO) If you have a computer available to use as a dedicated show computer, save the money and buy another controller or something else that you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 We have and run both. Computer at our house and Showtime mp3 director at my son's school.The Showtime/mp3 director is certainly easier for running your show IMO. It is not affected by power outages, (unless of course the power outage is during your show:shock:). Sounds like Westport Lights computer ran show probably does not have that problem. I don't have the know how to set my computer up that way.We run video with our show at our house so we have to use a computer. If we did not run video though, we would use a mp3 director here also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hertig Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I prefer the MP3. No need to run a cable from inside the house to the outside of the house (although could probably use the RF link instead of a cable). Also, no need to ensure the computer stays up or comes up at the correct time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I have both the mDM-MP3 and the LOR1602MP3 and either director is great for most applications and displays – with one limitation: the 10 minute maximum per each audio file (MP3). Here is a quote from the Users Guide –“Individual MP3 audio files are limited to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the audio file will continue to play, but control of the lights will not continue. This does not mean that the miniDirector can only control a 10 minute show, only that no audio file in your show can be longer than 10 minutes.”This is not an issue for those who sequence individual songs, but some of us like to mix, crossfade and blend several musical selections into longer montages. This 10 minute limitation can be restrictive. So I use my PC to run my home shows.One big advantage of the LOR1602MP3 is the onboard real time clock that can start and stop your shows at specific programmed times. The LOR website has PDF copies of the manuals online in the support area. They can be a big help in making a decision. This past Christmas I used the LOR1602MP3 to run for a large display in Cambridge Ohio. It controlled 16 additional LOR1602 and three iDMX1000s with four different shows rotating every twenty minutes with a static display in between shows and all starting and stopping at specific times…and it worked flawlessly all season long. I hope my reply wasn’t too long winded.- Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBMacon Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I'm racking up on studying before I buy anything but I have a question please. I'll have a dedicated pc but my question is what should I concentrate on to get the music sources from outside media to my PC? I guess my question is I have to convert CD music cuts to MP3/MDI, etc. and wanted to know what to stick with.Thank you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainron19 Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 Chris D. Brooks wrote: I'm racking up on studying before I buy anything but I have a question please. I'll have a dedicated pc but my question is what should I concentrate on to get the music sources from outside media to my PC? I guess my question is I have to convert CD music cuts to MP3/MDI, etc. and wanted to know what to stick with.Thank you all.I found it easier to get them online as mp3's - I havent toyed with attempting to rip them from a CD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Chris D. Brooks wrote: I'm racking up on studying before I buy anything but I have a question please. I'll have a dedicated pc but my question is what should I concentrate on to get the music sources from outside media to my PC? I guess my question is I have to convert CD music cuts to MP3/MDI, etc. and wanted to know what to stick with.Thank you all.If you are using Windows, just use the Windows Media Player to rip your music from the CD to the computer. If you want MP3, make sure that you rip them at a constant bit rate rather than variable. I think Dan recommended a 128 bit rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stachows Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I have been running my show on a OLD Pentium 933 with 512Mb running XP.I built it just for LOR and removed/disabled EVERY service that XP does not need.It runs like a top, and has never caused me problems. I have it set up to automatically log in and restart LOR if I get a power outage or any other issue. Also run ZARA radio and my audio out to my FM transmitter on it... It is very nice to have everything in one place. I can access it remotely to set up my shows from the comfort of my kitchen table!Scott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainron19 Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 stachows wrote: I have been running my show on a OLD Pentium 933 with 512Mb running XP.I built it just for LOR and removed/disabled EVERY service that XP does not need.It runs like a top, and has never caused me problems. I have it set up to automatically log in and restart LOR if I get a power outage or any other issue. Also run ZARA radio and my audio out to my FM transmitter on it... It is very nice to have everything in one place. I can access it remotely to set up my shows from the comfort of my kitchen table!Scott.How do you handle if there is a power outage? What do you do to have your computer automatically restart up? I didnt think there was a setting for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 captainron19 wrote: How do you handle if there is a power outage? What do you do to have your computer automatically restart up? I didnt think there was a setting for thisA generic XP system, with the default installation (one user, no password), will automatically log into that user when it boots after power is applied. The LOR Control Panel will automatically start in your system tray, if you have told it to.If you have an XP system that has users with passwords, you can put that user name and password in a certain place in the Registry so that it automatically logs that user in after power is restored and the system boots. I have my system set up this way to run LOR as a non-admin user named "lights" with the password of "lights".There is also a setting in the BIOS that tells what to do when the power is restored. The choices are "Turn on", "Leave off", or "Same state as when power was lost." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-klb- Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Also, if your show PC is a laptop, that still has some battery run time, that will act as a UPS to the extent that the battery is still good. In my case, the laptop battery is dead, but I had a couple of UPSs that I had upgraded when the first batteries went bad. Replacing the battery in one of them was a very cost effective way to provide protection for the show PC, and just running that laptop, it has pretty good run time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stachows Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Sorry, I have not had a chance to respond yet.Steven and Kevin, thanks for covering it in my absense.Also, I put the ZARA radio in the startup folder so it starts up as well. I us DTMF tones to kick off ZARA before and after my show.For XP, google "XP automatic login" and you will find every thing you need to know about getting a XP pc to boot and login automaticaly.Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westport Lights Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 For the automatic Logon, you can download Microsoft's Tweak UI instead of messing with the registry if you prefer.As someone else said, you can setup in the BIOS/CMOS to have the computer automatically turn on after a power failure.There is also a setting in BIOS/CMOS to turn the computer on at a specific time, which is what I did, 20 minutes before the show. I downloaded a program from cnet.com to turn it off also, I set mine 20 minutes after the end of the show. I did this so that the computer does not run 24/7.Also, pertaining to my original post in this thread. I actually purchased the MP3 director card yesterday, but mainly for my Halloween setup, which allows me to easily use input triggers, imagine screams and lights when you walk by a certain spot. It also keeps my display more mobile by mounting it inside the same box as the controller (I'll be setting it up one place Halloween day and a different location at night). I'll likely be using it for the Christmas display as well, it take less electricity to run than a full scale computer (less things to go wrong too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Leonhardt Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Steven wrote: captainron19 wrote: How do you handle if there is a power outage? What do you do to have your computer automatically restart up? I didnt think there was a setting for thisA generic XP system, with the default installation (one user, no password), will automatically log into that user when it boots after power is applied. The LOR Control Panel will automatically start in your system tray, if you have told it to.If you have an XP system that has users with passwords, you can put that user name and password in a certain place in the Registry so that it automatically logs that user in after power is restored and the system boots. I have my system set up this way to run LOR as a non-admin user named "lights" with the password of "lights".There is also a setting in the BIOS that tells what to do when the power is restored. The choices are "Turn on", "Leave off", or "Same state as when power was lost."I have a decated computer i also use only for LOR, and it's on a battery back-up. The lights mights go out, but the computer will be up and running untill power comes back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Hamilton Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 stachows wrote: Also, I put the ZARA radio in the startup folder so it starts up as well. I us DTMF tones to kick off ZARA before and after my show.ScottHey Scott, wouldn't it be simpler and more fool-proof to just have Zara shut itself off at the same time your LOR show starts?The reason I say this is because a couple years ago I used DTMF tones played from LOR to stop Zara, but if Zara mis-interpretted the tones, then it would not stop playing. Of course that lead to confusion because LOR and Zara were playing at the same time.So to stop Zara, I just set it to turn off by an internal event so I can be sure it stops. After the light show, I stilll have LOR to play the DTMF tones to have Zara start playing again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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