kingwoodpcrx Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I'm new and I searched the forum and did not find much in the way as to what software should i purchase if I were to get the LOR 16 channel system. (probably a DIY solder my own)To design my lights into a visual show before i decorate the yard.Should i use the S2 Showtime Suite? or Holidaysoft? or are there others that I can demo/ prior to purchase.--I was able to demo holidaysoft and demo LOR and play a generic animated show, testing very bad light sequences (because i don't know what i'm doing yet).--So, I'm basically asking for generic newbie info that should be set as a sticky in the first page, "how to start" from scratch. So that every dollar spent is positive and productive.Thanks,Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-klb- Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Unless I've missed something, the holidaysoft package handles visualization of how strings will fit, and how they will look, if driven by LOR, but it does not have the sequencing ability itself. Some people think that it is worth the extra for the improved visualizer, but i seem to do just fine with the LOR animation window.I'd say that the thing to do is by the S2 starter package, which is the USB adapter packaged with the basic level of S2, at a price that you can only get when you buy a controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightzilla Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I take it that you are buying CTB16PC that you can solder? I was thinking of doing that and save some more bucks. The money I would save on 3 more controllers would pay for shipping.Any how, I would wait and see what the February reduction sale will look like this year.......you may save more on the controller you want.Make sure you buy the advance S2 software, because you will want more channels, plus (upgrade) to the USB485B Converter, and what ever size cat5 cable you may want.Then have fun.Start sequencing using the demo in the mean time......good practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingwoodpcrx Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 This is what I have as far as light sets in static mode; but if i had to assign a channel to a box, would this be correct?Kingwood PC Rx - LOR Project 2010-----------------------------------------------------------------------------LOR 1 - Channel 1-16Icicle Lights Right Top (white) = Ch1Icicle Lights Left Top (white) = Ch2Icicle Lights Left Fence (white) = Ch32' x4 Wreaths Left Fence (red) = Ch46' x1 Wreath Above Large Window Center(red) = Ch5(white) = Ch6Large Shrub Center(red) = Ch7(white) = Ch8Front Door Wreath 3' (white/red) = Ch9Front Door Garland (white) = Ch10Front Left Garage Door Garland (white) = Ch11Front Right Garage Door Garland (white) = Ch12Right Address Wreath 2'(red) = Ch13(white) = Ch14Left Window above left garage door (wreath/snowflake) = Ch15Right Window above right garage door (wreath/snowflake) = Ch16----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LOR 1 - Channel 17 - 32Left Yard Lights 5 sets of 100 - 3 loops per candy caneset 1 (white) = Ch17set 2 (white) = Ch18set 3 (white) = Ch19set 4 (white) = Ch20set 5 (white) = Ch21Right Yard Lights 2 sets of 100 - 3 loops per candy caneset 1 (white) = Ch22set 2 (white) = Ch23Main Tree(1 of 2) Trunk - Candy Cane Ribbon or mixed 7 sets of 100 per treeSet 1-7 (white) = Ch24Set 1-7 (red) = Ch25Main Tree(2 of 2) Trunk - Candy Cane Ribbon or mixed 7 sets of 100 per treeSet 1-7 (white) = Ch26Set 1-7 (red) = Ch272 full size Deer & SleighDeer 1 (white) = Ch28Deer 1 garland (red) = Ch29Deer 2 (white) = Ch30Sleigh (white) = Ch31Santa Waiving = Ch32----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LOR 1 - Channel 33 - 48 *optional for 2011Mini Trees 3 sets of 3 (can move to another device in 2nd LOR)Set 1 (white) = Ch33Set 2 (white) = Ch34Set 3 (white) = Ch35Roof Line (red) = Ch36 -optional-Chimney to Fence (Mega Tree) Rear/Left Side of House (7 sets of 100 lights with 3 colors) 8 drop lines -optional-Set 1-7max (4 channels) (white) = Ch37/Ch38/Ch39/Ch40Set 1-7max (4 channels) (red) = Ch41/Ch42/Ch43/Ch44Set 1-7max (4 channels) (green) = Ch45/Ch46/Ch47/Ch48----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please advise.Also, thanks for the reply, i've been reading all the FAQ's on LOR's Site and the Help on the LOR demo software which is a great help. Also, ny_yankee25 is giving me some pointers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Everything looks good with one little exception. The address scheme is always channels 1 - 16 and each box is addressed differently, and in HEX-decimel. So for an example and I am not going to list each item.LOR 01 1-16LOR 02 1-16LOR 0A 1-16 (0A = 10 decimel)LOR 11 1-16 (11 = 17 in decimel)and so on. Like I said, you have the basic understanding just a different addressing scheme. Welcome to the addiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank A. Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Good morningMattyou have a handle on layout of channelsa suggestion would be to localize layoutleft yard ch17-21 right yard ch22-23remember you have to run power cords to eachchannel from the controllerwherever you locate your controller the controlledchannels extension cords run from that pointit might be better to have more channels availableand not used in a specific area of yard(for future expansion)than to run extension cords ---- my opinion i would ratherpay for channels than cords ----you can also make your extension cords with spt1 or spt2 wirethere are links on this site for vendors ---you have to do a search for themthe deer units --- from posts here i believe the motorizedmoving deer are not LOR friendly --- something with the motors ----don't have any just remember post about problemsimho your breakout of having almost every device on a channel is awesomegives you tremendous sequencing capablity and flexibilityoh by the way document everything you do --- helps in thediagnosis of a problem that might pop up in the futureattached sketch is how i document ----i spend as much time documenting as i do setting upFrank A. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Foster Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Holidaysoft has not updated in over a year, despite repeated promises. Important features do not work as advertised. I would stay clear of this product until updates are released and the product works correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I'm using the LOR S2 software, my first LOR Display will be in 2010.As for lighted motorized deer, disconnet the light string from the motor from each deer and connect just the light string to the LOR Controller. Then if you still want the deer to be animated run an extension cord from a direct outlet that will have the motor on each deer in operation. I have a dusk 'til dawn/timer controlled 6 outlet yard stake I use for turning the deer motors on or off, I got it at Lowes for around $20.00 and it turns my deer motors on at whatever time I set and turns them off the same way,This is how my deer will be set up for 2010, which is also my first year with LOR as well. So I'm not connecting any motorized contraptions though my LOR at this time, not unless they are wired through a relay system, but I don't want to waste a channel just for a motor that makes something bob its head up/down or side to side. I'd rather use all my channels for my lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryebred Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 kingwoodpcrx wrote: Should i use the S2 Showtime Suite? or Holidaysoft? or are there others that I can demo/ prior to purchase.I am new also but have completed 2 sequences using both S2 and Holidaysoft. When I first started, I had only 32 channels planned and it worked pretty well to visualize it in Holidaysoft so I went ahead and purchased it for their reduced price. Now I have 64 channels plus another 20 I am using to simulate 2 CCR's. Holidaysoft is not able to keep up most of the time. I was getting frustrated when working on a fast part of the song and trying to get the timings right. My 16 channel multi-colored mega tree is probably really slowing it down but how do you depict this in the S2 visualizer? Good luck trying to draw 16 channels of multi-colors.I should qualify that I have an Intel i7 920 quad core CPU with 6 GB's of RAM along with a Nvidia Geforce 285 with 1 GB RAM and am running 64 bit Vista. I still have plenty of resources left for Holidaysoft to use but it is not using it all and running very slow.So, for me, both pieces of software have their uses. I tend to use S2 for all the timings and then take a look at it in Holidaysoft to see if what I am flashing or fading looks good given the tempo and melody of the song at that moment. I really do hope Holidaysoft releases an update to improve the performance. Either that or S2 improves the visualizer to help depict mega trees and multi-color strands of lights located in the same spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulXmas Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 kingwoodpcrx wrote: Should i use the S2 Showtime Suite? or Holidaysoft? or are there others that I can demo/ prior to purchase.That question should be "Should I buy Holidaysoft?"You are going to need the LOR software to control the lights.I just bought the Holiday Lights Designer. It is good for showing other people (wife) what the display will look like.I like it because I can put lights and decorations on top of each other.But nothing is better than seeing your work live! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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