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Holidaysoft vs LOR S2 Software


kingwoodpcrx

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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.

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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).

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 1-16

Icicle Lights Right Top (white) = Ch1
Icicle Lights Left Top (white) = Ch2
Icicle Lights Left Fence (white) = Ch3

2' x4 Wreaths Left Fence (red) = Ch4

6' x1 Wreath Above Large Window Center
(red) = Ch5
(white) = Ch6

Large Shrub Center
(red) = Ch7
(white) = Ch8

Front Door Wreath 3' (white/red) = Ch9
Front Door Garland (white) = Ch10

Front Left Garage Door Garland (white) = Ch11
Front Right Garage Door Garland (white) = Ch12

Right Address Wreath 2'
(red) = Ch13
(white) = Ch14

Left Window above left garage door (wreath/snowflake) = Ch15
Right Window above right garage door (wreath/snowflake) = Ch16
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOR 1 - Channel 17 - 32

Left Yard Lights 5 sets of 100 - 3 loops per candy cane
set 1 (white) = Ch17
set 2 (white) = Ch18
set 3 (white) = Ch19
set 4 (white) = Ch20
set 5 (white) = Ch21

Right Yard Lights 2 sets of 100 - 3 loops per candy cane
set 1 (white) = Ch22
set 2 (white) = Ch23

Main Tree(1 of 2) Trunk - Candy Cane Ribbon or mixed 7 sets of 100 per tree
Set 1-7 (white) = Ch24
Set 1-7 (red) = Ch25

Main Tree(2 of 2) Trunk - Candy Cane Ribbon or mixed 7 sets of 100 per tree
Set 1-7 (white) = Ch26
Set 1-7 (red) = Ch27

2 full size Deer & Sleigh
Deer 1 (white) = Ch28
Deer 1 garland (red) = Ch29
Deer 2 (white) = Ch30
Sleigh (white) = Ch31

Santa Waiving = Ch32
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOR 1 - Channel 33 - 48 *optional for 2011

Mini Trees 3 sets of 3 (can move to another device in 2nd LOR)
Set 1 (white) = Ch33
Set 2 (white) = Ch34
Set 3 (white) = Ch35

Roof 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/Ch40
Set 1-7max (4 channels) (red) = Ch41/Ch42/Ch43/Ch44
Set 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

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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 1-16

LOR 02 1-16

LOR 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.

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Good morning

Matt

you have a handle on layout of channels

a suggestion would be to localize layout

left yard ch17-21 right yard ch22-23

remember you have to run power cords to each

channel from the controller

wherever you locate your controller the controlled

channels extension cords run from that point

it might be better to have more channels available

and not used in a specific area of yard(for future expansion)

than to run extension cords ---- my opinion i would rather

pay for channels than cords ----

you can also make your extension cords with spt1 or spt2 wire

there are links on this site for vendors ---

you have to do a search for them

the deer units --- from posts here i believe the motorized

moving deer are not LOR friendly --- something with the motors ----

don't have any just remember post about problems

imho your breakout of having almost every device on a channel is awesome

gives you tremendous sequencing capablity and flexibility

oh by the way document everything you do --- helps in the

diagnosis of a problem that might pop up in the future

attached sketch is how i document ----

i spend as much time documenting as i do setting up

Frank A.:D


Attached files 195739=10954-transmitter_speaker_layout.jpg

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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!
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