[XCSSA] Christmas Lights Display

Wed Dec 30 02:28:17 CST 2009

Charles,

Can you supply a quick summary of what HW/SW you are using for your holiday light display? I've been looking at the Light-O-Rama autonomous controller (MP3 show director) as well as the diylightanimations 16 channel Lynx Express cards, driven by Vixen. I really need your experienced input before I select a vendor and start building cards. The LOR MP3 Show Director really is the best choice for a mobile application like mine, but you have to buy their stupid LOR-to-DMX interface in order to use any of their controllers with DMX cards. 

I'm committed to adding computer controlled lights to my truck this year for Fiesta week. Last years static light display on the "Fiesta-mobile" was so much fun I want to crank it up a notch this year. Cruising downtown during Fiesta week tossing out beads to the drunken revelers has to be experienced to be believed!

2009 Fiesta-mobile summary - static light display, plastic floral & flag bunting, Mexican & Texas flags, numerous pinatas, 4' Spurs Coyote pinata in Fiesta garb, 2, 200 watt Bogen PA amplifiers powering Peavey PA cabinets playing MP3 fiesta tunes from a Dell Mini 9, running Ubuntu Netbook remix OS. Mobile AC power supplied by Harbor Freight 1600 watt gasoline powered generator.

2010 Fiesta-mobile plans - computer controlled (DMX, 32 channel minimum) light system, above mentioned bunting, pinatas, etc. A third amplifier (1200 watts) powering dedicated subwoofer cabinets may be added. AC power may be supplied by modified vehicle electrical system (dual batteries, DM, Delco 105 amp replacement alternator, Hellroaring dual battery isolator / combiner (BIC)) feeding an onboard 4,000 watt inverter. If upgraded electrical/inverter system ('silent power') isn't up to the task, last year's generator will be used again, but with the addition of a DIY super quiet exhaust system. Audio sources fed to the PA amplifiers to include 1) DMX synched audio from the light controller (or controlling PC), 2) output from the vehicle radio/CD/MP3 player, AND 3) either a home brewed  MP3 player with 16 or so canned sound effects (cow, pig, baby crying, fart, ta ta da da, Mexican hat dance, La Cucaracha, etc.) controlled by a 16 button keypad or a similar OEM auto 'horn' device.

The new 'secret weapon' this year will be the addition of one or two pneumatic confetti canons on board, under DMX (or manual) control. I can see it now, a DMX music/light sequence draws to a close, all lights off, fire confetti canons, then bring up the strobe lights (or spots) to confetti falling on the truck and nearby partygoers!!

Matt "not Firestorm" Grooms

PS - Have been cruising everywhere in town this week and last with the Fiesta-mobile decked out in Christmas trim with a 650 watt light display (static, generator poewered ). We've been very popular cruising Windcrest viewing the Christmas lights and also with the tourists downtown. 

From: X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio 
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 11:29 PM
To: xcssa at xcssa.org 
Subject: Re: [XCSSA] Christmas Lights Display

I will do a demo of the RGB tree lights.  I think I can carry all three controllers and the lights to the meeting.  I will know once I take it down and put it in the box.  If I can't carry it all, then I will take one controller and the RGB strings.  I will be taking the lights down this weekend.  If you or anyone is interested in taking a look at the setup, you are more than welcome to come by.  I will be starting on Saturday morning at around 9 or 10AM.  I will leave the mega tree for last (some time in the afternoon of Saturday.)  Help with the teardown is not required nor necessary.  It will probably take me about 8 hours to finish the tare-down, but I will always have Sunday to finish, if required.

What pauses are you referring to?  The show runs on a custom scheduling program written by the same people that developed the sequencing program.  The scheduler does not use the windows scheduler.  Regretfully there is no Linux version of the lightshow scheduler or sequencer.  If anyone is aware of one, please let me know...

Charles S.

-----Original Message-----

From: xcssa-bounces at xcssa.org [mailto:xcssa-bounces at xcssa.org] On Behalf Of X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio

Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:45 PM

To: xcssa at xcssa.org

Subject: Re: [XCSSA] Christmas Lights Display

BTW.. For those who are too lazy to find his stuff on YouTube.. Here it is:

      http://www.youtube.com/user/CSTRANG70

I found this guy's display interesting:

      http://www.youtube.com/user/CSTRANG70#p/a/f/0/rmgf60CI_ks

Although those pauses are very obviously illustrating the weaknesses of the Windows scheduler.  Do they not have this software that will run on a Linux/UN*(X based OS yet?  Seems like it would run much smoother.

Tweeks

On Monday 21 December 2009, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio wrote:

> I will be posting videos of the display on youtube around the 24th.  

> Do a youtube search for cstrang70 and you should find the 2009 videos 

> then. You can currently see a few of the songs from last year's display.

> 

> Later

> 

> Charles S.

> 

> X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio wrote:

> > Just went by Charles's house and it was sweet! That tree is hypnotic...

> 

> Any chance of getting a pic posted on line, or a link to some video, 

> for those of us who live WAYYYYY out of town?  Thanks, Dennis Myhand 

> in Victoria _______________________________________________

> XCSSA mailing list

> XCSSA at xcssa.org

> http://xcssa.org/mailman/listinfo/xcssa

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