All about Control!
Lets get Started!!
First item you will need is a computer and some software to create the
"shows" with. We chose to use Light-O-Rama products.
With their software you can create the light show you desire.
( You can download the demo software from LightORama and try it out. This
is the same software that can run a "show" but has restrictions built in
as a demo product)
Creating the "sequences" to music is the most time consuming
part of creating a light show.
Average time in creating sequences is in area of 10 to 20 hours per 3
min of music. To make this easier we use dual monitors.
All the music we are using, we purchased on CD's from
Amazon.
We tried using downloaded music from the web, but the quality was not good
enough for our tastes.
Now you need a layout.
LOR's software lets you do an animated layout so you get a visual idea of how
your lights will look during the show. This is the simulated layout for 2009 prior
to final changes prior to show time. While you cannot get "perfect"
representation of everything, it does give you a very good idea of how
things will look.
This is planned the 2009 layout..
Most "animaniacs" use their PC's or a laptop to actually run the shows during the season. I have chosen not to tie up my PC. I am using the Light-O-Rama DC-MP3 show controller. This small controller takes the place of the computer and makes the system completely stand alone. You load your "show" onto a SD Card, insert it into the DCMP3, and it becomes the Brain!
The DCMP3 in mounted a waterproof Irrigation box, along with a Ramsey FM25B
FM transmitter that was assembled from a kit! The FM25B is a low
power transmitter that allows you to listen to the music with a FM radio.
Since the Transmitter is located underneath the DCMP3, we cannot use the
whip antenna that came with the FM25B, so I built the Ramsey TM100,
and will be placed up on the roof somewhere hidden.
The workhorse of animating your lights is the controller.
We chose the Light-O-Rama CTB16PC Kits.
LOR ships all the parts needed in order to assemble the controllers. These kits
required soldering. The instructions are well written and almost "goof proof"!
