2006 VIDEOS
(2007 VIDEOS COMING SOON) |
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| OUR DISPLAY |
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2007 Light Show
November 23rd, 2007 - December 31st, 2007
5:30PM - 10:30PM
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(Runs continuously except during heavy rain.)
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2006 was the first year for our animated Christmas light display, using 32 channels of computer-controlled lights. We synced our Christmas lights to several Christmas songs, including two from
"A Charlie Brown Christmas."
For 2007 we have doubled the number of lights and have 64 computerized light channels which are synced to six different songs. The music can be heard through speakers in the yard, or
on your car stereo at 92.3 FM.
I was inspired during the 2005 Christmas season from an
internet video of
Carson Willliams' display "Wizards in Winter."
After I first saw the video I was immediately intrigued, and did a quick google to find the software Carson used along with his sequence file.
I knew at that point that this was the hobby for me!
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| ABOUT US |
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We love Christmas and celebrate it as the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
It is by far our favorite holiday and we love to decorate and get into the Christmas spirit.
I've always had an interest in computers, electronics and Christmas lights - what a fun way to bring it all together!
I'd like to hear from you whether you'd like to comment, ask a question, or just say hello.
E-Mail: bretharrell@hotmail.com
Myspace: myspace.com/bbharrell
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| TECHNICAL DETAILS |
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Our display uses control boards by D-Light Designs.
We have two of the AC-16 boards providing a total of 30 Amps and 32 channels.
Another company, Light-O-Rama, makes similar control boards, but I chose D-Light because it was less expensive.
I use the Light-O-Rama software to sequence our lights and schedule the light show. Even though I'm using two different brands, D-Light boards with Light-O-Rama software, they seem to be compatible.
The D-Light boards can be bought preassembled or as a kit that you solder up yourself (as I chose to do.) Once the circuit boards are put together, they connect to the control computer via RS-485 over Cat 5 cable. Then there's the dozens of extension cords that must be run from the controllers to the lights... not to mention the lights themselves.
I spent quite a bit of time sequencing my songs.
The first step was to load the song in the software, and tap out the rhythm while the software records the taps.
This creates events in a timeline which match the music perfectly (if you have good rhythm.)
At this point many hours are spent (at least when I do it) going through these events and deciding which lights should come on when.
You can set any intensity from 0-100% and do fades, twinkles, etc.
Again, this sequencing process is very time consuming and ended up taking much longer than I originally anticipated.
At some point in the future, I plan on documenting the technical details further - if anyone's interested…
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