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SammyG

New elf
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
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15
I have been watching this forum for a few years but unable to create a display due to living on a rural property where the house cannot be seen from the road.
Easter next year I will have access to a 'city' property with a 5m frontage.
I have purchased some talking bulbs and will use the next few months to use them to learn the basics of xLights, controllers etc.
Future plans include a matrix to go on the garage door and a mega tree to sit on the garage.
 
Greetings
It's getting late in the year but I need to make a start.
I have purchased 3 x hanging and 2 x standing ChromaBulbs (https://www.extremelightingdisplays.com.au/sku/bulb30/) and also 1 x 1" ChromaMesh (https://www.extremelightingdisplays.com.au/sku/mesh1/).
Next week I will receive custom strings including the matrix using 2" only at this stage and Chroma Bulbs in GS8208 12V Pixels with xconnect pigtails from Paul at Light it up LEDs.
At the very least I would like to get the Chroma Bulbs going with a display of, say, 30 seconds rotation without music.
I am also contemplating getting the EFL Santa https://www.extremelightingdisplays.com.au/shop/christmas/decorations-props/efl-santa-sleigh/ but have not ordered the man nor the pixels for it.
Unlikely to touch the matrix this year as don't have enough time to insert 4,500 pixels!
I have read the 101 manual and semi-digested the content!
Suggestions/advice on where to from here so I have something goiung fro this Christmas?
Brgds
 
What controller are you going to use and where are you getting stuck? What are you planning on showing with the bulbs, they tend to be targeted for shows which have audio.

4,500 pixels is only 450 pixels a day for 10 days :) Wear gloves and get a pixel pusher.
 
"What controller are you going to use?"
No idea ATM, pleased to accept suggestions that will allow for expansion later.
"What are you planning on showing with the bulbs?"
Long-term full-blown shows with audio using the Chroma Bulbs and the Chroma Mesh matrix like a TV screen for animations.
Would also like to add a Santa sleigh and Christmas tree, probably using Boscoyo Mega Tree Mounting Strips.
This year my plan is to get the Chroma Bulbs up and running with a simple animation or rotation changing colours etc.
 
If your fingers are up to it it doesn't take that long to push a lot of pixels. I did my ELF selfie wings which are 1000 pixels in an afternoon. My fingers were a bit sore afterwards but I did it without gloves or pixel pliers.
 
So on the sequencing front - plan to do actual songs with the bulbs singing along. There are lots of lyric tracks for songs already available for free - but for a lot of songs you can use https://autolyrics.lightingfanatics.com and get something good enough yourself.
It means you should probably factor in setting up a speaker this year - but the sequencing itself is simple.

For some other tips:
* think about if you want to paint the bulbs before you push pixels
* I find pushing into chromamesh much easier than into coro. Doing the matrix would be a bunch of work - but doable if you have the pixels already.
* I have a Santa like that (the boscoyo one, not EFL) . I like it - but it’s hard to sequence and most sequences you import won’t have anything for it.
 
thewanderingpine said:
So on the sequencing front - plan to do actual songs with the bulbs singing along. There are lots of lyric tracks for songs already available for free - but for a lot of songs you can use https://autolyrics.lightingfanatics.com and get something good enough yourself.
It means you should probably factor in setting up a speaker this year - but the sequencing itself is simple.

For some other tips:
* think about if you want to paint the bulbs before you push pixels
* I find pushing into chromamesh much easier than into coro. Doing the matrix would be a bunch of work - but doable if you have the pixels already.
* I have a Santa like that (the boscoyo one, not EFL) . I like it - but it’s hard to sequence and most sequences you import won’t have anything for it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestions.
12v Custom pixel strings for bulbs and mesh arrived yesterday!
 
Last edited:
AAH said:
If your fingers are up to it it doesn't take that long to push a lot of pixels. I did my ELF selfie wings which are 1000 pixels in an afternoon. My fingers were a bit sore afterwards but I did it without gloves or pixel pliers.
Click to expand...
As I have no controller, power supplies, PC, etc yet, what are your thoughts on using Baldrick gear?
 
SammyG said:
As I have no controller, power supplies, PC, etc yet, what are your thoughts on using Baldrick gear?
Click to expand...
Very easy to setup and very easy to use. They don't have the features, or the price, of the Falcon controllers but as far as controlling WS281x pixels they do the exact job that they need to and very little extra.
I am making ready to go Baldrick controllers which basically just need a power lead and you can be controlling pixels within minutes of them arriving.
 
I’m not sure I’d suggest one Baldric for your amount of pixels. (Likely would be simpler with one for the bulbs, one for the matrix). That still likely works out cheaper than a f16.
 
AAH said:
Very easy to setup and very easy to use. They don't have the features, or the price, of the Falcon controllers but as far as controlling WS281x pixels they do the exact job that they need to and very little extra.
I am making ready to go Baldrick controllers which basically just need a power lead and you can be controlling pixels within minutes of them arriving.
Click to expand...
Have just ordered 2, will need help getting things going though!
 
SammyG said:
Have just ordered 2, will need help getting things going though!
Click to expand...
Nah you'll be sweet. I had it set up in about 5 mins and I'm a complete numpty. There's a good video on YouTube that goes through it
 
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