Combining multiple separate xLights shows each with their own standalone controller into a single multi-controller show.

I manage a fleet of several hundred parade floats and many of those floats have multiple units (think of a train where you have the locomotive, passenger cars, and a caboose, each is a unit). Right now, they are all independent controllers each running their own xLights show. I am planning on tying all of the controllers together (adding a FPP player if needed) so I can run a synchronized show across the entire float and have effects run across the entire float. Is there a way to take multiple xLights shows (sequence and models) and combine them. I'm sure there would be a lot of clean-up work after the process with channel numbers and everything else, but it would likely be less than the work of re-creating the models and sequences from scratch.

Do the floats have wifi and how long would the parade be?

The floats do not use Wi-Fi, they are hard wired ethernet connections between units on the float. In our environment we typically have quite literally thousands of people standing around watching our parade, each with their own Wi-Fi enabled devices that can interfere and a select few miscreants intentionally trying to hack our system. our longest float is probably slightly over 1000 feet long.

Lets set aside the technical problem of running a show across an entire parade for the moment, and focus on the question asked.

I think your only option is going to be to merge things manually. export any custom models, and add everything to one master layout.

then import any sequences you want to re-use and apply effects to the models/groups just like you would with a purchased sequence.

Without connectivity the only other way would be a scheduled time, but not sure how succesful the sync would be, and the fpp devices would need a RTC to keep time once set, or connectivity to set it,

EG Raspberry PI with RTC and schedule to start at a set time,

Would all need to be set to master.
And would all share the same fseq data which means the fseq could be big and loading sequences on each device could take awhile,

But would be cool to see,

Katekate said:

Lets set aside the technical problem of running a show across an entire parade for the moment, and focus on the question asked.

I think your only option is going to be to merge things manually. export any custom models, and add everything to one master layout.

then import any sequences you want to re-use and apply effects to the models/groups just like you would with a purchased sequence.

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Perhaps each float has all its individual props combined into a group (say Float A, Float B etc) and then all those groups are added to a Whole Float group? That way you could do some effects across the whole show like a wipe from left to right and each float would light up in order

Katekate said:

Lets set aside the technical problem of running a show across an entire parade for the moment, and focus on the question asked.

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JohnsRdChristmas said:

Without connectivity

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Based on this:

GrantSimpson said:

The floats do not use Wi-Fi, they are hard wired ethernet connections between units on the float.

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I do not see any issues with connectivity or technical problems. In fact what's being described is the best possible way to run it. Everything hard wired.

So a simple Master/Remote with multiple FPP or a single show player sending data to a controller on each float unit would work fine.

I mean, between floats is not easy but that is not what is being asked.

GrantSimpson said:

so I can run a synchronized show across the entire float and have effects run across the entire float

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