First time help?

[Orlando1220]

What do I need to start up a light show? I want a setup where the music makes the lights dance???.

 

[Indigogyre]

Hello and welcome on your wonderful adventure!

The best thing to do is to read the "101 Lighting Manual" which was put together to provide a wealth of knowledge for someone first starting to understand everything that will go into a show.

AusChristmasLighting 101

This article is just a summary of the information available in the downloadable PDF version of the AusChristmasLighting 101 manual, a guide for getting started (or stepping up a level) in Christmas lighting.

auschristmaslighting.com

while reading the manual if you have any questions feel free to search the site, post a question for clarification or come into the chat room. This is a great place to learn and make friends.

Welcome once more.

 

[merryoncherry]

For what year?

 

[uncledan]

My recommendation for this year is to find some local displays and ask lots of questions, behind the scenes tour, etc. I think you'll find most people in the hobby are more than willing to help out someone looking to get into it. Chat is also a great resource for simple questions as @Indigogyre mentioned

 

[Danielr]

View: http://videos.xlights.org/its-mid-november-i-want-to-create-an-animated-christmas-display_5f5165108.html

 

[Skymaster]

Just watched that video through - still very relevant despite being 4 years old. Nothing has substantially changed to the point where it invalidates what's being said.

 

[merryoncherry]

Right, the general idea is in play. For the U.S. in 2022 the vendors may be different, and a little more is possible because it is easier than 4 years ago.

But unless you're a really fast learner, the coolest stuff you'd get to work by December would be in the Hammacher catalog... "music makes the lights dance" doesn't strictly require sequencing or any of that...

 

[uncledan]

Right, the general idea is in play. For the U.S. in 2022 the vendors may be different, and a little more is possible because it is easier than 4 years ago.

But unless you're a really fast learner, the coolest stuff you'd get to work by December would be in the Hammacher catalog... "music makes the lights dance" doesn't strictly require sequencing or any of that...

I know you're new to the hobby but it's not easier than it was 4 years ago. If anything, it's more difficult trying to start a display this time of year. Assuming the OP was looking for advice for 2023 anyways.

 

[TerryK]

What do I need to start up a light show? I want a setup where the music makes the lights dance???.

Well first, welcome to ACL.

As already mentioned, while it is certainly possible to put something out for Christmas 2022, I suggest planning for Christmas 2023 instead. The ACL 101 Manual is a good place to begin and I would add watching the Canispater Christmas videos on YouTube as well. The Canispater videos are 'hands-on' and give a pretty good visual correlation to what is in the 101 Manual.

Also search the ACL Forum archives. There you will find questions/problems other individuals have encountered and solutions or 'work-arounds'. One last suggestion, I would delay any hardware purchases until you have a better feel for what will work well. That is, determine what hardware others have discovered that are or can be difficult to make work.

 

[djgra79]

One last suggestion, I would delay any hardware purchases until you have a better feel for what will work well. That is, determine what hardware others have discovered that are or can be difficult to make work.

Welcome to ACL!
^this is a good one. 10 years ago I came in with the same excitement as you eager to go and by Jan I purchased my first LOR AC controller. I never got it working as it wasn't what I actually NEEDED, it was what I thought I wanted at the time. Take the time to do some more research and formulate a plan of what you'd require.
Not everyone dumps thousands of $ on their first year, many add to their display each year.

 

[Orlando1220]

So I'm just triyng to get my lining of my house for now, so literally I need to know what I need haha, I have 500 pixels I have a 12v power supply I just fried a esp8266 contoller lol. So please help me what do I need to get, by the way the pixels I have are 12v

 

[merryoncherry]

So you don't have a working controller?

 

[Indigogyre]

Did you read the 101 Manual? Did you watch the video? What are your questions? Just saying "I need Help" implies that perhaps you have not done any research. Do you know why you fried the esp controller?

 

[Orlando1220]

So you don't have a working controller?

No but I'm looking to see which one to get for 12v pixel.lights

 

[Indigogyre]

There are a bunch of youtube videos by Dr.ZZzs that discuss using esp (DigUno, Dig-Quad) controllers and getting started with pixels. They are also good for initial learning.