Computerized Christmas Lights

[cdodson]

Has anyone employed the use of Christmas lights in their annual musical? I've seen videos of exterior lights on houses and how they are timed to the music. Just curious if anyone out there has gotten creative on their church presentation.

[jthtiger]

I've never done it in church, but I do a big display on my house every year. This will be the third year I've done. If you want more information on that, check out diylightanimation.com. It's a wonderful community of people that do that sort of thing. The master mind behind it all, Robert Jordan (AKA RJ), has created DIY dimmer packs that are cheap and work well with christmas lights. Fully DMX capable too! You can build a small pack with 16 channels of full dimming for around $70. It's pretty incredible!

[Esoteric]

Yeah, you just need dimmers and a vision. I would however avoid a DIY solution.

Mike

[jthtiger]

Tell that to the thousand or so people over there.

If you're into the hobby, it's a lot more satisfying and a LOT less expensive. I've been building electronics for years, and while I do agree it's not for the faint of heart, as there are 120V of electricity very close to your fingertips. But if it's done correctly and with focus, it's fine. I haven't heard of any accidents like that so far.

Now, if you're going to use them inside the church, I would say NO NO NO NO NO!!!

But I'm not using it in church.

Not trying to argue anything Mike, just backing up choices.

-Tyler Herron

[jthtiger]

Oh! Sorry for double posting, but I forgot about the time we had christmas lights on the trees on stage. That was right before I joined the team. I remember they had troubles with the camera. The lights were flashing or something like that.

-Tyler Herron

[Esoteric]

No problem tiger. What you do in your home is your own (and your neighbors) business. But what you do in a church or other commercial building is everyone's (including your local building authority's and Fire Marshall's) business.

My point was in commercial, not residential applications. Being a professional LD, my house has no Christmas lights on it.

Mike

[snlgraham]

I remember about twenty years ago going to a christmas production at Skyline Weslyan Church in the San Diego area. They did this huge production with a live singing christmas tree that must have been pushing 30 ft tall. The tree was lit and animated with a matrix of lights that were computerized. Also they did a parade through the isles with floats that were lit with christmas lights.
As a young lighting guy it was one of the most inspiring things that I had ever seen in a church. And all of this was I think pre DMX! Probably ran on an Apple 2.
I am sure that Skyline no longer does this and I live in Washington state now so havent been back.

Here is a church that uses christmas lights as an outreach to the community.
They do a computerized light show on the side of their building synced with live music!
http://www.discovertbc.com/worshipar...152-light-show

[Mustangnaz]

My home church has done this for the last two years. I think it is a and a great way to get people in the doors to minister to. A buddy at my church has done it with his house for several years and we are talking seriously about doing it in the church next Christmas. Here is my home church: http://www.youtube.com/user/markhallii