This show is all DIY (do it yourself). Most of the props that I use are either 3D printed or cut from coro material. The driveway arches are each made of 9ft PEX pipe, and the mega tree is a metal frame. The entire show is a lot of work, but I love every moment of it! # <u>Software</u> ## xLights A 3D layout of our home was constructed and imported into software called xLights. With the model, xLights knows exactly where each individual light is located in the display. Within the software, we add lighting effects in line to the music that is playing. ![[xLights.webp]] Once a sequence is rendered in xLights, I can see exactly what it will look like on my house:  And finally, here is what it looks like actually on my house:  ## You choose the song New for my 2024 shows, I displayed a QR code that viewers could scan on their phone to see a website with all of our sequences. A song could then be selected which would be added to the queue to be played next on the house. The website would send the selected sequence to the Raspberry Pi which would then add it to the playlist queue. # <u>Hardware</u> ## Raspberry Pi Once the sequencing has been finished in xLights, I upload the song file (if the sequence is to music), along with the sequence file to a Raspberry Pi computer which runs software called Falcon Pi Player (FPP). Once a sequence starts playing on the Raspberry Pi it will play the audio song, as well as send data over ethernet cables to the various light controllers. The data that is sent to the light controllers contain 40 changes per second for each individual light in the show. Meaning that each light receives instructions to change 40 times every second. That is a lot of changes!! ![[Raspberry Pi.webp]] ## Light Controllers The show uses multiple light controllers. All of the light strings are wired into one of the light controllers. The light controllers are connected to a network and receive data from the Raspberry Pi telling them which lights need to turn which colours and when. As noted above, each light can change colours 40 different times every second. ![[Falcon controller box.webp]] # <u>Sound</u> The Raspberry Pi sends music to both speakers, as well as an FM Transmitter which allows cars to tune in to the station to listen. The software also sends the music over the internet so that it can be heard through a smartphone using a free app called Pulse Mesh - [Pulse Mesh for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pulsemesh/id6695758719) - [Pulse Mesh for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.pulsemesh.app)