Ramping up your Holiday Lights!

If you’re a seasoned light hanging vet, our blog a couple weeks ago probably wasn’t new or exciting for you. But, we planned for you and if you’re ready to put your skills to the test this year, try upping your light game for a fully immersive experience!

Timing holiday lights to music, creating a synchronized light show, is a fantastic way to add an extra layer of creativity and excitement to your holiday decorations. To achieve this, you’ll need some specialized equipment and software. If you’ve tried your hand at this before, you may find some nuggets in the list below to improve this years’ design. If you’ve never attempted a synchronized experience, here’s an overview of how to time your lights to music:

1. Gather the Equipment: for a synchronized dazzler, you’ll need the following:

Light Controller: A specialized light controller, such as Light-O-Rama or xLights, is essential. These controllers can manage the timing and sequencing of your lights. Some are DIY projects, but pre-made controllers are also available.

Lights: You’ll need a variety of holiday lights, such as RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LED lights. These lights are individually controllable, allowing for intricate light patterns.

Computer: A computer is necessary to run the sequencing software that controls the light show.

Speakers: High-quality speakers or an outdoor sound system are a must for playing the music that the lights will synchronize with. Remember to be considerate of your neighbours when running your show, especially if it’s loud, and check local noise ordinances in your neighbourhood.

Extension Cords: Ensure you have enough extension cords and power outlets to accommodate your light setup.

2. Choose Sequencing Software: there are several software options available for sequencing your lights to music. Some popular ones include:

• Light-O-Rama (LOR): LOR has a user-friendly interface and is well-suited for beginners.
• xLights: xLights is open-source and provides more advanced options for those looking to create intricate displays.
• Vixen: Another open-source option, Vixen, is known for its flexibility and robust features.

3. Set Up Your Lights: before you begin sequencing, arrange your lights in the desired locations and configurations. Ensure all your lights are working and connected to your light controller.

4. Import Your Music: in your sequencing software, import the audio track or song that you want to synchronize your lights with.

5. Sequence Your Lights: this is where the magic happens. In your sequencing software, you’ll:

• Create a timeline that corresponds to the song
• Designate when specific lights or groups of lights should turn on, off, or change colors.

Most software uses a drag-and-drop interface, making it easier for you to time your lights to the music.

6. Add Effects: to make your light show dynamic and exciting, you can add various lighting effects and sync them to specific parts of your chosen music for added drama. Effects might include:

• Fades
• Flashes
• Chases
• Color changes

7. Fine-Tune and Preview: after sequencing your lights, fine-tune your display. Preview how it will look with your software’s visualizer feature. This allows you to spot and correct any timing or synchronization issues.

8. Test Your Display: before going live, thoroughly test your display to ensure all lights and sequences work as intended. This is a crucial step to fix any issues before the big reveal.

9. Control Your Light Show: use your light controller to control and schedule your light show. These controllers typically come with scheduling options, so you can program when your show starts and stops.

10. Enjoy the Show!

Creating a synchronized light show is a creative and rewarding endeavor. It requires time and investment, but the results can be truly spectacular.

Happy Holidays!

-Paige Sandvold is a Marketing Manager at Directwest