You must be the best teacher ever. The way you explain stuff is really clear and understandable.

After watching the video I decided to throw a couple of led strips on my roof, plug them in and call it a day.

This really helped me make the decision to skip the lights this year

Omg! I’ll stick to string lights; props to all of you who do this! Impressive

out of everybody producing content on this subject, you are the most straightforward and informative. thank you! i will consider patreon.

I highly recommend this video if you are into making your display from static lights to sequenced lights. Love the informative video as this is a pretty good intro to the hobby of the Christmas lights. It also turns into many other holiday lights too, i.e 4th of July, Halloween. I also recommend XLights KZfaq classes as well as the forums from Xlights and Light O Rama. The only complaint I have with the video is your comment of it takes a week for a novice to do an impressive show in a week. Only if you have deep pockets (purchasing a ready made display and sequenced or having some else do it) or you are a anywhere from a intermediate to complete nerd in electronics. And still not a week to do it all. Not trying to scare anyone away but it takes a lot longer to wade thru what you want to do versus all of the different electronic items to do it as well as the programming aspects. If you have a music background, that helps too when sequencing your lights to music. Your advice to start small is the best solution for a novice as it can easily get overwhelming. It has taken me almost 10 years to get my display where I want it to be. Last year was the very first year to setup, sequenced and happy with the display. It is not big or small but it fits the area I have and it took over a month to setup. That does not include selecting the songs to sequence, going thru checking each light (ws2811s, rgb spotlights, static led lights) and checking for anomalies. Can't wait till I retire so I can really do it spectacularly!!

Importing the sequence is definitely one of the most confusing parts to do on your own. Thank you for explaining this so well!

That xLights guide was really all that I needed. Thanks for keeping me busy doing projects Rob!

I'm super excited. I've been wanting something to do since retirement. Knowing me, if I start today I might be able to have my "mega strand" of lights programmed in time for Christmas next year.

This really helped tie all the bits together I've learned so far. Thank you!!!!

Thanks for posting this. Wow when I drove by a house with this type of led tree I had no clue what's involved. I always wanted to do this but I feel now I need a degree in IT to do it. When you were going back and forth on the pc my brain went into over load. Lol

First, love your vids. You're literally the reason I even ended up in this hobby. Starting with your holiday lights vids and now into the full show. That said, "less than a week to a full show" is fairly misleading. I suppose with a Ready to Run kit for the mega tree, that element's doable in that time frame, but a whole show is not. It's my first year, I've been at it since August/September and I'm only at about 65% complete. Wiring, soldering, attaching pigtails, power injecting, building props for window outlines, and trouble shooting is all very time consuming. And that's before the dozens of hours you'll spend sequencing. This is still a great tutorial and your xlights section will definitely save me some time!

Oh my gosh! Thank you SO MUCH for this! NOBODY explains any of this as well as you, truly appreciated!

He would have been my favorite teacher in school. Very cool projects!

I've been thinking of upgrading the outside lights for sometime and this is probably the best instructional video I've seen. Great job Rob and thank you!

I am loving the information on your channel. I'm just starting out. I have a model using USB fairy lights that are W2812B for my bedroom sized model and I am looking into beginning to learn programming. My model is not just flat or linear, it is an abstract multi-dimensional star like design. The complex/advanced model is anyway. My first yard sized model with light was called "Tetra Light" and the complex model is 4 times more elements. The programming will be able to handle many different sets of movement on the one model and it's 4 different prototypes so far. As for choosing strips or strings and power, the design in these early stages are basically lights strips in tubes/pipes. I'm using Govee led strips for larger versions and BTF lighting fairy lights for the smaller version. There are sets of 12 light tubes in the simple model and 48 in the complex model. Each of those could be individual segments. I'm going to calculate how many lights that would be. Power is an issue because I would have to hide the wires so they don't hang out all around the ends. The model gives a way to brings power lines through the center of the tubes at large diameters. I could use little 3D printed parabolic cones to distribute lights from strings and pixels aligned by the center wire so the light is reflected around to the tube in a better way that just pixel in tubes. www.youtube.com/@CreativeStarlightCurves

Thank you, I'm 12 and I begged my parents for years to get me a controller and lights and they did. I got the programming and it didn't work out. Like it was supposed to. It was off beat. I guess that's not to bad considering I did it by myself but u really helped

Nice movie! And nice tree. Now a movie of the total house

Love your wife's shirt. "I don't need Google, my husband knows everything" Ha! XD

I'm lights KraZee! But I'm not participating anymore. I've got a new perspective and much more appreciative of folks who do these GREAT displays. Thnx

Thanks for such a thorough video, you answered like 20 of my 10 questions

A novice can put together an amazing show in about a week...Ha! I'd love to see that

Now I know why I’ve never saw a light show in my town. As simple as a trig problem.

9:08 - Glad to see the union supervisors on the job.

The part about the universe was really helpful. Thanks!

Phenomenal video ! Thank you for bringing us closer to our dreams ! And Your LED obsession is well understood !

Wow sick! This is that next level lights I install commercial holiday lights and if I start offering things like this there is way more money in it!

Thanks Rob. Love your succinct explanations, no nonsense , get to the point presentations. I love having you guys 2.5 yrs ahead of my budget. You save me so much time and $. ;-) (Oh, and let me mention the link you have to the WS2812B IP65s was dead last I checked.) Thanks for all you do!

Another great video Rob, really informative!! Good to see at 09:00 you had plenty of supervisors helping!!!

You’re the man. Love your channel and what you do! #respect

Nice one. I got idea for our christmas decoration competition at work.

That's REALLY impressive... a bit out of my budget.. didn't realize the big controllers were that expensive. I look forward to more of this series and I'll be ingesting more of your original LED outline to build my own.

Dude, you are an absolute magician!

My favorite hobby, This year will be my 5th year running a light show. One thing I noticed that will cause issues is using DHCP. You just can't do this. I don't use xlights but on Vixen it asks for controller IP, if you're using DHCP this is liable to change after a day or a week depending on router settings. Using a manual IP should be the only option. Also never used Falcon boards because they're quite pricey. I've stuck with SanDevices, they also sell their boards fully assembled which is the option I took. My first SanDevices I got 4 years ago (an E682 ) and it's still running like a champ. Now they have a $99 board that assembled with 4 outputs. Perfect for placement on a display element.

Love your presenting style. Refreshing and straight to the point

I have no idea what u were talking about (setup). It’s a nice outcome

I really wanna make my own light shows for Christmas and Halloween for my future house. I’m sure this video can help me.

Thank you so much for sharing for point lights.

First I want to say that I have subscribed to you page. I have been sequencing a light show for a few years now. While I have considered going with Pixel lights I have too much invested in regular LED lights, (about 25,000), to change my set up. I also wrote my own program to run my lights. I use Digital I/O boards in my display and build all my own circuit boards. I still do the flashy blinky type of display, (no dimming). Even with what I know this set up seems like it would take a lot of study to get a grasp of everything. I have even tried to contact DIY web sites but no ones seems willing to help me out with questions and problems that I encounter. You at least are willing to show how some of these things go together. I did at one time try and purchase systems from people, but no one would explain how to diagnose problems with the systems I bought. It would be nice to see something like this broken down into easy to understand steps to do a display as complex as this. All of the terms you are using need to be defined in every day language for the average person. Thank you for you effort to explain your system.

“Don’t attempt to make a show that’s visible from space your very first year”. Ok 👍🏻 got it 😂😂😂

Great info. Good subject would be how to expand a single effect across all channels and universes as I saw this season. It was spread over someone's entire house ever so often to match intensity of music. Very cool effect.

Just subscribed today and watched a few videos so far. My brain is smoking because I haven't even reached novice level. I'm a "I'm new, I don't know what to do" beginner, beginner level. I'll watch them a few dozen times again and maybe I'll start to understand. I do love the videos and do want to learn.

Greatly appreciated the Timestamps

Great intro, Rob...I'm an IoT hw/sw developer and just getting into xLights and animated shows. Yours is the first video that has actually brought all of the pieces together in an understandable, cohesive manner that, thanks to you, I know understand! Kudos. You mentioned in the vid that you permanently mounted pixel strips to outline your house. Could you share what products/tools you did to do that? Has that been installed for awhile, and if so has it withstood weather/sunlight/snow/rain etc.? I also loved the discussion around PVC pre-fab mounting for your doors and windows. Let's see how you did that!? Thanks again!

100% sure that I never want to do this now. Jeez Rob!

Some background on the universe and channel numbers may help some beginners. Stage lighting uses a control signalling called DMX512. It has 512 addresses on a single cable. 512 is a power of 2. One cable with a maximum of 512 channels is referred to a universe. To send multiple universes to the lighting fixtures over Ethernet for large shows and concerts, the data is streamed over networking and broken out into DMX to the individual strings of fixtures on their own universe cable of no more than 512 channels. The fixtures are assigned channels to receive and physically connected to the correct cable universe. In Ethernet networking this protocol was adopted by the hobby people. Most people do not use stage lighting and DMX 512 directly as there are no configuration switches on each pixel. Pixels do not care about DMX addresses, universes, etc. The pixels use another standard. The interface between them is where the confusion begins. Pixels although listed as addressable are in fact NOT addressable. you can't give them an address. They use a serial shift register protocol. There is only the first pixel through to the last pixel in a string. You can not assign them addresses. They get data based on their position in the string. The most common protocol is the WS2811 protocol. The reference to the WS2812 is the exact same protocol. The difference is the pixel contains the chip in the LED. The 2811 has a chip on a board and an LED. Send a bunch of bits to the first pixel and it strips off the first 8 bits for red, 8 bits for Green, and 8 bits for Blue, then sends any further bits out to the next pixel. This is all they do. The next pixel takes the first bit it gets which is the 25th bit and does the same as the first pixel did keeping the first 24 bits it sees and sending along the rest. This continues down the line until the last pixel gets the last few bits that made it that far. DMX on the other hand does use addresses to receive the channel information. No data is stripped from the line and all fixtures receive the same data. The last light on a DMX cable can be addressed to receive the data for DMX channel it is set to receive regardless of position in the string. DMX lighting is addressable. A pixel controller can take one universe of DMX 512 channels and send it as shift register data to a string of pixels using the WS2811 protocol. This is a pixel controller in the very basic form. Due to each pixel using 3 channels of DMX information, there is a full set of data for 170 pixels in 510 DMX channels. The two remaining channels would have enough data for Red and Green for one pixel but no data for the blue. This is why pixel controllers use 510 channels per universe instead of 512. It is desirable to have pixel strings longer than 170 pixels. The shift register Pixels support long strings. The Pixel controller for these strings can take more than one Universe of DMX 512 data and combine them on one output, so using 2 universes of 510 channels instead of 512, will drive a string of 340 pixels using 1020 DMX channels in 2 universes which is easily handled by the software sequencer, ethernet, and pixel controller. This conversion from stage lighitng protocol to get the signal from the software out to the LED strings is where most of the confusion arises in regards to Universes and DMX channels. To add to the confusion, some controllers call the first universe 0 and some call it 1. Getting the addressing wrong in the software or controller by one universe is a common mistake. DMX addresses start with address 1. Pixels sometimes were numbered from 0. Again, this causes some programming headaches. Some pixels are not in the order of Red Green Blue. This if not fixed in the controller or sequencer, it can result in unexpected colors. Due to the hobby market, what used to be very expensive to distribute DMX in shows has now become very affordable. Instead of outputting just the shift register data for Pixels, there are very affordable E1.31 to DMX controllers out there too for very affordable prices. What used to cost over a grand is now under $100 for a 4 universe E1.31 to DMX interface.

Thanks for the time stamps!

Novice here, this video sounded like another language to me, gonna watch it 20 more x till I get it though, time to learn another language!!

Wow this is extraordinary clear! Thank you.

You are a legend

I use SuperStar from Light-O-Rama to sequence all my pixels, and use almost all Holiday Coro controllers and pixels. But, X-Lights also is a very good sequencer. You gave a great overview of the main steps. Just a heads-up: Sequencing RGB lights to a song, the real "wow" of using RGB lights, takes an enormous amount of time. I take approximately 8-10 hours per one minute of a song that I sequence to my lights, and I only have about 17,000 pixels. I say "only" because many of those addicted to this hobby (like me) have multiples of that (e.g., John Storms). So, besides the work required to build props (like a mega tree), plan on spending quite a bit of time sequencing lights to a song. Now, will your next video be how to power wash a driveway? Ok, my poor attempt at humor. I love all your videos!!

You’re the best. Seriously.

Can you do a video on how to physically mount the wiring/lights to your house. I’m pretty lost on injecting power. If you want a house to do you can come over. Haha

Ha I’ve been watching your channel for over a year now, just realized you are in Tampa. Funny local coincidence.

I haven't slept in 7 weeks but thanks to your video I'm now ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Fantastic videos. You are doing a great job breaking down the topics you cover. Keep it up!

I'm hooked! Subscribed...

FYI, before pounding a stake three ft into the ground it is a good idea to contact your local utility locate. It most cases if you will search for a place similar to "One Call", they provide locate for electric, phone, cable, internet, water lines, sewer lines and natural gas lines. Most areas have "811" locating services, oh did I mention it's FREE! having utilities located does not cost you money; having them fixed will cost you money. One last detail it's a good idea to give them at least one week notice to when you want to do the work, this will allow for ALL utilities to respond and locate your utilities.

Great Video. Thinking this is a 2021 project.

Love the video and love the channel, too! Your channel is now on the top of my list! I even printed out the input / output diagram from your "which pins to choose" video on the ESP8266. By the way you look like a young Michael Keaton in the thumbnail for this video ha ha!

Good presentation.

Nice Project !!!👍👍

Thank you !!

Is there a Holiday Coro equivalent store for Canadians?

Thank you you have been a big help.

Time to make a 2024 version of this. Plus is there not a "basic" controller similar to WLED that just does some prebuilt basic chases, flashing, fading for those with bullet pixels who are not interested in xlight sequencing/syncing etc...

Thanks for a great overview. Helped me accelerate my setup. I’m not clear why you have the same e1.31 controller listed multiple times in the controller setup. My understanding is Xlights supports multiple universes under a single entry.

Наконец-то нормальное описание! Спасибо👍

Don't forget to check and adjust BRIGHTNESS. You don't want one prop washing out the rest of your display, and you don't want your neighbor to be able to read comfortably by your lights. _Inside_ his house. Respect your neighbors.

Awesome channel!

SUPER ...100% BEST... Thank you...

DrZzs: Today I'm gonna show you how to build your own LED shows. That's all for now, Adios! The Hook Up: Nahhh DrZzs!!Hold my beer! This is how you show your LED shows from space.

Hey I didn't see anything in the comments about the sandevices controllers but they come fully assembled as well.

Do you have a video on how you made the PVC frames for your doors and windows and attached them? Thanks

Nice presentation

My household just wants the big tree

this was a great video thank you

Hi.. mr Hook UP I was electronics enthusiastic way back 40 years now but I want bring it back my know ledge again also I add my suscribed I love your theorical explanations Im already 65 years and already retired do nothing athome but I can still doing this project to maintain my memory thanks

Can you do a video specifically on power injection? Methods, techniques and tools required? Great videos cheers!!

I would love for you to do an in-depth show on power injection. I don't really understand when or how to do that.

In that case should we hang the decos up this weekend on the channel aswell? So its all warm n cosey for next time you visit. I know how u like your LED lighting 😤😤😤

Hola, como podria conseguir todas las instrucciones en español? Me gusta mucho tu trabajo y quisiera empezar a aprender a hacerlo y decorar mi casa asi como la tuya. Espero y puedas ayudarme. Saludos...

Thank you! I’m making the move so.

I was looking for guidance in using an input from an xbox one rumble motor to then RF to a receiver to make the led strip light up red with the same pulse of the rumble motor. I'm 100 percent doing this project but I just don't know where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Maybe you have a video for this, but I am just looking to control these sort of lights with light show app.

great video

Once you got to the computer mumble jumble it was like dropping me off in another country where no one spoke my language. 😞😁. Cause I really would like to do this.

What is your spacing for the holes on your pvc frames for the windows and doors?

Great mega tree! I have 14 stings just arrived, I was going to do 2 in spacing but seeing yours I believ 3 in looks nice also. Other note, didn’t you have a video on how to build that wreath? I couldn’t find it. Scanned through your other holiday vids but may have missed it.

The one to buy is Lights-o-Rama.

Even a novice can do it *Einstein continues to lecture*

Hello! My first question is how do I run XLights with a wireless network?

Nice video, I would add a disclaimer about that fence post though those bend and break easy in heavy winds. I would use stronger metal poles for the build. Also would let people know that this is only one option like you broke down the controllers so they understand that there are multiple ways to make the same sort of prop. Also don't recall seeing guide wires added for extra support on the tree? That's also a good point to highlight so people don't get frustrated when things start falling over.

For leaping arches what leds would you recommend for an 8 foot arch and five arches ?

Great video!!!

Do the light strings come in twenty feet tall. Probably much more expensive. I want to start out with the tree only and want it to be 20 feet tall. Thanks for responding.

AMAZING 💡💡💡💡💡🎄, THANK YOU!

I think i will now need a mega tree and to watch the xlights import section in 4X slo-motion to get all the steps.

Have you ever thought about changing the light program, for off-season fun ? Like Synergy welcoming you home, for example (Jem)

Great video! One thing, I share the same last name as Jason. Our last name is pronounced Ras-mus-sen. i.e. Rasmus' son. :). Love our channel!