Animated Christmas Lights

I wanted to tell everyone thanks for a great 2008 show.  We spent most of the day today taking down the display, so if your hoping to drive by and see the show you will have to wait till next year. Thanks to everyone who helped out this year especially everyone who helped set up the display, helped with the technical issues, programming (especially Ben, Woodfin, Jazzman, and FlyingWrench), clean up (Tim), and especially the neighbors who let us buy a little power to help control the brown out.  The show this year pulled an impressive 45 amps at peak.

I got around to filming the entire show in high definition this past week.  The video will take a little while to edit but I hope to have it up within the week.  Watch the videos page for the video.

I got a very touching card in the mail the other day from a family who enjoyed the show so much that they sent us a Christmas card/Thank you.  It was a very classy move in my opinion.  They could of easily wrote a comment on the site or wrote a quick e-mail but instead they took the time to send a real card.  It was a very nice gesture and I thank them.  Below I have posted it.

Another new song is running in the show now and here is the video.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter

http://www.vimeo.com/2409807

The 2008 Holiday show is up and running.  So far there is only one song that is up and running but expect a second song sometime this week.  Right now the show is running the following song below.  Here is a short video. Expect more and a video of the entire show when it is up and going.  If you drive by and enjoy the show please tell all of your friends and neighbors.  I also started a 2008 Video page which you can find here http://www.liquidretro.net/lightshow/2008-videos/

Carol Of The Bell - Mannheim Steamroller

http://www.vimeo.com/2378526

Yesterday we got 300 C9 Lights hung on the house.  We hung 100 of each Red, Green, and White lights on the eve of the house.  We decided to get started this year early while it was warm out.  It was a great decision.  Expect more lights to be hung around Thanksgiving and the show to start sometime soon around that time.

We are hard at work for the 2008 show.  The engineers are busy working on a new version of the control hardware and software to make the lights dim this year. I am in the process of updating the website and starting to choose music for this years show. I will then start programming soon. My goal is to start the programming by the end of the week. Keep checking the website as we will try and update everyone when major developments happen.

On Friday December, 21 I was notified that the display had won 3^rd place in a local radio stations Griswold Christmas Light Contest. http://froggy981.com/morning/christmaslights.htm We won a gift certificate to a Local Spa!

On December 24^th I was contacted by the Local News paper the Lincoln Journal Star. They wanted to do an article about my Christmas Light Display. Later that evening Michah Mertes came and spent about an hour interviewing us and learning all about the display. The article was printed today with two nice photos. One of the house and one of the creators.

(Photo by Michael McNamara, Lincoln Journal Star)

Please read the articles below and drive by and see the show.
Link to the print article (PDF)
http://liquidretro.net/lightshow/images/lightarticle.pdf

Link to the article on the Journal Star’s Website
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/12/26/news/local/doc4771b19d6eede852422813.txt

I borrowed a High Definition video camera this weekend and filmed the 2007 Lights display and got the video online this afternoon. Please take a look at it and feel free to leave comments. Here is a like to the video page. http://www.liquidretro.net/lightshow/2007-video/

Saturday December 1st at 2:18am we had success. The show had its first successful run and viewing. After a stressful weekend last week we managed to get the project working. We could not have done it with out the support of the community at Planet Christmas Forums. The show runs from 5pm to 10pm weekly. Please stop by and see the lights.

• 2 of 3 songs are currently operational on the display. The third song Carol of the Bells by Manheim Steamroller is currently being programmed. However I am in school and feeling the pressure of the end of the semester. The programming has been put on hold till I have more time. This will more than likely be near Christmas when my semester is complete.

• Please check back often for a new and updated video. This week I should have a little time to go and take a video of the display and put it on the website. For now I have a video of this display’s first run through.

• If you need directions to the display please click on “Directions” on the left side of the page.

Please enjoy the show!

Everything is ready to go on the project. The control boards are wired, working, and in housings. The mini 3D Christmas Trees are assembled and are in storage, and the Giant Christmas tree is ready. The shows programming is finished for 2 songs. The yard sign advertising the radio station has been made. The website now has two how-two’s and directions to the light show powered by Google maps. The only thing left to buy are approximately 30 electrical extension cords.

Right now the estimated date that the show is going up is Thanksgiving weekend (weather permitting). I will update the website when the show is online.

Welcome to Lightshow.LiquidRetro.Net. Through the coming months I will post information and updates about this years show. My goal of the project is to have animated Christmas lights that are synced to music on my house. So far the control boards are completly done and in their housings. The FM transmitter is built and has been tuned with its proper length antenna. To Do yet are make the mini Christmas tree’s, program this years show, buy more extension cords, and put up this website. Please check back often and tell your friends and neighbors about the display in Lincoln, NE.