Jeff, thanks for including xTreme Sequences. It was great watching map Home Alone to your display. There have been many changes to xLights that can cut the time down considerably in what you demonstrated. Unless you really want to there is not really a need to point your show directory to the sequencer's show directory. I know some like to see everything in action to learn from the sequencing but you can do that in your world after mapping. If you have a slower computer getting straight to the importing will save you some time. For the images, shaders, and video effects there is a simple step for each that will make for super-fast importing. Click on one shader, select all effects, in the shader effect window right-click in the directory bar, select Bulk Edit Path and navigate to the shaders folder in the original sequence. Do the same for images and videos. This takes a manual process of individually choosing files to about 15 seconds. As for copying shaders, images, and videos into your show directory, there is no need. Again, xLights has thought of everything here. Once you have pointed the shaders, images, and video to the proper locations click on Tools (top menu bar) and select Clean Up File Locations in the dropdown. This will automatically add images to the images folder, shaders to the shaders folder, video to the videos folder, and music to the music folder. If you don't have these folders xLights will create them for you. I offer an Annual Sequence Club membership where you can choose as many sequences as you like, any time you like with redeemable xTokens that are used to purchase sequences. These sequences are available in your own private library for those times when you lose a hard drive or add a new computer. If you don't use all of your xTokens they carry over as this membership is 365 days for paid up members. And finally, you hit on a point that is so important. Giving back to the community and developers is important; especially if you are a sequence vendor. xTreme Sequences donates annually to xLights and FPP.
I have used the xLights Google drive for sequences. Did not know about the other ones. Will have to look in to those. Thanks Jeff, great video as always!
I've found that you don't have to adhere to matching prop for prop when mapping sequences. For example, I don't have icicles but those generally map nicely to my pixel sticks. I don't have window outlines but those map nicely to my garage door outline. I've even mapped flood lights to my garage door outline. I've mapped spinners to my column matrices and it turned out cool. I mapped vertical to meteors. I've even mapped mini-trees, which I don't have, to candy canes. Being creative in mapping, especially through experimentation can give very nice results.
Agreed. I mapped spinners to my spheres which seems to be a nice effect. Even when they have effects on a prop like Candy Canes, sometimes something else looks better. 😂
Love all the videos. I've binge watched them in the last few weeks. I've watched alot of others as well but love the way you explain demonstrate and dumb it down a little for us new to the scene people. I have started to build my show this year. I decided not to start little so I won't actually be doing a show until Christmas 2023 however I have started ordering and building controllers and props including 2 mega tree builds as things are available and not out of stock or back ordered. So I started getting ready a year ahead of the show to have everything the way I want it for my first light display. Appreciate all the videos info and references. I've used it alot in building my show. Xlights is another matter haha. Everything else has come quite easy to me but xlights has really been kicking my butt. Just using my house as a background and laying everything out then trying to write sequences I have found confusing. Something I am going to have to work at. Definelty leaning towards purchasing sequences 5-6 for my first years light show until I can figure out better how to make my own. Again thanks for all you do!!
Thanks! It's definitely an art. Most of mine are boring because I don't have time to devote to it. I spent a year on one sequence once and it almost killed me so I leave it to the professionals. 😂 The quick method works fine for most, but if you want really out-of-this-world sequences, then purchasing them is the way to go. I mix mine in with the good ones.
There's a much faster way of changing the directories for shaders, images, and videos. For each type let say shaders in this case you can click on one shader then do a select all. Then right click the box where it has the location of the file. Then you can select edit bulk path and you can select where you copied all the shaders to. Then repeat for images and videos.
And now there is the fastest way by mapping directly from the zip file which will automatically link all shaders, videos, and images. Boom! Okay, so this has been out for a while but not everyone knows.
Jeff love your videos! I just imported my first sequence but I don’t have my house outlined in pixels. Is that an issue with the effect of the sequence. I was thinking of just using traditional C9 lights on the house and props for the pixels and a mega tree. When I imported the sequence I just assigned the groups that matched my groups.
Different sequencers do things a little differently, but that's the basic process. Just look at their sequence and figure out what matches best with your display.
I just wanted to say I have the club membership for ppd and it is more then sequences they have vendor discounts and they I saved enough to pay the subscription fee for 3 years already also I love the udemy class u have
I'm new to pixel lighting and I build a little bit each Christmas. I too have a hard time finding time to spend on sequences, my problem is that have to learn how to do a sequence not just spend the time to create one. I appreciate the links and got really excited to look at someone else's sequences the only problem is that free sequences in the google drive are all password protected. I guess I'm back to square one and back to learning or purchasing sequences.
Reach out to Bill Porter on Facebook from the xLights group (bit.ly/2zBMwnv). He should be able to help with that. Also, check out the other free link.
@@CanispaterChristmas in the free sequences folder on the Google drive and then in christmas folder there is a password.txt file that had the password for the zip files that contain the sequences
Hey. I just ordered 7 indoor p3 panels. One to play with and the rest to make a cube and they're pushing all these super expensive controllers on me when I plan on doing them procedurally with c++ on a teensy with a ton of ram. I'm just looking to make an ornament and games based on gravity. You seem to be an expert. How would you navigate this sir? I just need something that can pass a signal on to six panels hammered and drywalled into a pretty cube. A curiosity to tantalize the senses haha
I'm not an electronics engineer, but enjoy using this stuff to make my Christmas display light up the way I want it to. Awesome if you can build it all yourself, but I won't be much help in that area. There are folks in the hobby that like to build their own, but I don't have those skills. You might find some of them in the Facebook groups listed in the description of my videos.
@CanispaterChristmas cool. Thanks for the reply. I'm a hobbyist as well my friend but retired very early and have taken it past the point of where normal people would. I just started with these specific panels and while I have many thousands of leds for reason never got around to this kind. Your channel has taught me quite a bit even though I plan to go a different direction. It's good to look at things from all angles when you (meaning me) font know alot about it. I think it's cool that you guys use tech that is designed in America and not the super expensive boards the seller I bought a bunch of panels from is trying to push on me as if I'm designing a video board for times Square haha. If any of my comments have ever came off as harsh I assure you it wasn't my intention. I don't use any social media and come off as blunt and rude I find when I go back and read my questions and such. It's never my intention. I have a very high iq but suffer various mental ilness and it (unintentionally) negatively affects my online interactions with people more often than I'd like and I forget about it. I say this as I've watched alot of your videos and may have said something offensive and I apologize if I have and would appreciate it if you find any comments from me like that to call me out on it as it's something I'm working on. I'm a very nice person but come off as a dick sometimes. Sorry for being blunt there but I have to call it what it is. Sorry for a long ramble. Thanks again for the help.
@@jstro-hobbytech LOL. No worries. I appreciate folks that have a deeper understanding of electronics than I do. I tinker occasionally, but it hurts my brain a little and I have so little time to play with it. Most of my viewers use mostly the same gear (Pis, PCs, pixel controllers, etc.) though there are some in the hobby that like to roll their own. 😂 You might check out wiredwatts.com in Florida if you need some components for that project. Ken, the owner, is very knowledgeable about the panels and components he sells for them. Keep me posted on your project.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!!!! I’m new to the hobby and getting information for next year and was wondering I know the show cycles through, but how long should I make a cycle last 15mins, 30 mins????
Thanks! It's totally up to you. There is no standard. I have 2 playlists - up-tempo and mellow. I play the mellow list the last hour or two depending on the day-of-week, but whatever works for your area.
Jeff, thanks for once again making the complex easier! A slight off-topic question, but I see in you xLights demo that you appear to be running in dark mode on you computer. How is that accomplished in Windows (or is it only a Mac OS function)? Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!
Hey Jeff I just love your videos and being new to xlights (I was using vixen) I have a question about mapping. How does things change for example if my prop has 15 strings and the prop from the imported has 16 strings? Thanks for any and all help. Tom
Thanks! I think it remaps to however your prop is modelled. Someone in the FB group might have a better answer, but once you render, it should work it out.
@@CanispaterChristmas thanks I ended up figuring it out just got it a few days ago and have started playing with it to get ready for Halloween and Christmas this year we had a huge display but nothing like what these can do
Shaders are effects from an open-source community that creates and shared them. xLights uses the .fs file format and can be brought in via the Shader effect tool. You can also search for many more and download as .fs and import into xLights: editor.isf.video/shaders/1246
FOr some reason when I map to my props I generally have to go through and change the rendering modes to look correct. Seems like it shouldn't be that hard? I dunno...
As Jeff suggested having groups will make that easier. Any sequence at the group level will have a specific render style. When you map group to group it will set the correct rendery style. If you are referring to Allow Blend Mode then be sure to follow the recommendations of the vendor to either have it on or off. It matters.
I love that you are a genius at the technical side of Christmas lighting, but I didn't think much of your artistic sequencing at all. I'm glad you admitted you don't spend too much time with it. I would love if you would give your viewers the template of your lights so they may create sequences specific to your exact setup. You could even make it a contest and let everyone vote for their favorite sequences. And please turn off the inflatables!
magicallightshows.com has some good quality sequences. Also, a monthly plan that you can cancel anytime (which makes individual sequences a little easier price wise)
I found RGB Sequences ( rgbsequences.net/ ) after the Virtual Summit and absolutely loved the sequences. They have a couple of sequences that are free so you can try them out without must risk (just your time). I liked the free sequences so much that I purchased more at some really great prices. The mapping to my display was simple and quick. Great sequences and great song choices. I highly recommend them.
@@chrismann5162 I do, but I don't have availability for individual support. Go through my beginner playlist (ua-cam.com/play/PLFyrAfJ-kKd4ZfPdXWIt8v_bav61mW_KW.html) if you haven’t already. Also, check out the links in my video descriptions to forums and Facebook groups. Tons of folks will answer questions that come up and they'll likely respond faster than I can. Finally, check into the Wednesday night Zoom call if possible (see xlights.org). They have informative weekly presentations and open it up for general questions afterwards. Very knowledgeable and helpful folks.
Jeff, thanks for including xTreme Sequences. It was great watching map Home Alone to your display. There have been many changes to xLights that can cut the time down considerably in what you demonstrated. Unless you really want to there is not really a need to point your show directory to the sequencer's show directory. I know some like to see everything in action to learn from the sequencing but you can do that in your world after mapping. If you have a slower computer getting straight to the importing will save you some time. For the images, shaders, and video effects there is a simple step for each that will make for super-fast importing. Click on one shader, select all effects, in the shader effect window right-click in the directory bar, select Bulk Edit Path and navigate to the shaders folder in the original sequence. Do the same for images and videos. This takes a manual process of individually choosing files to about 15 seconds. As for copying shaders, images, and videos into your show directory, there is no need. Again, xLights has thought of everything here. Once you have pointed the shaders, images, and video to the proper locations click on Tools (top menu bar) and select Clean Up File Locations in the dropdown. This will automatically add images to the images folder, shaders to the shaders folder, video to the videos folder, and music to the music folder. If you don't have these folders xLights will create them for you. I offer an Annual Sequence Club membership where you can choose as many sequences as you like, any time you like with redeemable xTokens that are used to purchase sequences. These sequences are available in your own private library for those times when you lose a hard drive or add a new computer. If you don't use all of your xTokens they carry over as this membership is 365 days for paid up members. And finally, you hit on a point that is so important. Giving back to the community and developers is important; especially if you are a sequence vendor. xTreme Sequences donates annually to xLights and FPP.
Thanks for the info! Merry Christmas!
@@CanispaterChristmas Merry Christmas Jeff! I hope you got some nice toys for the pooches! I wish we could see them more in the videos.
Thanks! Yeah, out shopping for them now. Up to a 12tb hard drive so far. 😂 i’ll see if I can figure out a way to get them in there more.
;
I have used the xLights Google drive for sequences. Did not know about the other ones. Will have to look in to those. Thanks Jeff, great video as always!
Thanks! 🎄🎅🏼
We use the Home Alone Dubstep version you sequenced in the video by xTreme Sequences and it's absolutely awesome!
Same here.
Yeah, he did a nice job on it.
I've found that you don't have to adhere to matching prop for prop when mapping sequences. For example, I don't have icicles but those generally map nicely to my pixel sticks. I don't have window outlines but those map nicely to my garage door outline. I've even mapped flood lights to my garage door outline. I've mapped spinners to my column matrices and it turned out cool. I mapped vertical to meteors. I've even mapped mini-trees, which I don't have, to candy canes. Being creative in mapping, especially through experimentation can give very nice results.
Agreed. I mapped spinners to my spheres which seems to be a nice effect. Even when they have effects on a prop like Candy Canes, sometimes something else looks better. 😂
Mapping can be a lot of fun and there are few rules so have fun and be creative. The surprises can be so worth it.
Great job as always 🎅! Looking forward to your next video!
Thanks! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🏼
Thanks Jeff. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Thanks Ron! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your as well! 🎄🎅🏼
Hey Jeff,
Just finished your online course. Twenty 👍It was great.
Thanks! Glad you liked it. Now you need to use it and build a display... and post pictures. 😂
Merry Christmas to you and yours Jeff!!
Thanks Jon. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well! 🎄🎅🏼
xCellent as usual. Cheers🥃🥃
Thanks! I see what you did there! 🤔😂
Love all the videos. I've binge watched them in the last few weeks. I've watched alot of others as well but love the way you explain demonstrate and dumb it down a little for us new to the scene people. I have started to build my show this year. I decided not to start little so I won't actually be doing a show until Christmas 2023 however I have started ordering and building controllers and props including 2 mega tree builds as things are available and not out of stock or back ordered. So I started getting ready a year ahead of the show to have everything the way I want it for my first light display. Appreciate all the videos info and references. I've used it alot in building my show. Xlights is another matter haha. Everything else has come quite easy to me but xlights has really been kicking my butt. Just using my house as a background and laying everything out then trying to write sequences I have found confusing. Something I am going to have to work at. Definelty leaning towards purchasing sequences 5-6 for my first years light show until I can figure out better how to make my own. Again thanks for all you do!!
Thanks! It's definitely an art. Most of mine are boring because I don't have time to devote to it. I spent a year on one sequence once and it almost killed me so I leave it to the professionals. 😂 The quick method works fine for most, but if you want really out-of-this-world sequences, then purchasing them is the way to go. I mix mine in with the good ones.
Thank you Jeff I use extreme sequences I get the yearly and it saved me so much time this year I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year
Thanks Landon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well! 🎄🎅🏼
You should get the Holiday Coro light of Christmas sequence
👍
There's a much faster way of changing the directories for shaders, images, and videos. For each type let say shaders in this case you can click on one shader then do a select all. Then right click the box where it has the location of the file. Then you can select edit bulk path and you can select where you copied all the shaders to. Then repeat for images and videos.
Thanks!
And now there is the fastest way by mapping directly from the zip file which will automatically link all shaders, videos, and images. Boom! Okay, so this has been out for a while but not everyone knows.
Jeff love your videos! I just imported my first sequence but I don’t have my house outlined in pixels. Is that an issue with the effect of the sequence. I was thinking of just using traditional C9 lights on the house and props for the pixels and a mega tree. When I imported the sequence I just assigned the groups that matched my groups.
Different sequencers do things a little differently, but that's the basic process. Just look at their sequence and figure out what matches best with your display.
I just wanted to say I have the club membership for ppd and it is more then sequences they have vendor discounts and they I saved enough to pay the subscription fee for 3 years already also I love the udemy class u have
Good to know. Thanks! 👍
I'm new to pixel lighting and I build a little bit each Christmas. I too have a hard time finding time to spend on sequences, my problem is that have to learn how to do a sequence not just spend the time to create one. I appreciate the links and got really excited to look at someone else's sequences the only problem is that free sequences in the google drive are all password protected. I guess I'm back to square one and back to learning or purchasing sequences.
Reach out to Bill Porter on Facebook from the xLights group (bit.ly/2zBMwnv). He should be able to help with that. Also, check out the other free link.
Most times the password is xlights
Thanks again every one for the help I messaged Bill and he got back to me. I Should have looked for the password file in the drive ;)
@@Greyspacealien There's a password file? 😂
@@CanispaterChristmas in the free sequences folder on the Google drive and then in christmas folder there is a password.txt file that had the password for the zip files that contain the sequences
Hey. I just ordered 7 indoor p3 panels. One to play with and the rest to make a cube and they're pushing all these super expensive controllers on me when I plan on doing them procedurally with c++ on a teensy with a ton of ram. I'm just looking to make an ornament and games based on gravity. You seem to be an expert. How would you navigate this sir? I just need something that can pass a signal on to six panels hammered and drywalled into a pretty cube. A curiosity to tantalize the senses haha
I'm not an electronics engineer, but enjoy using this stuff to make my Christmas display light up the way I want it to. Awesome if you can build it all yourself, but I won't be much help in that area. There are folks in the hobby that like to build their own, but I don't have those skills. You might find some of them in the Facebook groups listed in the description of my videos.
@CanispaterChristmas cool. Thanks for the reply. I'm a hobbyist as well my friend but retired very early and have taken it past the point of where normal people would. I just started with these specific panels and while I have many thousands of leds for reason never got around to this kind. Your channel has taught me quite a bit even though I plan to go a different direction. It's good to look at things from all angles when you (meaning me) font know alot about it. I think it's cool that you guys use tech that is designed in America and not the super expensive boards the seller I bought a bunch of panels from is trying to push on me as if I'm designing a video board for times Square haha. If any of my comments have ever came off as harsh I assure you it wasn't my intention. I don't use any social media and come off as blunt and rude I find when I go back and read my questions and such. It's never my intention. I have a very high iq but suffer various mental ilness and it (unintentionally) negatively affects my online interactions with people more often than I'd like and I forget about it. I say this as I've watched alot of your videos and may have said something offensive and I apologize if I have and would appreciate it if you find any comments from me like that to call me out on it as it's something I'm working on. I'm a very nice person but come off as a dick sometimes. Sorry for being blunt there but I have to call it what it is. Sorry for a long ramble. Thanks again for the help.
@@jstro-hobbytech LOL. No worries. I appreciate folks that have a deeper understanding of electronics than I do. I tinker occasionally, but it hurts my brain a little and I have so little time to play with it. Most of my viewers use mostly the same gear (Pis, PCs, pixel controllers, etc.) though there are some in the hobby that like to roll their own. 😂 You might check out wiredwatts.com in Florida if you need some components for that project. Ken, the owner, is very knowledgeable about the panels and components he sells for them. Keep me posted on your project.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!!!! I’m new to the hobby and getting information for next year and was wondering I know the show cycles through, but how long should I make a cycle last 15mins, 30 mins????
Thanks! It's totally up to you. There is no standard. I have 2 playlists - up-tempo and mellow. I play the mellow list the last hour or two depending on the day-of-week, but whatever works for your area.
@@CanispaterChristmas thank you so much. I live on a busy street so I’ll probably have it replay every 30 mins
Jeff, thanks for once again making the complex easier!
A slight off-topic question, but I see in you xLights demo that you appear to be running in dark mode on you computer. How is that accomplished in Windows (or is it only a Mac OS function)?
Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!
Mac-only at this time. A lot of people ask about that tho. 😂
Hey Jeff I just love your videos and being new to xlights (I was using vixen) I have a question about mapping. How does things change for example if my prop has 15 strings and the prop from the imported has 16 strings? Thanks for any and all help. Tom
Thanks! I think it remaps to however your prop is modelled. Someone in the FB group might have a better answer, but once you render, it should work it out.
@@CanispaterChristmas Thanks I will give it a try.
hello Jeff. how do you enable the dark theme in xlights? i dont see an option for that. thanks
It's the Mac version. The Windows version doesn't support it.
@@CanispaterChristmas well that explains it. Maybe one day the windows community can get it. Thank you.
Hi Jeff. Quick question. While you said where you can buy sequences. Where can you get some free 1s? Do you have any suggestions?
Look in the video description. I have a couple of places listed.
@@CanispaterChristmas Ugg I feel dumb. Thanbk you.
Haha. No worries.
Have you ever used Showstopper Sequences?They have some good ones.
I haven't, but I'll check them out. Thanks!
@@CanispaterChristmas You can find them here. showstoppersequences-com.3dcartstores.com/ I am not the owner just have bought a few
How do you get the dark picture of your house and can you edit trees out of the way etc
You can adjust the brightness on the image (left pane when no model is selected). Mine is on 15. It doesn't do anything fancy tho.
@@CanispaterChristmas thanks I ended up figuring it out just got it a few days ago and have started playing with it to get ready for Halloween and Christmas this year we had a huge display but nothing like what these can do
I probably missed it, but how is a “shader” defined in xlights? Are the graphics used for the shaders?
Check this out from the developer. ua-cam.com/video/QglfPglzDKU/v-deo.html
Shaders are effects from an open-source community that creates and shared them. xLights uses the .fs file format and can be brought in via the Shader effect tool. You can also search for many more and download as .fs and import into xLights: editor.isf.video/shaders/1246
FOr some reason when I map to my props I generally have to go through and change the rendering modes to look correct. Seems like it shouldn't be that hard? I dunno...
Maybe check into the xLights Zoom room and ask them if you have something set incorrectly?
As Jeff suggested having groups will make that easier. Any sequence at the group level will have a specific render style. When you map group to group it will set the correct rendery style. If you are referring to Allow Blend Mode then be sure to follow the recommendations of the vendor to either have it on or off. It matters.
My first year using pixels. Is there a way to map LOR channels to OPS's
You can feed the LOR network from a Falcon, but not sure what OPS is.
@@CanispaterChristmas OPS = Other People's Sequences
@@gsulliv1 OH HAHA. I think LOR threw me a bit. I don't have experience with how LOR channels look in xLights, but I lean toward yes.
how do you use the same map for additional sequences from the same source with the same layout?
Save the mapping right before you do the import.
@@CanispaterChristmas thanks
"You down with OPS? Yeah, you know us..."
I like your thinking there! 😂
Hi Jeff, do you use regulated or resistor LED’s? Thank you
Yes. 😂My older pixels are resistor. My newer ones are regulated.
Thanks that helped me out o guess I have to find a computer to see whats going on instead of my phone.
Haha. I tried zooming in as much as possible, but yeah, prolly not good on a phone.
Xlightsaroundtheworld.com has some really nice free sequences. The submission deadline has passed but you can still get the sequences.
Thanks! I didn't get to submit this year. Hopefull next year...... with more props. 😂
I love that you are a genius at the technical side of Christmas lighting, but I didn't think much of your artistic sequencing at all. I'm glad you admitted you don't spend too much time with it.
I would love if you would give your viewers the template of your lights so they may create sequences specific to your exact setup. You could even make it a contest and let everyone vote for their favorite sequences.
And please turn off the inflatables!
Thanks! I'll think about that one.
Do you have any free one for a f48 with 5 SmartReceiver
Sequences? They don't care what controller setup you have. You're importing effects into your timeline.
Aw man, does that mean no edm/dubstep this year?
Home Alone is dubstep. 😂
magicallightshows.com has some good quality sequences. Also, a monthly plan that you can cancel anytime (which makes individual sequences a little easier price wise)
Thanks!
Clean up file locations does the same thing
Thanks!
How's Jeff doing? Bout time for another video?? 🤓
Awesome! Yep 👍
I found RGB Sequences ( rgbsequences.net/ ) after the Virtual Summit and absolutely loved the sequences. They have a couple of sequences that are free so you can try them out without must risk (just your time). I liked the free sequences so much that I purchased more at some really great prices. The mapping to my display was simple and quick.
Great sequences and great song choices. I highly recommend them.
Thanks! I'll check it out.
46 controllers and 435 power supplies HOLY CRAP I’m going to need 2 more jobs to be able to get into this hobby
😂That would decorate a few acres really well.
@@CanispaterChristmas So I take it that those were not real numbers that you run
@@CanispaterChristmas I do have a lot of questions do you have a email address
@@chrismann5162 I do, but I don't have availability for individual support. Go through my beginner playlist (ua-cam.com/play/PLFyrAfJ-kKd4ZfPdXWIt8v_bav61mW_KW.html) if you haven’t already. Also, check out the links in my video descriptions to forums and Facebook groups. Tons of folks will answer questions that come up and they'll likely respond faster than I can. Finally, check into the Wednesday night Zoom call if possible (see xlights.org). They have informative weekly presentations and open it up for general questions afterwards. Very knowledgeable and helpful folks.
@@CanispaterChristmas ok Thank You.