Light-O-Rama (LOR) is a well-known and popular light show animation equipment and software that allows you to create a display where the lights dance to music. The Light-O-Rama products are incredibly versatile and can be used by all skill levels but does take time and effort to master. While you can just dig in an learn on your own, this educational workshop leads you easily through the learning process in topic groups with uninterrupted instruction.
This class will teach you about the technologies and controllers available for your display, how to use and troubleshoot those controllers, and how to test items in your display using both hardware and software. Items to be discussed include display layout, hardware selection, power requirements, security, and potential issues from both residential and commercial points of view. We will include troubleshooting tips for displays for issues which happen during installation and/or run time. We will cover setting up both hardware and software configurations for AC channels, dumb and smart RGB channels, and data networks (both serial and ethernet-based). Other points of interest include how the LOR Hardware Utility works and how it all comes together in LOR Network Preferences.
Introduction
Hardware
LOR Hardware Utility
LOR Network Setup and Configuration
While the bulk of the time spent of creating animated displays is spent in programming and creating sequences a good amount of thought and effort should be spent determining if there is a display theme, the message or story being told using the display, the display location, the types of lights to use, where the lights or other display elements will be placed within the display, and the media used with the display. Taking these and other ideas into account will help take your display to the next level. Example ideas include the grouping of elements, when to use and when not to use certain types of lights and pixels, how those and other items can add to or take away from displays.
We will also learn about the process of creating shows from sequences which have already been programmed, running shows on different platforms/hardware, and the advantages/disadvantages of each.
Show Design
The bulk of the time spent of creating animated displays is spent in programming and creating sequences. This class will start by reviewing the various pieces of software in the LOR software suite and how and when each piece of software should be used. We will then move to the fundamentals of setting up a display in software and learning how to control individual items or groups of items in your display.
We will quickly learn how to use various functions in different pieces of software. After a review of networks/universes we will complete the tool chain by matching up the various display items on those networks with props in the software. We will also learn about the importance of preview setup and prop grouping.
Software
Editors
This class will teach you how to program media-synchronized sequences as well as sharing tips for how to program faster and more efficiently. We will also cover how to use timings and various effects so the display sends a message or tells a story with the performance. Also includes learning how, when, and why to use other software such as Audacity and MP3 gain for audio editing.
Sequences
Building Shows
Drew Hickman was an early pioneer in animation, creating the very first commercially available hardware (ChristmasCave) and software (Dasher) products for music-synchronized displays. Since those early days in his garage, Drew has gone on to help drive advances in the lighting and animation field and has helped an untold number of lighting enthusiasts create displays. He has also designed impressive home and commercial displays through his business, Holiday Technologies. Holiday Technologies is an official dealer of Light-O-Rama products and the official LOR training partner.
Drew has worked on all types of displays, large and small, commercial and residential. He has worked with everything from C9 incandescent lights to the latest pixel trees and is sure to share some of his more interesting experiences of being in this business.
Core conference classes are included in the cost of a Conference Pass which includes access to the vendor hall and all core classes and events on the day(s) of your pass.
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