Author Topic: Please help - New but trying very hard  (Read 1301 times)

Offline jasonbrunaugh

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Please help - New but trying very hard
« on: November 21, 2016, 03:48:12 PM »
First, I realize there are so many posts about this topic and I am trying to read through them all but I want to post my case and see if anyone can help me through this and get one song up and running for me. 

Also - thanks for all you do to help people bring joy and excitement to households and neighborhoods. 

I wanted to jump in and get a better understanding of how to use sequence software, pixels, controllers and hopefully one day create a cool show for my house. 

After seeing some videos, I jumped at buying a mega tree package with hopes of using the experience I gain in playing with it to expand.  I purchased a CCR Tree from HolidayCoro (http://www.holidaycoro.com/12-Strip-Ribbon-Pixel-MegaTree-p/812.htm)
I also purchased a sequence (http://www.holidaycoro.com/product-p/seq-hs-mt1250-gri1.htm) and the audio that goes with it. 

I wanted to use xlights and hopefully learn about setting up a raspberry pi and use that for my show.  For now, I am fine using my personal PC to get the one sequence up and running. 

I plugged in the controller and the lights and connected it to my computer.  I was able to ping the controller and using xlights 2012b I was able to test the lights.  I set up the controller according to the sequence recommendations on the sequence purchase page. 

I viewed several youtube videos about importing or converting .lms into xlights. 

I built one simple megatree model in xlights and after setting it up and importing the sequence according to various videos online, I can press play and see the lighting all works on the model just like the video.  It didnt at first but after tweaking the model and setup, it worked perfectly.  When I press the lightbulb to output it to the lights, I see only a few nodes on one strand flickering. 

When i look at the sequence, and I toggle the strings and nodes, I see nothing on there. 

One video showed having to select the r-g-b for each node.  That seems unrealistic being there are so many channels and its hard to navigate the dropdown box on import to do that. 

I am curious why the model looks right but wont output.  I am sure my setup is messed up or I messed up the conversion into xlights. 

I was hopeful that since all the sold sequences seem to use the same setup that I could purchase multiple songs after setting up the one tree and go from there but now I am just stuck with this song and where to go next. 

I have what they call end to end setup but have struggled making contact or communicating with anyone to assist from holidaycoro (i know they have awesome support and I am sure we can make it work)

Can anyone advise me on where I may have gone wrong, or what to do next.  Thanks in advance for any help at all.  Do we email people, call people, is it possible for assistance remotely?  Im excited to make this work and hopeful I am on the right track. 

Offline Phrog30

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Re: Please help - New but trying very hard
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2016, 04:13:39 PM »
It may be easier and quicker to do a remote session, TeamViewer. I might have time later tonight if interested.

James

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Offline jasonbrunaugh

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Re: Please help - New but trying very hard
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2016, 04:42:42 PM »
Wow!  That would be awesome.  Just a set of eyes on what I have and any advice would be so great.  Let me know what you need or when you might want to take a peek.  Thanks!

Offline jasonbrunaugh

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Re: Please help - New but trying very hard
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2016, 05:14:26 PM »
Just an update.  When I open the sequence tonight and play it, output 1 has no lights blinking and 2 only has a few lights and that is reflective in the model.  The other outputs look to be working.  Once I render it, none of them work right.  I have to have a minor issue in the setup but it mostly works before rendering.  Either way, the lights do not display when I drill down to the strings and nodes under the sequence.  Thanks!

Offline jasonbrunaugh

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Re: Please help - New but trying very hard
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2016, 07:36:57 PM »
Just an update.  When I open the sequence tonight and play it, output 1 has no lights blinking and 2 only has a few lights and that is reflective in the model.  The other outputs look to be working.  Once I render it, none of them work right.  I have to have a minor issue in the setup but it mostly works before rendering.  Either way, the lights do not display when I drill down to the strings and nodes under the sequence.  Thanks!
Solved!  Help was awesome and very much appreciated. I'm glad I came across this forum and look forward to learning from others and hopefully paying it forward in the future. Thanks for the remote help.


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