Where to start...

[oyarsa]

I am just jumping into this hobby. I ordered a Falcon F16V4 ready-to-run controller (https://www.pixelcontroller.com/store/ready-to-run-controllers/77-f16v4rtr.html) and chose a 12v power supply.

My intention is to focus on two elements this year. First, I intend to run strip lights under the eaves of our house. Second, I am designing my own singing character. I am concerned about the fact that I don't know what I don't know.

My character that I want to create is going to require 270 lights. I would make it out of corrugated plastic. My first concern is whether there is any way to add a custom character design into xLights. Since I am completely new to this, I have not played around with xLights at all (watched some videos), so I am not sure if it is even possible.

I intend to get these lights (https://amzn.to/3qfGe7o) unless someone has a better suggestion. I am unsure, though, if the pigtails on the controller are compatible with the connectors on the lights.

Basically, I feel like there is A LOT that I don't know and won't know until I just start trying things, but want to start with the right equipment and expectations...

Thanks for your time and help!

[oyarsa]

Maybe I should be asking where the best place to ask experienced people questions would be. I have lots of questions about all parts of the process (suggestions for layouts, needs of airflow for power supplies, xlights directions, etc). I have watched a lot of videos and read a lot of articles, but that tends to give a mix of knowledge from basic to advanced that leads to gaps in knowledge. Any suggestions for a good forum for beginners in this hobby?

[jnealand]

There is no BEST place to get info, but there are a lot of places that have info.  Some of them are friendlier than other, some have a lot of bias one way or the other.  Don't believe everything you read.  Don't be afraid to just try things, this is a DIY hobby.  Find folks who live reasonably close to where you live and go visit them, ask lots of questions.  Go to every event that you can reasonably get to like Christmas Expo or many of the one day local events that take place all over the country.  Connect up to the zoom room and just listen as you do other things.  I do not think FB is a good source since it is conversational and not an indexed repository of data, but there is a lot of quick answers and lots of different opinions.  Be careful of joining to many FB groups as you can get overwhelmed and again lots of bias by a lot of folks.  I have been doing animated lighting for 15 years and have seen a lot of changes in hardware and software.  Start slow and realize that is a year round hobby and is not an inexpensive hobby.  My golfer friends spend more money on golf than I do on lights, lol.  Do it for yourself and share what you do as opposed to doing for someone else, your motivation is better this way.  Have fun at all times, but it will be aggravating and frustrating as you learn.  Even after 15 years I still make mistakes.  Did that just yesterday trying to repair some stuff and still don't know what is wrong, sigh.  I put it away for a couple of days and then will come back to it.

GOOD LUCK