Christmas Lights Gone Wild!
By Evan Blass 
posted November 21st 2005 3:25PM
posted November 21st 2005 3:25PM
This is just sick; some people get way too into the holiday spirit. Click the link to see what we mean…
[Thanks, Scott]
Update: looks like dude's server got shut down, so we're hosting it now — gotta spread the love! Yes, it's still a WMV link.
Update 2: we have the deets behind to those 16,000 synchronized lights hanging off Carson Williams' house now. Thanks Bill.
I'd be even more impressed if this WERE a fake! Piecing 5400 frames together in Photoshop is much harder than making some Christmas lights blink!
THIS HOUSE IS NOT FAKE IT WAS MADE BY CARSON WILLIAMS AND THE POLICE MADE HIM SHUT IT DOWN. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILBLE TO THE PUBLIC TO MAKE YOUR LIGHTS GO TO THE MUSIC AND THE NEIGHBORSZ DIDNT CARE ABOUT THE MUSIC CUZ THEY DIDNT HER A THING!! IT WAS SENT THROUGH A STATION ON THE RADIO (KINDA LIKE A DRIVE IN THEATER) BUT THE TRAFFIC HOWEVER WAS OUT OF CONTROLL. BUT IT WAS WORTH SEEING.. FOR PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS FAKE.. YOUR SERIOSLY STUPID! IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS!!
This is by far one of the best light shows I have ever seen.
I am so inspired that I shall attempt a 320 channel hardware interface via the parallel port and a software package to go along with it. This is a real cool project! I have a year to do it. I hope my wife doesn't find out.
You all are just jealous that you cant come up with something like that. That guys is freakin amazing.
Yeah. Just because something is better than you can do, doesn't mean that its fake. It is real, and it is still going on now at his house. You can drive by and see it.
Wishing everyone who views this a wonderful Christmas full of fun and laughter! Lighten up, everyone! Enjoy life!
to #19
thank you! I have been trying to find out what that song is for 2 days!
Amen to post 157.
If you think that it can not be done, check out
http://computerchristmas.com/index.phtml?link=how_to&HowToId=4&LowLimit=10
This showes the logic addressing and datalatching circuit. Connect this to the boards found at
http://www.simpleio.com/output/triac/
and you have a high voltage digital control system. Mix in a bit of software code and
TA-DA !
Warning: These circuits use line voltages which can kill. Please read all warnings and cautions.
Have fun and I'll look for your lights next year. I hear there is a competition you can enter too.
If you think that it can not be done, check out
http://computerchristmas.com/index.phtml?link=how_to&HowToId=4&LowLimit=10
This showes the logic addressing and datalatching circuit. Connect this to the boards found at
http://www.simpleio.com/output/triac/
and you have a high voltage digital control system. Mix in a bit of software code and
TA-DA !
Warning: These circuits use line voltages which can kill. Please read all warnings and cautions.
Have fun and I'll look for your lights next year. I hear there is a competition you can enter too.
absolutetly fanTASTIC!!!!!!! BRAVOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
According to Snopes.com, he has agreed to turn the lights off due to the huge amounts of traffic which resulted in an accident.
I read on Snopes.com that he had agreed to turn off the display due to the large amount of traffic which had resulted in an accident.
i would just like to say that is the best F-n Light show ever and i would really like to see more of them but with different songs!!! it'd be great thanks tim
Dude, I am so jealous. I have ALL kinds of christmas lights, the most in the neighborhood and I blast Manheim Steamroller occasionally. I'm totally doin this one. Cheers to the man that made it famous. Now I bow, and hope not to blow a breaker or shock myself.
Fantastic!! I want lights like this...
Yes, it's probably a hoax (that's what I thought when I first saw it). Who cares? It's a clever, well-done one, if it is.
This is the real thing. Carson Williams the owner of the house, was even interviewed by the Today Show on NBC about it. He uses a board called Light-O-Rama with accompanying computer software. The music is "Wizards in Winter" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The continuously bright square on the lower right is a sign telling people what FM frequency to tune to, to listen to the music. He uses a low-level FM transmitter to broadcast the music. So the neighbors never hear the music. Carson is an electrical engineer. Light-O-Rama boards start out at around $189.00 for basic.
#13
if you think this is a hoax go to cbs .com there is a story about it and its all real. just because you cant do something doesn't mean someone else cant do it. and the guys name is something wilson. i cant remember the first name.
Thats a pretty cool light show but I dont think I would like to pay his light bill or live next door to him. To numbers 12 and 13 why cant you just leave the man alone, he came up with something new and your going to rip on him. Thats just wrong!
This is pretty amazing! I have been working on a Living Christmas Tree at my church with the help of 4 other people. it's the same consept... lights to music. It's about the same setup too... computerized and difficult. My hats off to the one who put this together! Oh yeah... to the person who wrote comment#12... I'm sorry you don't believe in the wonder, magic and spirit of Christmas. And, I hate to break it to you but our country isn't the only thing relying on faith. Life itself is based on faith and love. You are really missing out on the full joy of Christmas. Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!
Check out CBS coverage of the guy who put it together. Love the music. It didn't disturb the neighbors because he played it on an FM channel that drivers could pick up in their cars!!
I loved that show. Wish i could do it to my house. That must of took alot of time and wiring.Wish you could teach me. tc.
I loved that show. Wish i could do it to my house. That must of took alot of time and wiring.Wish you could teach me. tc.
May be awesome, but sure would hate to live next door to it.
Not only do I LIKE IT !!!! I want one!!! How did he do it and how do I get one!!
For #13, it is in fact real (it's about 3-4 miles from my house). The track runs for about 30 minutes and has multiple songs. The music is broadcast using a low-powered FM transmitter so you listen to the soundtrack in the car. The effects are unbelievable and different for every song. For "Snoopy and the Red Baron Christmas" there are lighed images of Snoopy and a Fokker Tri-plane on the house as well.
As this video brought HUNDREDS of cars to a quiet residential cul-de-sac it has been shut down (last I heard). The only way to see it now is on the Miller Ad.
Actually the neigbors dont hear it at all cuz its hooked up to an FM frequency that you just turn on in your car when u drive by. He has a sign out front so people know what station it is. Isnt that sweet?
This is the best christmas light show I have ever seen !! My hats off to those who put this all together !!
It's not a fake:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/content/shared/oh/news/stories/1207deerfieldlightsweb.html
I want to know , Do they sell the KIT in B&Q???????
They did a good job. For a great one, though, go to the Canadian guys at www.lindsaylights.com
It is not fake: See link
http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/xmaslights.asp
This display is real and is the work of Carson Williams of Mason, Ohio, who spent
about three hours sequencing the 88 Light-O-Rama channels that control the
16,300 lights, 3 computers, 12 motors, 12 relays, but more subtle.And No the
music is not blasting the neighborhood into retirement homes. Mr. Williams has
linked his display to a station on the radio that plays the theme song when the
display starts.
how do you do this. I would be interested in know how to do this.i put on a small display with other in the uk scotland.
what song is that those lights synced to?
To #13 if you look closely their is a tower light that keeps a steady blink for the whole video. So if he did stop motion photography with this then he timed every shot perfect to get a nice steady blink from that tower.
#13 do some more research this was not a hoax... perhaps a good source for your research... call the city of Mason Ohio!
This is real, if you doubt it check out this site: http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/xmaslights.asp
I don't care if other people like it or not, it is awsome. You rock!
I know this was an old message, but there's a very similar one at http://www.lindsaylights.com for all of you that think these are a hoax. You just have to know what you're doing, build yourself some relays, and purchase some control cards.
The hardware and software used is called Light-O-Rama. http://www.lightorama.com/products.html is the link to it.
Actually #11, its done with an computer controled light modual. Kinda like the type that is used in Theaters like broadway and so on... Or it could be a smaller unit that is controled with a laptop or whichever, that is connected to a lighting switcher... With Eather of the options, the lighting switchers are sync'ed with the music...
Try not to be so nigative...
Ok... the whole show is real... and here's where you can get the equipment to do whatever you want!
http://www.animatedlighting.com/products/animatedHolidayTrees.asp
Those of you think it's fake... com on...this is really the begining and far more can be done with a bit more imagination. All you need is money.