Computer Control Information

Ryan’s Christmas Lights is a computer-controlled Christmas display where the lights are choreographed to music. Below is the essential equipment that makes this display work.

Computer Specs

Processor

  • Intel i5-8700K 3.7GHz

Memory

  • DDR4-3000 32GB

Operating System

  • Windows 10 Home (64-bit)

Storage

  • 512GB SATA Solid State Drive (sequences and music files total roughly 16GB)

Software

  • xLights 4 – open source, object-orientated lighting pattern generator and xSchedule pattern playback (xlights.org)

Controllers & Other Components

Pixel Light Controllers

  • 2x Advatek Lighting PixLite 4 E1.31 pixel controllers (12VDC) (advateklights.com)
  • 2x Advatek Lighting PixLite 16 E1.31 pixel controllers (1x 12VDC, 1x 24 VDC) (advateklights.com)
  • 1x Advatek Lighting PixLite 16 MKII E1.31 pixel controller (12VDC) (advateklights.com)

Pixel light controllers drive digital addressable pixel lighting, which means that each light (or in some cases small groups of lights e.g. 3) are individually controllable and colour-changeable.

Legacy Light Controllers

Legacy light controllers control entire strings of lights as one item, i.e. every light in a string operates the same. Two kinds of these controllers are used in the display, AC 240V for 240V ropelights and DC extra low voltage for LED light strings (in this case at 24VDC, though voltages can vary between different LED strings, suppliers, etc).

DC Power Supplies

  • 1x MeanWell SP-320-24 320W 24 VDC Single Output
  • 2x MeanWell SP-200-24 200W 24 VDC Single Output
  • 1x MeanWell SP-320-27 320W 27 VDC Single Output
  • 1x MeanWell RSP-320-12 320W 12 VDC Single Output
  • 1x MeanWell HLG-480H-24A 480W 24 VDC Single Output (fanless IP65)
  • 2x MeanWell HLG-320H-12A 264W 12 VDC Single Output (fanless IP65)

DC power supplies are used to power low-voltage DC controllers, LED lighting, pixel controllers and pixel lights

FM Transmitter

A low-power FM transmitter is used so that cars and other road vehicles can tune into the display’s soundtrack when viewing the light display.

Musical Playlist

2023 Playlist

show/hide previous years’ playlists

2022 Playlist

2021 Playlist

2018-2020 Playlist

2017 Playlist

2016 Playlist

2015 Playlist

2014 Playlist

2013 Playlist

2012 Playlist

  • NEW: Yule – Amazing Grace
  • Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
  • DJ Schwede – Music Box Dancer
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
  • 00.52 – Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
  • Cate Sparks – Angels We Have Heard On High
  • David Foster – Carol Of The Bells
  • Hans Zimmer & Klaus Badelt – He’s A Pirate
  • ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track]
  • Blackmore’s Night – We Three Kings [Intermission Track 1]
  • NEW: August Burns Red – Jingle Bells [Intermission Track 2]
  • Sinéad O’Connor – Silent Night [Closing Track]

2011 Playlist

  • NEW: Cate Sparks – Angels We Have Heard On High
  • NEW: Hans Zimmer & Klaus Badelt – He’s A Pirate
  • Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
  • DJ Schwede – Music Box Dancer
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
  • 00.52 – Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
  • David Foster – Carol Of The Bells
  • ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track]
  • Blackmore’s Night – We Three Kings [Intermission Track]
  • Sinéad O’Connor – Silent Night [Closing Track]

2010 Playlist

2009 Playlist

  • NEW: DJ Schwede – Music Box Dancer
  • NEW: Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
  • NEW: David Foster – Carol Of The Bells
  • Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
  • ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track]
  • Blackmore’s Night – We Three Kings [Intermission Track]
  • NEW: Sinéad O’Connor – Silent Night [Closing Track]

2008 Playlist

  • NEW: Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
  • 00.52 – Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
  • ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track]
  • NEW: Blackmore’s Night – We Three Kings [Intermission Track]
  • NEW: Céline Dion – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) [Closing Track]

2007 Playlist

  • NEW: 00.52 – Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
  • NEW: Brian Setzer Orchestra – Angels We Have Heard On High
  • NEW: David Foster – Carol Of The Bells
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
  • NEW: ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track]
  • NEW: Blackmore’s Night – Ding Dong Merrily On High [Closing Track]

2006 Playlist

2005 Playlist

  • NEW: Studio 99 – Dance With Santa Claus
Light-O-Rama Software Suite 3 (S3)
xLights 4
CMB16D-QC
CMB16D-QC 16 channels, DC, dimmable. Proprietary LOR & DMX protocol. Best used for low-voltage LED light strings.
CTB16PC
CTB16PC 16 channels, 240 VAC, dimmable. Proprietary LOR & DMX protocol. Best used for 240V AC outdoor lights (incandescent rope and string lights.

PixLite 4 up to 2040 channels (4 DMX universes) per output, 4 outputs, DC, digital dimmable. E1.31 (DMX over Ethernet) protocol. Total 8160 channel limit.

Best used for pixel lights e.g. RGB lighting with integrated circuits (microchips) built-in.

PixLite 16 up to 1020 channels (2 DMX universes) per output, 16 outputs, DC, digital dimmable. E1.31 (DMX over Ethernet) protocol. Total 16,320 channel limit.

Best used for pixel lights e.g. RGB lighting with integrated circuits (microchips) built-in.

SP-320-24 Meanwell SMPS
SP-320-24 320W Rated 24 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).
SP-200-24 Meanwell SMPS
SP-200-24 200W Rated 24 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).
SP-320-27 Meanwell SMPS
SP-320-27 320W Rated 27 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).

HLG-480H-24A 480W Rated 24 VDC power supply. Sealed for outdoor use. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).

RSP-320-12 320W Rated 12 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).

HLG-320H-12A 264W Rated 12 VDC power supply. Sealed for outdoor use. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).
EDM LCD-STEREO-CS FM Transmitter
EDM LCD-STEREO-CS 1mW-10mW (lp) and 2-100mW (hp) operation.Requires a regulated 12vdc power supply.