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) (advateklighting.com)
- 2x Advatek Lighting PixLite 16 E1.31 pixel controllers (1x 12VDC, 1x 24 VDC) (advateklighting.com)
- 1x Advatek Lighting PixLite 16 MKII E1.31 pixel controller (12VDC) (advateklighting.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. The price of Advatek Lighting boards have increased significantly in recent years, however there are cheaper brands available.
Legacy Light Controllers
- 1x Light-O-Rama CMB16D-QC DC controllers (24VDC) (lightorama.com)
- 1x Light-O-Rama CTB16PC AC controller (240 VAC) (lightorama.com)
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
- EDM Design STEREO-LCD-CS
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
2024 Playlist
- Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
- Cate Sparks – Angels We Have Heard On High
- Colton Dixon – Jingle Bells
- Jennifer Nettles – Little Drummer Boy (feat. Idina Menzel)
- Jojo Siwa – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (Carol Of The Bells)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
- Various Artists – Away In A Manager/Hark The Herald Angels Sing/Joy To The World/We Wish You A Merry Christmas Medley
- Victoria Duffield – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
- Yule – Amazing Grace
- Intermission (Photo Time) Tracks:
- Mormon.org Collaboration – Silent Night [Closing Track]
show/hide previous years’ song list
2023 Playlist
- NEW: Colton Dixon – Jingle Bells
- Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush
- Cate Sparks – Angels We Have Heard On High
- DJ Schwede – Music Box Dancer
- Jennifer Nettles – Little Drummer Boy (feat. Idina Menzel)
- Jojo Siwa – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (Carol Of The Bells)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter
- Various Artists – Away In A Manager/Hark The Herald Angels Sing/Joy To The World/We Wish You A Merry Christmas Medley
- Victoria Duffield – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
- Yule – Amazing Grace
- Intermission (Photo Time) Tracks:
- Mormon.org Collaboration – Silent Night [Closing Track]
Pre-2023 Sequenced Songs
- Carrie Lyn Infusion – Suite Christmas Rush (2008-present)
- Cate Sparks – Angels We Have Heard On High (2011-present)
- DJ Schwede – Music Box Dancer (2009-2016, 2021-2023)
- Jennifer Nettles – Little Drummer Boy (feat. Idina Menzel) (2021-present)
- Jojo Siwa – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (2022-present)
- Scott Gonzalez – Christmas Bells Medley (Carol of the Bells / Oh Holy Night Medley) (2014-2021)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (Carol Of The Bells) (2013-present)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Wizards In Winter (2007, 2009-present)
- Yule – Amazing Grace (2012-present)
- Various Artists – Away In A Manager/Hark The Herald Angels Sing/Joy To The World/We Wish You A Merry Christmas Medley (2016-present)
- Victoria Duffield – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (2017-present)
- Hans Zimmer & Klaus Badelt – He’s A Pirate (2011-2014)
- 00.52 – Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) (2007-2008, 2010-2013)
- David Foster – Carol Of The Bells (2007, 2009-2012)
- Brian Setzer Orchestra – Angels We Have Heard On High (2007, 2010)
- Jeff Scheetz – Sleigh Ride (2007)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Good King Joy (2006)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night (2006)
- Studio 99 – Dance With Santa Claus (2005)
Pre-2023 Intermission/Photo Time Tracks & Misc Songs
- Go Fish – We Three Kings (2013-present)
- August Burns Red – Jingle Bells (2012, 2022-present)
- Not Too Sharp – Deck The Halls (2022-present)
- Blackmore’s Night – We Three Kings (2008-2012)
- Mormon.org Collaboration – Silent Night [Closing Track] (2016-present)
- Solid Rock Orchestra – Joy to the World [Voice Over Track] (2013-2019)
- ZOEgirl – Angels We Have Heard On High [Voice Over Track] (2007-2012)
- Enya – We Wish You A Merry Christmas [Closing Track] (2013-2015)
- Sinéad O’Connor – Silent Night [Closing Track] (2009-2012)
- Céline Dion – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) [Closing Track] (2008)
- Blackmore’s Night – Ding Dong Merrily On High [Closing Track] (2007)
CMB16D-QC 16 channels, DC, dimmable. Proprietary LOR & DMX protocol. Best used for low-voltage LED light strings.
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 320W Rated 24 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).
SP-200-24 200W Rated 24 VDC power supply. Genuine MeanWell brand (watch for fakes).
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 1mW-10mW (lp) and 2-100mW (hp) operation.Requires a regulated 12vdc power supply.
