We became fascinated with computer controlled Christmas light shows after seeing videos on the internet several years ago, and in 2005 we bought our first computerized lighting controllers. Each year we add more controllers, lights, and songs. It can certainly be a time consuming and expensive hobby.

To power our shows we have 9 Light-O-Rama controllers, networked to a Windows 7 Computer. Each controller has 16 independent channels. That translates to 144 independent lighting channels. To put that in perspective, imagine 144 light switches. Each switch can be independently turned on or off or set to shimmer or fade up or fade down. Next, imagine that each of those switches is connected to one or more strings of Christmas lights.

If only it were that simple. The process for creating a light show is time intensive, to say the least. Depending upon the length of the song and the complexity of the show, it can take upwards of a week, working several hours a day, just to animate one song. But when it's all said and done, it's time well spent.