What is Digg?145 Comments
- groogs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The grass seemingly jumping around is likely an encoding artifact. Two issues here. If this was edited together, he would have likely been compositing together sections, rather than taking one picture of EVERY combination (which assuming my count is correct is 33!, or 8.6+e36 .. though in reality, he used fewer than that, perhaps a thousand shots). If he composited together, why would he not just overlay the grass on the bottom half?
I wouldn't look past someone animating the blinking light in the background - anyone remember the controllable christmas lights display from a couple years ago? The guy had a webcam, and let people 'control' his house- he went so far that he programmed in cars, people etc to drive by, birds to fly by randomly, the picture to reflect the local weather, etc. He even managed to get interviewed from a helicopter, and managed to convince them it was being controlled.
That said, it's likely real. It would certainly be possible to do. I count 37 channels (switchable lighting circuits), though it's hard to count the tree lights in the middle of the yard. Most dimmer/relay packs come in banks of 8 or 12, so it's strange that it's not a multiple one 8 or 12, but it's quite possible he's not using every channel, or just doesn't turn them on in that song. Programming it would not be difficult, there is plenty of lighting control software out there to do it, and it's fairly simple to do a timed show that corresponds to an audio track, espessially if it's computerized.
If he's using pro stuff, he likely has some DMX dimmer packs with a pro lighting console or some DMX show control software. It definatly looks like something a lighting designer would come up with (think about any concert, broadway-type production, etc), and they would have access to this kind of equipment.
It would also be possible to do for much cheaper using relay packs. Some people have pointed out sites that sell homebrew type stuff, another one is controlanything.com. Years ago I built an 8-channel board (based on a simple relay-mount dimmer controller) that was controlled from a parallel port, and when I first built it I ended up using it for halloween one year, it worked out great.
The channels I counted:
house: 2x reefs, white roofline lights, blue roofline lights, 5x sign lights (between windows), white edge lighting, 4x railing lights (in front of door)
tree: star, 5x strands
yard: 15x little trees, peace sign, blue border lights
It also looks like there's a sign in front of the tree that stays lit the entire time.
Great job I say. - techromancer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I dont know, but it thinks its real. If you have the stuff and the knowledge, why not do it? Just cause its "unbelievable" doesnt mean its fake. Like posted above, Light-O-Rama's got some related components at good prices.
Another thing, if you look slightly to the left of the house theres a steady flashing light (water tower, radio tower?) that never changes...Im sure its real. - teknolyfe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I hate to say it, but that is not an edit. The light on the left of the house is constant and is at the same frequency. The blades of grass, which you can hardly see.. appear to move because of the compression methods that a .wmv file uses, the video becomes very blocky. A high quality version of this film would only show this to be a real display, mad props to the guy that programmed this.
- longhorn1687, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I know for sure this ones not an edit - I saw it on the local news last year and I stopped by. Its pretty cool stuff.
(I hope his server is as good as his light setup)
http://www.friscochristmas.com/ - nice_area, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocks!
- rankinreb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1F'nA! that is the most awsome thing i have seen in a loooong time. I have seen synched lights before but nothing like this! digg++
if you can't watch it at the other places, it has been uped on youTube more than once http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=fRf7JbpMOBs - PlayWithFire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1is this real? i hope it is!
can someone confirm this? - newezra, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Mirrored here:
http://media.putfile.com/WizardsofWinter-SM - laserone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As newezra said, a good mirror is here:
http://media.putfile.com/WizardsofWinter-SM
This is THE FUNNIEST THING I've seen in a long time! Seeing as how I've stared at similar displays for ten years running laser light shows, I find this HILLARIOUS! As I said to a former co-worker, do you think this guy works at a planetarium? :) I laughed so hard it hurt. Yes, I'm sure it's an edit-job, but who cares, it's still a lot of work and really well done. - joshuamcqueen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1he did it with hobby equipment found at
http://www.lightorama.com/
prob spent over a $1,000 USD making this - Ricapar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Pure awesomeness!
Does anyone know the name of the song that they played in the background? It's quite catchy. - teh_toaster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Im sure i could do that with an Allen-Bradley SLC500 or a 5000. But the timing with the music is the hard part for me, but I'm also sure there are a number of audio progs out there that would help pick out the notes and help build sheet music.
- dotuplink, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0HOLY MOLY! that was sweet! ~downloads song~
- luckyschop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0WATCH THE GRASS when the video plays. it hops around... therefore a fake. and then someone had enough free time to set still frames to music. slightly cool but not real.
- Amplix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0all I have to say is... WOW
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Damnit!!!!
"Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later." - WackyT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That's awesome!
norebonomis in post #12 sounds like a typical digg member. Who is he here? - dottedline, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0thats amazing,I thought our display was good..
- cr0wbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0this is the most awesome thing ever. Does anyone have a link to the creater, or the display in daylight?
- ArcticWolf_0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That made me entire life worth living.
Seriously, that was amazing. - ArcticWolf_0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0And yes, all very very capable of being done through DMX. Actually pulled off something similar with my board about a year ago.
- behindcurtain3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wish I could digg this more than once, craziness!
- bluefire0728, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Very cool.
+digg - jwalk81980, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Coolest thing I've seen on the internet in a long time. I would say I'd like my christmas lights to do that, but I'm too lazy to even put up non-dancing ones.
- CaptSnuffy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Thats ***** brilliant! Awesome, i wonder what they used for the coordination. I bet the people there are ***** loonies with their rocked-out christmas light show. If I were their neighbor i'd think it was cool for a while, but after a few hours of that i'd probably clip their power lines.
- sabster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i think im gonna hav a seizre after watching that
- kymudder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I see their bandwidth is exceeded, you can check out the video link from here as well!
http://www.houseofboyd.com/?p=132 - laughterkillsme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ayone who thinks that this is impossible is an idiot.
We put a man on the moon .. but you can't tell lights to turn on and off .. you gotta digitally edit it ona computer to do that ... idiots. - locojones, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Who could possibly watch this video and not be anything but delighted? It has made my night, put a smile on my face, and succeeded in putting me in the holiday spirit. Kudos to the guy for putting together a magnificent display. That's what the holidays are for - spreading the joy....well, except maybe to his emasculated neighbors who have to suffer with light envy every year.
- Thmstec, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0w3rd
- derbykid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i don't think it is real
i think it is just a doll house because the grass in front of the camera looks to good for the winter time. and when the light all go up the house next to it light up a lot like it is just a fake wall. - Mexrocker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it just kicks so much ass... i love the song
- Ozmotear, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Any reason why this story was any less special when it was removed from the Homepage 24 hours ago?
http://www.digg.com/links/Amazing_Christmas_Lights_Display - Rounin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wasn't flagged as a dupe when I posted the story. Three others were, but all the links were broken.
- Chewie67, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0AWESOME!
Take that, neighbor! - UndisclosedP, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Song is Trans Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter
- Adamkelt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0***
WATCH THE GRASS when the video plays. it hops around... therefore a fake. and then someone had enough free time to set still frames to music. slightly cool but not real.
***
Incorrect - I noticed that too, but its just encoding artifacts. This is legit. Read the write up linked above... - Chipmunk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I think it's legit, but whether it is or not, it kicks major ass. DIGG
- LowGan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0how could anyone ahte christmas????? its by far the best time of the whole year:)
- Chailynne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Very cool. I'd love to do that some year!
- thedigitel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's real people. Read about it here: (going very slow)
- craigtheguru, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0OTT. If this was on my block I'd get pissed unless it played perhaps once a day tops.
- MrvinPA, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"What would you do if this were YOUR neighbor?!"
Enjoy :) - jcall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0holy schnikes. Dang. Either this guy is single, or his wife is VERY understanding.
- deepvirus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I got a tingly sensation in my nether region after seeing that!
real or not, no one can deny that it rocks! - nytechy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0HAHAHA. that is just Insane.
- thedigitel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0http://cr.planetchristmas.com/default.asp?action=9&read=10130&fid=83&style=Inline
- maklershed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later.
Curses. I wanted to see what all the noise is about. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0DUGG OUT OF EXISTENCE
We dugg a hole so deep, the site can't get out. At least, its packets can't reach me... - VesperDEM, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wow, that was the best display I have seen in a long time! I want to do that! I have to assume it was computer controlled and choreographed.
I also assume that the lights animate normally most of the time, but do that every so often. Either that, or they have more than one song that animates.
I hope they win an award. It deserves it. -
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