How to Make Your Christmas Lights Flash to Music
If you've harbored the desire to win the neighborhood Christmas lights contest all these years, you'll need a secret weapon to drive your neighbors' decorations into the ground. Coordingating your Christmas lights to music makes a powerful display and creates a really big impact. Here's how to win that neighborhood prize and how to make your Christmas lights flash to music. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Get organized. You will need to have a plan on how your lights will look in your yard. All good lighting displays start with a brainstorming session. Start thinking about what you want it to look like, how big and where it will go.
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Put pen to paper. After you get the rough idea in your head, you need to plan everything out on paper. This might sound like a boring step, but it is very necessary. When you are making such a large display, everything needs to be organized.
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Go shopping. The best and easiest part of the whole setup is going shopping. In addition to decorations and lights, you will need to purchase a software program that attaches to both the lights and your computer. This is what makes your lights flash to music (see the reference section for Web sites that can help you buy the software).
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Begin putting everything together. You will want to test your software with small batches of lights before getting the whole display up and finding out it doesn't work.
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Check the power. Large Christmas displays draw more power than you might imagine. Check with an electrician if your display is very large.
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Throw the switch. After you get the software and the lights all hooked up, just throw the switch and enjoy the decorations.
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Tips & Warnings
Start early. You will need to start your light display planning months in advance. Don't try to start getting everything together December 1st. You will just be depressed when it doesn't work out.
Bargain hunt. Start your Christmas light shopping right after Christmas. You will get the best deals then.
Large Christmas displays consume a lot of energy. Get ready for a punishing utility bill in January.
