X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: eric adem on December 12, 2005, 01:33:13 AM

Title: How to do synchronized light shows?
Post by: eric adem on December 12, 2005, 01:33:13 AM

I'm interested in doing a light show
synchronized to music.  I know how to
develop software to do the music and all the
timing, and I've familiarized myself with
the ActiveHome SDK.  But the problem is that
when I send out consecutive X10 commands,
there's a significant delay in between when
they get executed.

So if I need lights A1 and A2 to come on at
the same time, and send an "on" command for
both ids, they come on about 2 seconds
apart, instead of simultaneously.

Does anyone have any experience with this,
and know how to get around it?

Title: Re: How to do synchronized light shows?
Post by: dave w on December 12, 2005, 12:47:11 PM

It takes about 800ms for each X10 command to
be issued. That is why you are seeing almost
2 seconds (actually about 1600 ms ) to turn
on the two address. If your software will
permit, send A1,A2,etc and then the ON
command. That will cause both lights to come
on at the same moment, but it will still
take 1600ms to set up both address for the
ON signal.

Unless your music is very sloooooow, X10 is
not the way control lights to music.

Title: Re: How to do synchronized light shows?
Post by: sandra s on December 12, 2005, 05:42:07 PM

try  www.lightorama.com
you'll need some cash though

Title: Re: How to do synchronized light shows?
Post by: Fredric on December 15, 2005, 05:24:21 PM

Agreed

Having done a few light shows in my life, I
can say that X10, while pretty flexable,
will not sync to music well.

I've seen amazing thing done by creative
people.  It's not impossible, with software,
but may be tricky to sync.