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RGB vs Traditional multi-colored string automation

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jhoybs:
All,

I've been doing static, all-white static displays for a long time.  I want to get into automation as well as color.  When I compare the cost of 3 additional colors of 120V LED strings for my 3 mega trees plus controllers versus the same costs for going all RGB, it seems like RGB is cheaper.

Granted, with RGB, I'd be getting the same number of pixels as only one set of my 120V colors, but still it seems it would be cheaper even figuring controllers.  The only downside it seems with RGB seems to be the failure rate of the strings - so far I've had 0% in 4 years for all my LED strings and LED icicles.

If you guys with RGB experience were starting over from scratch, would you do RGB or traditional 120V?  Any tips for me?

Thanks!

Jeffl:
Last year and this year I'm switching over to LED's from incans.  I need things that are stable and the LED strings have been great. This year I will be adding in RGB.  For me there were two things that did it. 

1).  The RGB nodes seam to have reached an acceptable level of reliability.  Chatter on the boards seams to be far more good than bad.
2).  Some vendors are offering strings with single colors (green, black or white).

I'm looking forward to using RGB stuff and will have a mix.  Now if I was starting over from scratch and liked the RGB look, I think I would go straight to RGB.

Use what you have and what you like.

tbone321:
As said before, the quality of the nodes has improved.  Going from static single color to active multi-color on a pixel level is a pretty big jump.  What you might want to do is initially add some nodes into your all white display and begin the transition.  Depending on the setup of your display, you could get a few AC controllers to bring your white LED's into the automation mix as well.  Being that they are already LED, the power demand on those controllers would be light.  There is currently an Express coop running which is a 16 channel A controller.  The advantage to the Express is its diming curves which makes it work very well with LED strings. 

jem5136:
A huge factor to think about when beginning a display is the amount of sequencing you'll have to do. Sequencing is a huge learning curve and takes up a lot of time. When you are sequencing non-RGB displays, you will have less channels to sequence thus making sequencing easier to learn and get the hang of. However, if you jump right into an RGB display, especially if your using a smart RGB system (each pixel is controlled individually), your channel counts will go through the roof and sequencing can easily become overbearing to even the most "experienced" sequencers. To compromise you might look into using dumb RGB (a string of RGB pixels that will only use 3 channels per string), this way you will have less channels but still get a great display with RGB included.

Just something to think about. Also, as a side note, most of us could probably agree that you will spend most of your time sequencing the display than anything else. It may take you a few days or a few weeks to get the lights up (depending on the size of your display) but it will take you at least a solid 5-6 months to get at least 3-4 songs sequenced. The quicker you get your display figured out, the quicker you can get to sequencing and the better your sequencing you'll be able to do.

Just my 2 cents lol

jhoybs:
Well, based on your feedback, I ordered blue LEDs and 3 Expresses in the co-op (already have 1 from last year that I haven't un-boxed/soldered).  Just getting into this, I think it would be more enjoyable working with traditional LED strings and the Express controllers only because I know more about them (research-wise) than RGB.

Also, I agree with jem5136 that a huge factor for first timers that has to be taken into account is sequencing.  Although I want to start modest without music, I'm still not prepared for what is in store for me.

I only have 10 months and I have lots of ideas and work!   :)   I can always get my feet wet with RGB with C9-sized lights above my icicles or floodlights in a few years...

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

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