Best Controller for YOU

This video covers the different controller types and how to pick the best one for you. Many people have bought a controller and end up buying the wrong one for their show. They end up spending more time to use this controller and spending more money than they needed to. Hopefully this will help you decide on your next controller.
00:00 - Intro
00:32 - Controller Types
00:49 - Controller Considerations
02:13 - Some Local Port Controllers
02:55 - Local Port Controller Example
03:16 - Some Differential Controllers
03:52 - Receivers/Remotes
05:34 - Remotes and Ports- Explanation
08:08 - Differential Controller Example
09:15 - Some Hybrid Controllers
10:21 - Hybrid Controller Example
10:40 - Design Limitations
12:24 - Design Limitations Demonstrated
13:43 - Show Design-Differential Controller
22:10 - Differential Controller-Pros and Cons
23:05 - Show Design-Local Port Controller
26:01 - Local Port Controller-Pros and Cons
26:44 - Show Design-Hybrid Controller
28:58 - Smart Remote Limitations
33:20 - Hybrid Controller-Pros and Cons
33:52 - Show Design-Different Controller Types
35:19 - Mixing Controller Types-Pros and Cons
36:01 - Show Design-MultiSync
37:46 - MultiSync Controller-Pros and Cons
38:23 - Cable Comparisons
39:38 - Recap
40:25 - Cost Comparisons
45:10 - Outro
-- Links: --
Software
● xLights- xlights.org/
This is the home page for xLights and where you can download the program. It also has some
great resources as well.
● FPP - falconplayer.com
This is the home page for the FPP project.
Controllers
● Kulp Lights Controllers- www.kulplights.com
This is an FPP based controller created by one of the developers of FPP and xLights
● Falcon Controllers- pixelcontroller.com/
This is an E1.31/DDP based controller created by one of the original xLights developers
● Wired Watts- www.wiredwatts.com/controllers
Wired Watts carries the KulpLights line of controllers.
● Wally's Lights- wallyslights.com/collections/...
Wally's lights carries FPP based controllers.
● Experience Lights- experiencelights.com/
This is an E1.31/DDP based controller that is new to the market but has great reviews.
● Microcyb- microcyb.com/
This is an FPP based controller that is a Pi Hat type controller.
Pixels/Coro etc.
● Boscoyo Studios- boscoyostudio.com
Boscoyo Studios is one of the larger coro vendors
● Wired Watts- www.wiredwatts.com/controllers
Wired Watts carries pixels and other lighting related supplies.
● Wally's Lights- wallyslights.com/collections/...
Wally's lights carries pixels and other lighting related supplies.
● Your Pixel Store- yourpixelstore.com/
Your Pixel Store carries pixels and other lighting related supplies.
● EFL Designs- www.efl-designs.com/
EFL Designs carries a full line of coro props, many with unique design characteristics.
● Gilbert Engineering USA- gilbertengineeringusa.com/
Gilbert Engineering carries a full line of coro props and a few other related lighting accessories.
Here are some great resources.
●xLights Zoom Room - xlightszoom.com
This is probably the best resource for help and learning for just about any aspect in the animated.
lighting hobby. It isn't limited to just xLights related issues. There are usually people in the room.
24/7.
● FPP Manual- falconchristmas.github.io/FPP...
This is the most current FPP Manual and has some references on networking and many other aspects of this hobby.
●AusChristmasLighting - auschristmaslighting.com/
This is a great resource as it the home of the 101 Manual and also has an active forum that is a great resource.
●Falcon Christmas Forum- falconchristmas.com/forum/ind...
This is probably the second-best resource for information. It is fairly active, and responses are
quick and helpful.
●Canispater Christmas / canispaterchristmas
**Note Canispater Christmas has some great videos, but he has been doing them for a long time
so some of the information might be a little outdated. The technology in this hobby is constantly.
improving so if the video publish date is more than a year old, then screenshots and methods
might be slightly different but the content is very useful.

[@Mikie4EvrYoung]

Very well done. Your explanation & cost comparison matrix made it all so much clearer.

[@harrischristmastech]

Thanks, I am glad it helped!

[@therickmarcus]

Love everything you are doing to help grow our addictive hobby. Take it slow and eat the elephant one bite of a time.

[@harrischristmastech]

I hope it helps!

[@Mikeleeschultz]

Great video!!

[@harrischristmastech]

Thanks and I hope it helped in your decision making!

[@rc240zxt]

Great Video Sir, I was looking at pixel controllers, and your youtube jumped up. This answers a lot. Glad you are staying busy after retirement.

[@harrischristmastech]

Thanks! and enjoy your new hobby!

[@b-hill]

This video is awesome! Thank you! What are your thoughts on using a combination of Pucks, Pixels & Strips. I'd like to find a way to utilize a mix of all. Would I need to use a different controller for each light type or could I just isolate the light type to a port? For example, I like how pucks look shining down on the side of the house. I also like how diffused strips look with effects. I would like to run the pucks and strips along side each other and then use pixels solely for yard props. Have you seen any setups like this?

[@harrischristmastech]

My thoughts? I have said this a hundred times, the best way is what works for you. If they are all ws28xx protocol you can not only use them all on the same controller, but on many of the newer controllers (Kulp, Falcon) you can even mix them on the same port! (That might not always work depending on the pixel timing, you will have to test it out). Just be careful with strips, they are a PAIN to modify/fix.... But it sounds like a great plan.