• Allan puts a lot of effort in decorating his house for the Christmas Season.
  
• He has myriads of little lights which create a festive spectacle and it is a quite a job stringing them all together to create the shapes he wants.
  
• This year he is combining the visual effect with audio.
  
• He has some interesting software and hardware to synchronise the traditional melodies with the various sets of lights and their colours and effects.
  
• Before he starts this time-consuming exercise in patience, Allan will show us his setup and explain how the software works to give a very effective streetscape display.
  
• At the presentation, Allan will discuss what problems he has run into when trying to create his display and his recommendation on what not to do.
  
• He will bring to the presentation one of his light controllers with a few different lights to demonstrate how it’s all put together as well as a practical demonstration of the software, both sequencing and playback.
  
• You will also be able to see his latest acquisition item which is new to the market. An audio-visual treat.
   
  
• Allan uses software and hardware manufactured in the United States by Light-O-Rama.
   
  
• Warning! Allan says house decorating at Christmas time can be addictive.
  

Summary of the Meeting and Invitation to Members
 
The September 2010 MMM was presented by Allan Hepworth. His topic was Christmas Lights. Allan has a real passion when it comes to decorating his property with lights at Christmas Time. He started like most people with the single string of fairy lights in the window but in keeping with his profession, he has gone "hi-tech" in more recent years. Allan's house and garden now sport the latest in the technology of house decorations. Besides the traditional fairy lights, the Dunlop house is festooned with bright strings of LEDs, cascades of synchronised lights simulating movement and floodlights. This year Allan will have a 6 metre tree in the front yard and he will display the latest technology - a string of LEDs each of which can be programmed for any colour with fading as well as switching effects. The show is connected to a central controller produced by Lightorama. It is driven by a software programme on the PC which is very sophisticated and allows the operation to be synchronised to music. It takes hours to write the programme. Some exciting features are built in to give you a good start. For instance, tools recognise the beat in the music and suggest a suitable pattern.
 
Traditionally the lights are ready by 1st December but work on installing, programming and testing starts now. To enhance his show and to minimise disturbance to the neighbours, Allan operates sound through a short-range FM transmitter. Visitors can listen to the music on their car radio while watching the lights. "Decorating your house at Christmas can be as cheap or as expensive as you want" says Allan. "In my case I like the latest in technology but it can be costly." Allan says it helps having an electrician in the family to ensure all the wiring is done safely and efficiently. He also warns that this can be an addictive hobby.
 
Members are invited to visit Cashion Circuit Dunlop from 1 December and enjoy the light show while listening to traditional festive melodies.

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The Main Monthly Meeting of the PC Users Group (ACT) Incorporated will be held at the Grant Cameron Community Centre Conference Room, 27 Mulley Street HOLDER ACT 2611. Doors open at 7:00 PM for a commencement at 7:30 PM.