Halloween Show Set-up Questions

[seabass001]

I came across this great website while researching Halloween props and ideas. I set up a few animatronic props every year but I came across this video online and would like to set up something similar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOWt4AkPNNQ&feature=related

I understand the build of the talking three-axis skull and the 8 channel relay for the lights but what I'm not sure is how those are linked together. Can they both be ran on the same 8 channel relay board or do they use separate boards? If it does use separate boards how are they linked to match up properly for the song? If someone knows if there is a board that may be ideal for this set up and wanted to point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I have read through a lot of the forums but it seems to get pretty technical pretty quick. Once again I appreciate and feedback and direction I can get from you guys.

Thanks

[n1ist]

The skull uses servos for motion, so you would need a servo controller to drive them. They also had a 4-channel dimmer for the pumpkins and either a relay or dmx-controlled strobe for the lightning. All of these would run as different channels in Vixen (or whatever software they are using). When sequencing the song, you would decide which motions or lights would happen at each moment in time.
/mike

[cparsons2391]

I am new to giving advice so you will have to forgive me for my mistakes, but I am looking into doing something similar this Halloween. So far what I am planning is to use the Servodog controller from Light-O-Rama. I know this site is about building your own, but this seemed simpler since I already have a Light-O-Rama controller and software. What I will do is use LOR sequence Editor (similar to Vixen) to Match the words to the mouth movements and to make the pumpkins light up. I am not sure if the Servodog will work with Vixen like the LOR controllers will, but I am sure someone here does. I hope this helps at least a little.

[scubaspookf]

I came across this great website while researching Halloween props and ideas. I set up a few animatronic props every year but I came across this video online and would like to set up something similar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOWt4AkPNNQ&feature=related

I understand the build of the talking three-axis skull and the 8 channel relay for the lights but what I'm not sure is how those are linked together. Can they both be ran on the same 8 channel relay board or do they use separate boards? If it does use separate boards how are they linked to match up properly for the song? If someone knows if there is a board that may be ideal for this set up and wanted to point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I have read through a lot of the forums but it seems to get pretty technical pretty quick. Once again I appreciate and feedback and direction I can get from you guys.

Thanks
One way folks do this is one they have VSA software from Brookshires and as far as the controllers the servos would operate from an SSC-32 board(lynxmotion) it has 32 channels specifically for servos and then possibly a kit74 8 relay parallel port. VSA will operate everything. If you dont have a kit 74 relay there are relays that attach directly to the SSC-32. Monkeybasic also has software that will talk to VSA that make programming the skull servos a little easier. I am currently working on something simular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryTgstWLOv0

The next video is using the kit74 with Vixen. This will be totally redone since I purchased the REN24. Oh boy more pumpkins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHEnD5XZxTA&feature=BFa&list=ULyK7N-LFGjMI&index=15

[maffeirw]

ctmal has done a lot of work on both the hardware and software side of controlling 3-axis skulls with Vixen. I'll try to give you a few of the threads where he discusses this:

Skull Sequencer Add-In allows you to use a mouse or joystick to sequence skull movement in Vixen.
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?15096-Skull-Sequencer-AddIn&p=151136#post151136

Skull Output PlugIn allows you to preview the skull movement during playback in Vixen.
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?14943-Skull-Output-plugin&p=148935#post148935

He also came up with a hardware and firmware Renard based solution to control servos which works pretty well.
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?11737-Renard-based-Servo-controller

ctmals' library link to a Servo SSR Replacement Board
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/dynamics/showentry.php?e=135&catid=8

and a Renard Based Servo Controller
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/dynamics/showentry.php?e=123&catid=8

My early attempt looks like this
http://vimeo.com/20930222

Because of ctmal's approach I was able to control the eyes lighting (6 chan (RGB) 3 each eye) and the 8 skull servos (4 per skull) with one jury-rigged ren24lv. Now if I could only find a suitable Laser printer I would self etch a couple of Servo SSRs and use a ren24lv to drive them.

So many projects -- so little time:)

[ctmal]

I think an important thing to consider is what you have, what you want and whether you're planning on building things yourself.

Many approaches(which you can find information on www.hauntforum.com and www.halloweenforum.com) will use DMX or SSC servo controllers for the skulls and DMX light controllers for the lights. If you are strictly a Halloween buff this might be the place to start looking. There quite a few diy light controllers on this site that will work using DMX(Lynx, Renard, etc)

If, however, you have or are planning on using Renard controllers(using the Renard protocol) anyway, the boards maffeirw mentioned can connect directly inline with the Renard controllers(and for the most part use similar parts). Keep in mind though that the above boards run the Renard Protocol, not DMX.

Another thing to remember is that with Vixen you can use multiple protocols, just not on the same run. For example, you can run the Renard protocol off of one run and DMX off another...

So many options!

[seabass001]

Man you guys are great. I am so grateful for the great information. Now I just need to read through it and see what I can make of it and see what the best plan is. I will continue to keep you guys informed as well as posting questions here as I know more will come. Thanks again to everyone for the great direction on this.

Seabass

[seabass001]

Quick question: Can a SSC-32 board(lynxmotion) and a kit74 8 relay parallel port be used simultaneously with the Vixen Software?

[maffeirw]

Quick question: Can a SSC-32 board(lynxmotion) and a kit74 8 relay parallel port be used simultaneously with the Vixen Software?

I have no experience with either, but, as Chris mentioned, Vixen will support the use of different output plug-ins running different groups of ports simultaneously. The attached threads indicate that there has been success running the equipment you mentioned. Pay attention to the usb to parallel converter problems as I have experienced them first hand on other projects.

http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/62161-my-3-axis-skull-progress-183.html

http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?7144-Vixen-Kit74-questions