The Show Computer

My entire show is run with a Raspberry Pi. This is a very cheap, portable computer that communicates with each of the controllers throughout the yard. Since everything operates over Wi-Fi, there is no need to run network cabling in and out of the house or around the yard. The Raspberry Pi runs special software called Falcon Pi Player.

 

Although the computer is small, it runs everything needed for the show. This includes storing the music, sequences, and networking information required for everything to work. It also schedules the show to run in order every night. The Raspberry Pi is then connected to the wireless router that all of the controllers connect to. It's best to keep the lighting network separate from your home network to ensure minimal interfference.