Technical

It’s Never Too Early: From Light-O-Rama to xLights to Falcon Pi — Running My Christmas Show on a Raspberry Pi

Juan Tenorio GMAIL

• 5 min read
It’s Never Too Early: From Light-O-Rama to xLights to Falcon Pi — Running My Christmas Show on a Raspberry Pi

Every December my neighbors ask the same question: “How do you make your Christmas lights dance to music?”
The answer is a mix of commercial software, open-source tools, and a tiny Raspberry Pi working overtime in the brutal cold of Southern California (you know, when it drops below 60°F and we all panic).

Before we get into the how-to, check out this video of my Christmas tree in action. It’s sequenced with Light-O-Rama, exported to xLights, and powered by Falcon Pi Player on a Raspberry Pi.

In this post I’ll walk you through my process:

  1. Designing the show in Light-O-Rama
  2. Exporting and sequencing in xLights
  3. Running everything on a Falcon Pi Player (FPP) installed on a Raspberry Pi

Let’s go step by step.

Step 1 – Light-O-Rama: The Show Designer

Light-O-Rama (LOR) has been around for years as one of the go-to platforms for animated light shows.

  • It provides a sequencer that lets you choreograph light channels to music.
  • You can assign effects like fades, strobes, and twinkles to individual circuits.
  • For smaller setups, LOR’s controllers and software are all you need.

👉 If you’re starting out, I recommend the Residential Series 16-Channel Starter Package.
It comes with everything you need to get a basic show running and is also compatible with Falcon Pi, which means you can grow into an FPP-based setup later without replacing gear.

I started here because it’s beginner-friendly. My first show was nothing fancy—just roofline lights blinking to Trans-Siberian Orchestra (classic choice, right?).

Step 2 – Exporting to xLights

As my setup grew, I needed more flexibility. That’s when xLights came into the picture.

xLights is an open-source sequencer that has become the standard for large synchronized displays. It allows you to:

  • Import your LOR sequences
  • Build a virtual layout of your house and props
  • Add complex effects like spirals, waves, and morphs
  • Map everything to different controllers and protocols (E1.31, DMX, etc.)

Importing Light-O-Rama Sequences into xLights

The migration is straightforward thanks to xLights’ built-in import tools.

Here’s how you do it (full details in the xLights manual):

  1. Open xLights and go to File → Import → Import Effects.
  2. Select LOR Sequence from the list of supported formats.
  3. Browse to your .lms or .las Light-O-Rama file.
  4. Map the channels from your LOR configuration to your xLights layout.
    • This step is critical since LOR uses channels and xLights uses models.
    • You’ll drag-and-drop channel assignments onto props in your layout.
  5. Once mapped, xLights converts the sequence into its internal format.
  6. Save the new xLights sequence and you’re ready to add effects, layers, or tweak timings.

With this, your existing LOR investment carries forward—no need to re-sequence everything from scratch.

Step 3 – Running on Falcon Pi Player (FPP)

Once the show is sequenced, I export it from xLights to the Falcon Pi Player (FPP).

FPP is a lightweight operating system that runs on a Raspberry Pi (or BeagleBone). It acts as the conductor for your light show:

  • Plays the music files
  • Synchronizes the light sequences
  • Serves a web-based UI where you can schedule, start, and stop shows
  • Supports remote expansion—multiple Pis can sync together for massive setups

With this setup, my Raspberry Pi essentially becomes the “brains” of Christmas. I can control the show from any device on my network—phone, tablet, or laptop—while bravely enduring the icy SoCal evenings (you know, sweater weather).

Setup Guide: Installing & Using Falcon Player (FPP) on Raspberry Pi

Here’s how you get from zero to a running light show using FPP.

What You’ll Need

  • Raspberry Pi (Pi 4 or Pi 5 recommended)
  • SD card (32GB+ recommended)
  • Ethernet cable (preferred) or WiFi
  • Computer (Windows or Mac)
  • Show sequences exported from xLights (.fseq files)

Step 1: Download FPP

  • Head to the Falcon Christmas forums or GitHub page and grab the latest FPP image.
  • Save the .img or .fpp.gz file locally.

Step 2: Format & Prepare Your SD Card

  • Use an SD card formatter tool (official SD Card Association formatter works well).
  • Select Overwrite Format to ensure the card is clean.

Step 3: Burn the FPP Image

  • Use the Raspberry Pi Imager (available from raspberrypi.com/software).
  • Choose Use Custom Image, select the downloaded FPP file, and pick your SD card.
  • Click Write and let it finish.
  • Once complete, eject the card safely.

Step 4: Boot the Raspberry Pi

  • Insert the SD card into your Pi.
  • Connect via Ethernet (recommended) or WiFi.
  • Power it on.
  • Wait ~30 seconds, then navigate to:

http://fpp.local

That’s your FPP dashboard.

Step 5: Expand File System

  • In the UI, go to Advanced Settings → Grow File System.
  • Reboot. This lets you use the full space of the SD card.

Step 6: Upload Your Show Sequences

  • From xLights, export .fseq files.
  • In FPP, go to Content Setup → File Manager or use FPP Connect.
  • Upload sequences and music files.

Step 7: Create Playlists

  • Navigate to Content Setup → Playlists.
  • Create a playlist, give it a name.
  • Add your sequences and audio tracks.
  • Save.

Step 8: Configure Outputs

  • Go to Input/Output Settings → Channel Outputs.
  • Set up universes/protocols (E1.31, DMX, pixels, etc.) for your controllers. I personally use WIFI and Ethernet, WIFI for the UI and Ethernet to connect directly to the Light-O-Rama controller
  • Save and reboot if required.

Step 9: Scheduling

  • Open Content Setup → Scheduler.
  • Create a schedule for your playlist (e.g., daily from 6–10 PM).
  • Save and enable.

Step 10: Monitor & Control

  • The Status/Control screen shows what’s playing.
  • From here, you can start/stop shows, monitor health, and troubleshoot.

Why This Workflow Works

  • LOR: Simple entry point, great sequencer for traditional setups.
  • xLights: Powerhouse for effects, mapping, and large shows.
  • FPP + Raspberry Pi: Cost-effective, reliable, runs unattended all season.

Troubleshooting

Even with a solid workflow, here are some common gotchas I’ve run into:

1. Import Issues from LOR

  • Problem: Effects don’t look right in xLights.
  • Fix: Double-check channel mapping during import. If props don’t align, xLights can’t render correctly. Use the Layout tab to confirm mappings.

2. FPP Not Found on Network

  • Problem: http://fpp.local doesn’t resolve.
  • Fix: Try the Pi’s IP address directly (check your router’s device list). On Windows, install Apple Bonjour (mDNS support) if fpp.local isn’t recognized.

3. Music Out of Sync

  • Problem: Lights lag behind audio.
  • Fix: Ensure audio files are in .ogg or properly formatted .mp3. Convert using Audacity if needed. Lower bitrate files work best with FPP.

4. Show Doesn’t Start on Schedule

  • Problem: Playlist doesn’t trigger.
  • Fix: Double-check system time and timezone on the Pi. If WiFi is flaky, use Ethernet for reliable scheduling.

5. Lights Not Responding

  • Problem: Nothing turns on when running sequences.
  • Fix: Check your Channel Outputs in FPP. Make sure universes and protocols (E1.31/DMX/etc.) match what xLights exported.

6. Network Speed Matters

  • Problem: Lag, dropped frames, or stuttering playback.
  • Fix: Ensure your show network runs at 500Kbps or higher. Anything less can cause sync issues, especially with pixel-heavy props.

Final Thoughts

Every year I tinker a little more—new props, new effects, bigger smiles from the kids on my block.

If you’re starting out:

  • Begin with Light-O-Rama to learn sequencing (grab that starter pack!).
  • Move to xLights as your display grows.
  • Let a humble Raspberry Pi handle the runtime with FPP.

You’ll be surprised how much show you can run from a $50 board and some patience.

Happy decorating, and may your neighbors bring cookies instead of complaints about the flashing lights. And remember: if you see me outside in December bundled up in a hoodie, I’m surviving another night in the frigid SoCal tundra.