How to make lights dance with music


How to Make Your Christmas Lights Sync to Music - Smart Garage | Home Automation

Christmas Light Sync to Music?  How?

If you are reading this article, you must have googled the keyword, “Christmas light show.”  You probably also found many videos of great Christmas light show that synchronize perfectly with various pop songs.  If you want your own lights to flash to the tunes of your favorite music, then you must make a plan and get the right types of equipment for your light show set up.  You need to spend a lot of time, lighting and tools to complete it to ensure the end result is awesome.  Here are the 10 steps to your light show set up:

  1. Decide your light show scale
  2. Prepare your light show equipment
  3. Obtain a control system
  4. Acquire outside assistance
  5. Design your display
  6. Program your show
  7. Let them hear you
  8. Get powered up
  9. Publicize
  10. Maintain your display

1.

Decide your light show scale

When planning a light show, one of the first steps is to determine how many channels your show requires and what lighting elements will be controlled by each channel. Decide how your lights show scale is important.  You can either choose a specific highlight spot of your house or choose to light up your entire house.   While you are planning the scale of your light show, you need to understand following set up concepts:

  • Know your Channel number requirements.
  • A channel is a unit of lights that can be controlled individually.  The flash of a string of Christmas light is controlled by one channel.
  • All the lights in a channel work as a single unit. Unfortunately, you can’t flash an individual light bulb.  However, you can control the flashing speed and frequency to match your music categories.
  • For an entire house set up, you may need up to 64 channels.  Any bigger than that, you might need a professional to assist you.
  • A medium-size house typically needs 32 channels to set up.
  • A small scale like your garage, your front door, or your living room tree area, you can consider using our TapTap for simple (still professional) set up.

2. Prepare your light show equipment

Once you decided the scale of your light show, now you will need to prepare for the equipment, specifically, the Christmas lights.   The best time to purchase your Christmas light would be after Christmas, usually the price fall to 20-30% of the regular price.  However, you can always check out online deals on Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, K-Mart for special sales.    Your total list of equipment includes:

  • Christmas Lights
  • Light Control System
  • Software System
  • Sound System

LED Christmas Lights

In addition, we would also recommend you choosing LED Christmas lights for several benefits. Most people know that LED Christmas lights save a lot of electricity but there are many more reasons to consider making the switch.

Connect More Light Strings

You can typically connect 8 to 10 times more LED light strings together end to end while only using one plug outlet. Most traditional Christmas mini lights allow you to connect only 4 or 5 sets end to end, but with many LED mini light strings you can connect 40 to 50+ together depending on the light count. This makes decorating large Christmas displays far easier.

Cool to the Touch

LEDs produce next to no heat, which means they’re always cool to the touch and safe for children and animals to be around all season.

Visually Unparalleled

LED bulbs produce a brighter more vivid light than traditional incandescent bulbs. The light output is stunning and one of the most complimented aspects of LED lights in customer reviews!

Incredibly Long Life

Many LED light sets are rated to last tens of thousands of hours, which is well beyond a traditional set of incandescent mini lights that typically may last only a season or two.

Advanced Technology, Innovative Designs

LEDs are available in a kaleidoscope of colors and several varieties even feature unique light display capabilities such as being dimmable and color changing. The newest RGB LEDs are even capable of thousands of light color combinations!

LED lights are much easier to use for large Christmas displays, they are safer, they last longer, they produce more vivid color and use up to 90% less energy. Now you know why so many people have already made the switch.

3. Obtain a light show control system.

When it comes to a control system, you have 3 options based on your knowledge and budget:

  1. A fully built system
  2. A kit
  3. A DIY control system

I. A fully built light show system

A fully built system is a system that made and tested out of the box.   It costs you about $20 – $25 per channel. A fully built system can be purchased from various online stores.   If you are the following type of person, you should go for this because it saves you a lot of time!

  • Those do not want to do any electrical work.
  • Those who have no idea of where to start.

II.  A light show Kit

A light show kit is s starter kit that functions almost the same as the system.  It costs from $15 or so per channel, but it’s pretty much the same thing as a fully built product.   The only difference that I can think off is the enclosure, and it is very simple to place an electronics board in an enclosure.

  • A great option if you’re looking to save money.
  • You can pretty much purchase all the parts from the online store now, including the bare circuit board and the parts.
  • Require minor work and customization.

III. A DIY Light Show control system (DIY KIT)

A DIY system costs roughly $5 per channel and up. The price depends on how much you actually do yourself. A system consists of a controller, which communicates with your computer, and solid-state relays (SSRs), which actually switch the lights. SSRs can be bought or made yourself.

  • Budget saver
  • Requires lots of time on hardware
  • Total customization
  • For those who enjoy the engineering process!

4. Get the right Light Show Software.

The light show software breaks the song into segments, allowing you to program each channel of light to either fade, twinkle or turn on and off in each section.  Most of us are not software programmers; therefore, getting software for your light show system is essential.  There are a few venders that provide excellent services, and some software can be free when you purchase the whole package.  Here are some of the current software options you should consider!

Free source: 

  • Vixen is a free, open-source software for Christmas lighting.  If you’re just starting out, and are not looking into detail perfection, then Vixen may be a good starting option for you.
  • xLights is a popular Christmas sequencing program for the “DIY” community.  It is open source like Vixen. xLights has a strong passionate community behind it, and you can see that the developers are constantly improving the functions of the software.  The only downside that xLights requires some learning curve.  For those who want to be professional in the light show community, xLights is the best and most often updated program for now.
  • Light-O-Rama provides is a paid program.  To me personally, it is a bit expensive for “once-a-year” use.  To me, the set up is a bit complex and difficult too.  

Note, if you are a tech-wizard who wish to program the whole thing yourself, you might not be able to have the option for pre-built products, as most of the brand products are closed-source and hard to be compatable with the others.

 

Quick reminder!  Making a total DIY system is fun, but for beginners, it’s a lot of electronic troubles.   If you are building a small scale fun light show.  You should check out TapTap, a 6 channel christmas light controller.  It even has a built in AI that builds the light show for you.  And it can synchronize with Asante GV- The smart garage door opener!

5. Design your display, Light Styles & Decorating Ideas

Design the actual outside portion of your display. Common elements to include the following types of lights & locations:

  • Mini lights or net lights display – windows, bushes & walls
  • Icicle lights or c-series display – roof and ceiling design
  • Mini Trees / Tomato cages display – animated tree display
  • A Mega Tree display – large animated tree display
  • Wireframes display – 2D or 3D in shape, animated display
  • Blow molds display – yard corner display
  • C9 Christmas Lights Display – outdoor, sideway display
Mini lights or net lights display

Mini lights or net lights usually go on landscaping, such as bushes, windows and a large area of walls.

Icicle lights or c-series lights display.

Icicle lights or c-series lights usually go on the roof and ceiling area.

Mini Trees / Tomato cages display.

Mini Trees / Tomato cages wrapped in lights of one or multiple colors.  Arranged in a line or a triangle, they are very useful in an animated display.

A Mega Tree display

A Mega Tree usually consists of a large pole with lights extending from the top to a large ring around the base. Again, it is very useful in animation.

Wireframes display

Wireframes Christmas displays are metal frames with lights attached.  It can be either 2D or 3D in shape.

Blow molds display

Blow molds are plastic lighted sculptures of deer, Santas, etc. They are usually placed throughout the yard.

C9 Christmas Lights Display

C9 Lights are bulbous, colorful lights that usually go on the yard perimeter.

 

6. Program your show

Program your light show is time-consuming!  This process includes your music of choice, which node should sync with which light string, and how long should your display be.   The traditional programing can take up to a few months.  The more your channels are, the more complicated your show is.

Taptap II includes a built-in AI that can help you generate a sync song automatically.  The AI itself will save you lots of time in managing your display.

7. Speaker Options

Okay, now let’s talk about the speaker of choices.  If you have a large scale light display, you will need to make sure that your speakers are good enough for the area to hear, but you also need to be mindful of your neighbors.  Speakers playing the same music over and over again will sometimes drive the neighbors crazy.

If you noticed that your neighbor might not be too happy about the light show music, you will need to broadcast over an FM frequency. 

There are many outdoor speakers, make sure the speaker you use is dusk resist and water resist.  Once the speaker is set, Respectfully inform your neighbors of your plan to create a light show display.   Stick to a single showing at the top of the hour, once or twice a night. Once your neighbor knows your display schedule, you should be okay with the light display.  My trick is to include their favorite songs into your display list and make it a group project.

8. Promote your light show work

Finally, your light show is ready.  If this is your first time putting the light show together, you would need someone to spread your work and build a good reputation for you. Here are some steps we recommend you from easy to professional:

  1. The easiest is always, putting a sign in your yard.  Stating your light show playtime, FM frequency, etc.
  2. Let your friends, neighbors, and work buddies know about your display time
  3. Put your show online through social media, facebook, Instagram, etc.  Make sure you put your light show location, broadcasting time and keyword search into the video titles (SEO)
  4. Build a website, do SEO.  Make it a family tradition.
  5. Go into competitions. Such as “The Great Christmas Light Fight”

Again, inform your neighbors that you are publicizing your display. They’ll be much more accommodating if they know your plan to attract attention from around the neighborhood.

Finally, Enjoy your work and holidays!!

Additional Tips

  • Try to manage your time.  Setting up a light show is time-consuming.  To manage things effectively, try to research all kinds of information online and manage the time well.  Check each light strings before you set up the display as well.
  • Be careful with the electronics.  Make sure you research the information regards to electronic works.  You may watch some YouTube tutorials for a step by step guide.
  • Check out the free forums.  If you plan to make it a big show, try to join the community and check out other peoples design and ideas.
  • Talk to neighbors, police, and your homeowner’s association about possible issues with traffic flow, noise, etc. It is much easier to prevent problems than to correct them. However, make sure they understand that there might be problems, not that there will be problems. People need to know what to expect, but don’t stress things so that they shut you down before you even start up your display!
  • FPGAs make fantastic custom control devices, which can hook between an RS232 connection on a PC and a relay board for the lights. An entry-level Spartan 3e Xilinx demo board is around $150.
  • Safety is always the number one rule. If your neighborhood has a lot of pets and kids, make sure your set is kids and pet-friendly to avoid any injuries.

How Do You Make LED Lights Beat With Music?

Perhaps you’re still building that music studio, or you’ve completed it and looking to add some décor. Well, LED strip lights are one decoration that brings life to your studio. And with the right components, you can even make the light beat with the music. So, what do you need, and how do you make these LED lights beat with the music? 

To make an LED light pulse with the music, you need a music-sensitive LED controller with a microphone feature. The microphone in the LED controller syncs the light with the beat’s loudness creating a rhythm of beats or pulses.

If you don’t know how to connect an LED light such that it beats with the music, in this article, I will show you how if you are looking to buy LED lights but don’t know which one to buy. Later in this article, I’d be recommending a couple of the best LED lights you should check out. 

Contents

  • 1 Can You Connect LED Lights to Music? 
  • 2 How to Connect LED Lights to Music? 
    • 2.1 Power up 
    • 2.2 Hang up the strip 
    • 2.3 Connect the strip with the controller 
    • 2.4 Play a music 
  • 3 How to Sync LED Lights to Music? 
  • 4 Best LED Lights for Music Studio 
  • 5 BIHRTC LED Strip Lights 
  • 6 Nexillumi LED Strip Lights 
  • 7 Govee Smart LED Strip Lights 
  • 8 L8star LED Strip Lights 
  • 9 TBI Pro LED Strip Lights 
  • 10 Conclusion 
  • 11 Sources:

Can You Connect LED Lights to Music? 

You cannot connect LED strip lights directly to a music source. Nevertheless, most LED strip lights with a music-sensitive controller come with music mode. With music mode activated, the strip will beat with the music with no need to connect it to Bluetooth or any other device. 

So, the best way to connect LED lights to your music is by turning on the music mode. And as long as the microphone is working and the music mode is turned on, the music will sync with the LED light making it pulsate to the rhythm. 

How to Connect LED Lights to Music? 

Connecting LED lights to music is fairly easy, provided you have all you need. What you need includes a strip light, a controller, and a step-down transformer. Here is how to connect every component, so it beats with the music. 

Power up 

Before you can step up the controller, you need to have a way to power it. Unlike regular bulb lights that use 120V/240V AC source, LED strip lights use a 12V current. This means that you cannot connect the strip lights directly to a power outlet. It would be best to have a step-down transformer that will convert the 120V/240V AC to 12V. 

Hang up the strip 

Next, hang up the strip in your wall, ceiling, or wherever you want to have the effects. To create a nice environment with the LED strip, don’t leave the light open. Hang the light at the back of your bed, chair, monitor screens, and so on. 

Connect the strip with the controller 

With your step-down transformer ready and the strip hung up, connect the strip with the controller. On the controller is a four-pin connector that allows you to plug in the strip and a port to connect the step-down transformer. Find and plug the strip and step-down transformer appropriately.  

Play a music 

With everything set up, plug in the strip to a power source and set the controller to music mode. With the music mode activated, the strip will pulsate when music is played in the background. 

How to Sync LED Lights to Music? 

Today, most LED strip lights can be controlled via Wi-Fi or remote control. Nevertheless, sometimes, they wouldn’t work properly because of settings or connectivity issues. The easiest way to fix this and get your LED light back in sync with the music is to reset the strip light via the remote control. Here is how to fix this error: 

  1. Plug the LED light into a power source and turn it on for a few seconds. 
  2. Please turn it off, then take out the power adaptor without turning it off with the remote control. 
  3. Press and hold down the power button for a few seconds, then connect it to a power supply again.
  4. Keep holding the button for about five seconds as you wait for the LED strip to turn on. 
  5. When the LED strip turns on, it will alternate between its colors.  
  6. But when the LED strip holds at color, you can release the button, and your LED light will reset and sync back with your music. 

Best LED Lights for Music Studio 

If you are looking to buy a feature-filled strip light without breaking the bank, consider the BIHRTC LED strip light. Featuring a fantastic music mode, a built-in sensitive microphone makes the color change based on the ambient sound. And with the low voltage short circuit and low heat protection, you can use this strip light safely. 

Interestingly, I love that the BIHRTC LED strip light comes with Bluetooth and IR sensor giving you the freedom to control it via an app or remote. Also, the memory and timer function lets you automatically turn on or off the strip light at a preset time.  

5,138 Reviews

BIHRTC Led Strip Lights 5050 RGB 600leds 32.8ft Led Lights Music Sync App Control Color Changing Rope Lights with Built-in Mic Remote Led Rope Strips Light Lighting for Bedroom Home Party

  • App control &music mode:Bluetooth led strip lights built-in high sensitivity microphone and automatically pick up sound.
  • Memory and timer function:with the smart app,you can automatically turn on and off at preset time and helping you control time and save energy.
  • Multiple application led strips:you can use our led strip light to decorate your dining room,bedroom,kitchen,porch, tv,corner,bar,meeting room.

Last update on 2022-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Another prominent LED brand to check out is the Nexillumi strip light. This strip light features a remote and phone app control. The 44 key remote control lets you customize the colors of this strip light to fit any interior design. While the mini controller has 3 buttons, you can use it to turn on/off the lights and change the coloring and music modes. 

One feature I love about this strip light is its easy installation process. It features 20 LED strip hooks that are strong adhesive and 20 screws. Nexillumi also provides this strip light with 4 strip connectors, and 2 double-sided adhesive tape, and 2 cable straps. As such, this strip light feels like a complete installation package. 

21,462 Reviews

Nexillumi 65.6ft LED Lights for Bedroom Music Sync Color Changing RGB LED Strip Rope Lights 44-Key Remote, 5050 RGB LED Light Strips(APP+Remote+Mic)

  • 【More User-Friendly Ways to Control Your Lights】① Download the app "illumi Home" (Available on Google Play and iOS App Store) . You can adjust brightness, change colors, turn on/off the RGB LED strip ② Comes with sensitive built-in mic in the controller switch, lights will pulsate and change colors along with the environmental sound and music ③ Comes with a 44-key 4 music mode IR remote to control the LED light strip
  • 【Upgraded high adhesive double sided tape, Easy Installation】No tools required, the high strength 3M double sided tape reliably holds the LED light strips in place, you just need to keep the mounting surface clean and dry. Reliable light strips can be used to decorate your bedroom, dorm room, room decor, under cabinets, screens, beds, shelves, furniture, picture frames, kitchens, ceilings, TV backs, desks, stairs, family gatherings, etc. for accent effect, illumination, and entertainment.
  • 【Upgraded Safest UL listed Power adapter and cords】The fireproof power adapter that meets the most intricate and rigorous UL standards, the built-in protective circuit will automatically shut down the power once the current is overloaded or short-circuited. ② The cables also passed the UL tests and they have been designed to be more durable.

Last update on 2022-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Govee Smart strip light is another top choice I’d recommend you check out. The built-in microphone allows the LED strip to sync with the music, and it also works with the voice control option. The voice control option helps you monitor and control the lights. Govee Smart LED strip light is compatible with Google Assistance and Amazon Alexa as it supports Wi-Fi.   

Even though this strip light does not come with an IR remote controller, the voice command lets you set the timer and turn on/off the LED strip. Overall, the performance of the Govee Smart LED strip is quite impressive as you can use it to create up to 7 scenes in your room. 

Govee Smart LED Strip Lights, 16.4ft WiFi LED Light Strip Work with Alexa and Google Assistant, 16 Million Colors with App Control and Music Sync LED Lights for Bedroom, Kitchen, TV, Party, Christmas

  • Even and bright Light: As indoor Christmas decorations, Govee 16.4ft rgb led strip lights are equipped with 150 LED beads, making them bright enough to illuminate your bedroom, kitchen, Christmas tree, and gaming room. Note: these LED lights are not waterproof.
  • Wireless Smart App: The Govee Home app offers you advanced control over your Christmas led lights and access to incredible features like the customizable DIY mode and a convenient Timer function.
  • Music Sync: As thanksgiving decorations, a built-in mic allows the smart LED strip lights to sync to any music type. Use our Govee Home app and watch in glee as your led Christmas lights dance to your favorite songs.

Last update on 2022-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

One feature of the L8star LED strip light I love so much is that double-layer copper on the PCB board lets you cut between every 3 LEDs. This makes it flexible to install this LED strip light anywhere you want. And you can also take full control over the lighting of this strip light with your smartphone. 

The L8start LED strip light comes with an AC adapter, 2 reels of 16.4ft lights, a remote, and a control receiver. The control receiver features a microphone that makes the light beat with the sound. The remote control with 24 keys lets you control the light settings to suit the ambiance of your room. 

Lastly, the TBI Pro LED strip light is a premium LED room light with 1 x 20 feet RGB LED lights, a remote controller with 40 keys, power adapters, and connectors. At the back of this strip light is a strong adhesive that makes it easy to mount this light to surfaces. Installing this LED strip light is as easy as plugging it into a power source and play. 

I love that this wireless LED light comes with Bluetooth functionality. This feature lets you connect this LED strip light to a mobile app and control the brightness, and color. You can also use the mobile app to turn on music mode which uses the microphone to sync the light with the music such that it beats with the music. 

Upgraded 2019 LED Strip Lights Kit 32.8ft w/Extra Adhesive 3M Tape - 300 LEDs SMD 5050 RGB Light, 44 Key Remote Controller, Flexible Changing Multi-Color Lighting Strips for TV, Room

  • ALL-INCLUSIVE QUALITY LED STRIP LIGHT KIT – This premium LED room lights kit comes with (2) 16.4 feet RGB LED Strip Lights, (1) Roll of 3M Red Tape, (1) Remote Controller with 44 Keys, (1) IR Controller, (1) Power Adapter, and Connectors. No extra accessories are needed!
  • EXTRA STRONG 3M TAPE COMES INCLUDED – Are you tired of using RGB LED strips that won’t stay in place? We solved that problem! Every order includes high-adhesion 3M tape. This mounting tape is designed to firmly adhere to high, medium, and lower surface energy plastic and paint, metal, and glass
  • PLUG & PLAY DESIGN FOR EASY INSTALLATION – We make installation a breeze. The color changing lights have cut marks, so you can easily cut them to size without damaging the rest of the strip. The “plug and play” design ensures you’ll have your LED rope lights installed in minutes without the need for any special tools.

Last update on 2022-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Conclusion 

In conclusion, now you have all the information you need about RGB LED strip lights and how to make the surroundings look elegant and beautiful. If you are looking for one of the best strip lights to match your home or outdoor decorations, feel free to consider anyone of the strip lights I recommended. And if you have any questions or queries regarding RGB LED strip lights, feel free to share them with me in the comment section below. 

For more information, check out what the best color is for studio walls.

Also check out, Effective DIY Alternatives To Studio Lights.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3TIVxRdLiA

How to warm up the dance floor. Part 1.

Warming up an audience is a real art.

Nowadays, most young DJs work in their own privacy, as if they were alone in their bedroom, keeping in mind no more than a two-hour set for the height of the party.

However, ironically, the first performance at an event that any DJ gets is during the warm-up of the dance floor. Therefore, if you arrive early at most nightclubs, you can see a sweat-drenched DJ who creates a rumble on an empty tanpole with the help of famous hits. The volume level of the music is feverish that you even forget to take a number in the wardrobe. In the meantime, only a few celebrity DJs with enough experience to warm up the audience are invited to open. This is due to various nuances, starting with the unwillingness of the club to pay a good fee for warming up (although the further success of the event depends on this) and the personal refusal of star DJs because of their own ambitions.

Warming up an audience is a very difficult task and should not be left to inexperienced DJs. It requires intuition, talent and good music. Approach it the right way and it will be the best foundation for improving your DJing skills. There is another aspect to this difficult task - playing tracks for a tipsy and hoarsely yelling crowd on the dance floor at one in the morning, but also at the same time creating an unforgettable atmosphere, setting the mood and musical tempo for people who have to be pulled onto the dance floor.

Danny Howells, who spent nine years warming up for John Digweed at Bedrock, says: “You have to create a mesmerizing indoor vibe that slowly sucks the crowd out of the night onto the dance floor. The opening DJ needs to know that when people enter the club, they won't automatically "jump" onto the dance floor. The job of a DJ is to get the crowd going, create atmosphere and high anticipation without obscuring the DJ behind him."

Says Ross Ellen, of the BBC Corporation (BBC), whose sophistication and eclecticism make him a true expert in the opening act: parties. I like to watch how the dance floor gradually fills up and by the time your performance ends, the dance floor is already heaving. You leave this moment when the next DJ can intercept this peak. This sets the whole success of the night's revelry. This is the best part of the party."

Ross sees the empty dance floor as an opportunity to be selfish. He says: “If there is no one in the club, I put on the track that I want. I just chill and then I set the pace. I usually spent these parties chilled at the start and gradually built up the atmosphere, saving my best compositions for later." Ross also warns against prematurely playing music at an extremely fast pace.

He says: “You don't jump on a carousel if someone spins it fast. You sit on it when it starts to rotate slowly and picks up speed.

How to choose music to warm up.

A place full of people needs some quiet play before people venture onto the dance floor. Your music should "suck in" people, make them tap their toes or nod their heads to the beat of the music, continuing to seduce until they can't resist. The best music to form this kind of "dance pressure" is given below:


  • melodic;

  • friend;

  • slower temp.

Mysterious tracks.

It makes sense to play them, provided they fit the atmosphere. It's also a chance to play "interesting" tunes, not to mention quieter songs that you'd like to hear loudly on good acoustics.

Old favourites.

Doesn't have to be a hit from last Christmas - just a classic club track, something that sets the mood for most of the assembled people. You could often watch how a DJ psychologically calculates the most suitable track from the gathered people and most people, nodding their heads, run to the dance floor.

How to set the mood.

Your two tasks as the opening DJ are:


  • fill the dance floor for the next DJ to perform

  • play songs that set the mood for the whole night.

At the beginning of the night, just tell yourself that you don't want to force anyone to dance. Instead, for an hour or so, you play wonderful music - an audio track for the slow development of the party. Your plot will culminate in a crowded and overexcited dance floor, just before the new DJ arrives.

Don't forget to put yourself in the place of the club's visitors, as if you yourself had just entered the club. People take time to leave their coats in the closet, settle into a club, order a drink at a bar, meet up with friends… They want to take the time to wander around. Chat with someone and even fall in love...

To do this, you must give them the perfect musical composition. Imagine using music to invite people into your home, to make it easier for them to enter a party, and to create anticipation for what comes next. The best DJs will calmly lure the audience and gradually lure them to the dance floor, while amateur DJs will rain down on them "rush hour" compositions three hours ahead of the required time. There is a difference between inviting a person to a spa with soft lighting and scented candles, and forcing someone to take a cross-country march followed by a cold shower. There is nothing more repulsive than an empty dance floor that is being bombarded with demonic fast beats.

Keep reminding yourself that at the start of the party you are playing music to set up a meeting, drink, chat, and "vape". No one will comment on your music without dancing. Relax, no one is going anywhere - an hour or so of your charm and people will raise their hands to the sky on the dance floor.

Adam Freeland, Breaksworld.com: Lead the people, don't follow them. Trust your feelings. Do what you like, not what you think people want. Don't accept people's denial of getting on the dance floor and get ready to work hard, because luck won't just fall on you."

Lost in the Hayloft.

In addition to inspiring some of the world's most legendary DJs, David Mancuso's famous New York Hayloft club was also famous for the original way he lured people onto the dance floor. Writer Vince Eletti recalls: “Some of my favorite music was David's early tracks. He created an unforgettable atmosphere when people first came to the club, before they started dancing. He played these weird things, which were mostly like fusion jazz or world classic music. These were things that for the most part did not have any lyrics, but were cooling or heating tracks that followed each other. It was a pleasure to see the mood being set. Little by little, the tracks became more rhythmic, more and more suitable for dancing, and people began to dance. I enjoyed watching the whole theater take shape. It was like acting before the actors started their performance."

How to add fire.

If you visualize your set as a graph, it should have a constantly rising curve. Set a goal to slowly set the mood and make sure the dance floor is full and humming by the time you pass the baton to the next ud (but not too long before).

Look at the audience.

Interaction with the public is crucial at this early stage. Once the club is full, no one will care that you ignore people, but in the beginning a lot depends on the connection between the DJ and the public, so be sure to look and read the reaction on people's faces. Smile at them, show that you are just as friendly and want the same as they do. This is the best way to work out which course of action to take next, which track to choose. Let their faces be your guide.

Get the girls on the dance floor.

Girls are less intimidated by an empty dance floor than guys, so when it's time to dance, aim some tracks firmly at women. Girls respond well to good vocal compositions and melodies with graceful bass lines. (Don't argue with genetics).

Form the atmosphere slowly.

Slowly increase the musical tempo and avoid the temptation to get the dancefloor excited ahead of time. There shouldn't be a hard throw - wait until the later part of your set to really blow the crowd. The art of hosting a high-level party is all about seduction and retention.

The Sims 4 Get Together Dancing Skill Overview

The Sims 4 Get Together Dancing Skill

How to improve the Sims 4 Dancing Skill

No literature can teach you how to hear the beat and feel the music, so get up off the couch, get off the computer, turn on your favorite song louder and start shaking your fat. Although here it is better to say stick to the monitors, launch your favorite The Sims 4 and get up from the sofas to shake your Sims with rolls. They can hone their dance moves by dancing to the music of any stereo systems, DJ consoles, or by practicing in front of a mirror in which they can fit in full growth. Interestingly, there is only one such mirror, and it came out along with the add-on. It is not known whether this is a flaw or a special idea, but you can’t dance in front of other large mirrors.

Dancing skill development

Dancing in front of a mirror

Dancing skill leveling will take a long time, don't worry. It has only five levels. One good disco all night long and you will be the king of the dance floor. There are also a couple of ways to improve the skill faster:

  1. New Trait "Dance Machine"
  2. Dancing in a confident mood
  3. Performing group dances
  4. Improve the skill during club meetings

However, it is worth remembering that no matter what skills and traits the Sims have, no matter how hard the players try to protect them from all sorts of mistakes, incidents happen even among professionals. It's a shame that sometimes they spoil beautiful dances, but they look funny.

Unfortunate Character Dances

Now is the time to go through each level in detail and see what features are available to Sims.

Dance skill levels


First level

As you know, in the fourth part of the Sims line, the characters get the first level of the skill, having once tested it. Once on the dance floor, Sims get a couple of new moves in their arsenal, and these are not those caricatured dances from the base game. New movements give a little club style. Also, the characters learn a simple dance "Under the Hand", which is perfect for stylish chicks dancing in miniskirts and stilettos.

Arm Dance

Second Level

Sims can talk about dance skills when they have acquired some skills. Discussions are good, but becoming a star of the dance floor does not contribute much. You won’t surprise people with club dance alone, so why not add Pop Dance to your list?

Dance Pop Dance

Third Level

The more practice, the more different dances Sims master. Now in their arsenal appeared "Lame". Don't make false assumptions because of a funny name. The dance is not designed for the disabled and pensioners. In fact, he looks very cool and incendiary.

Chump Dance

In addition, a portable dance floor appears in the Sim's luggage, thanks to which you can rock it in absolutely any place. The main thing - do not forget to take any portable stereo system with you, otherwise the performance will be covered with a copper basin. Although it is curious that group dances can be performed without music.

The Sims 4 Party Dances Get Together

Upon reaching the third level, the Sims unlock the ability to dance around the campfire with fire. It looks the same as dancing with light, available in the next level. The only difference is that instead of light sticks, Sims spin torches.

dancing with fire by the fire

Be very careful when performing this trick! If the character hits the back of his head with a light stick by accident and hits a bump at most, then here it will light up. No kidding! Of course, such a small flame is not fatal, but a moodlet that gives +1 to discomfort is provided. Therefore, do not rush to dance with fire, you can also perform ordinary dances around the fire.

fire burns

Level 4

Once they reach level 4, Sims learn new dance moves. You can see them as an element of some group dances or when the character alone moves freely on the dance floor. Those who are not far from the topic of dancing in real life can easily name what styles Sims use. Personally, I recognized wave, electro-dance and popping in their movements.

Various dance steps

But that's not all. Now the characters can perform a spectacular dance with glow sticks.

Glow Stick Dance

Level Five

Once Sims have mastered the dance skill, they can perform a back flip as part of their dance routine. If during this action they manage not to kiss the dance floor, the audience will be delighted, believe me!

Somersault in the dance

You ask, is this all? Not! Rather, take a look at the Sim's wardrobe. For all the hard work, ups and downs, brand new retro sneakers will be the reward. Look how amazing they are! Only one problem - now the excuse that shoes interfere with a bad dancer is not for your Sims.

Dance shoes in The Sims 4 Get together

Dance battles

Do you think you can move well enough to the music and have no equal? Well, why not test it empirically? Calling another Sim to the so-called battle is another skill token. If you wish, you can "throw down the gauntlet" even at the lowest levels of the skill, but this is not recommended. Sims don't have much movement left, so don't expect spectacular fights. Even more - two sims showing each other the Hand in Hand dance looks extremely comical. But the kings of the dance floor will unleash a real battle. Unfortunately, the winner is always unknown, because no pop-ups about the result of the battle or the corresponding moodlets appear.

Sim Dance Duel

Group Dance

You can dance not only alone, but also with friends. So why not create your own dance team? You can form a team in the communication menu in the “Group actions” section. It is advisable to select Sims with the same skill level, as more experienced dancers will not be able to perform dances due to the presence of Sims who are lagging behind in skill in the group. There are 5 dances in total:

  1. One step, two steps. ..
  2. Boogie Woogie
  3. Breakdance
  4. Spinning Top
  5. Lean Back

True, the disadvantage of automatic construction is that you cannot determine the position of each participant. You can only set the position of the leader. The group will be led by the character to whom you gave the command to perform a joint dance.
Dance teams can consist of two to eight characters. Depending on the number, the construction figures will differ.

Two dancers . Stand in one line, the leader will be located on the left.

2 dancers on the dance floor


2 dancers on the dance floor

Three dancers . They stand in a triangle, the leader becomes in the center, going a little closer ahead of the rest.

3 dancers on the dance floor


3 dancers on the dance floor

Four dancers . Become a rhombus; the leader, as always, is ahead of everyone.

4 dancers on the dance floor


4 dancers on the dance floor

Five dancers . When viewed from above, the arrangement of the dancers resembles the image of the number "five" on a dice. The leader becomes in the center.

5 dancers on the dance floor


5 dancers on the dance floor

Six dancers . They are located in a pyramid, the leader in every sense stands at the top.

6 dancers on the dance floor


6 dancers on the dance floor

Seven dancers . When viewed from above, the arrangement resembles a flower or a honeycomb. The leader stands in the center.


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