What if my event doesn’t fit into your pricing structure?
No wi-fi, no data? Is it magic?
What is a “calibration tone”?
What does this tone sound like? How long is does it last? How many times do I have to play it?
I’m sound checking for an event, and I can’t get the phones to hear the calibration tone you sent me!
What phones does the Wham City Lights app work on?
Can I try out my light show on my phone before I actually sign up?
How long does the whole process take to set up?
What is the light show editor?
On what devices can I use the light show editor to make my light show?
What if my event doesn’t fit into your pricing structure?
No problem! We understand that our app’s light show technology has uses and applications beyond those we’ve outlined here. We’re excited about creative uses of this technology. After all, it was designed to be as versatile and accessible as possible!
If you’ve got a way that you want to use Wham City Lights, but you’re not sure how it fits into the structure we’ve outlined, just shoot us an e-mail. We’ll work together to figure out an affordable way to make the app work for you and your event.
No wi-fi, no data? Is it magic?
Though we’d like to take credit for being actual magicians, we’re really just programmers who’ve worked hard to create something that can be used in as many contexts as possible. Since it doesn’t need wi-fi or data, Wham City Lights can be used far away from internet signals or even cell-phone towers. You can literally make a light show happen anywhere thanks to our proprietary audio transmission protocol!
All that means is that at the beginning of your event, your sound board operator plays a special sequence of sounds we call “calibration tones.” When users have the app open, their phones “hear” the calibration tones in the same way that they “hear” human voices being spoken into them. That’s why they don’t need wi-fi or a cell phone signal. Hearing the calibration tone tells the phone to start displaying the light show. Because all of the phones “hear” the calibration tone at the same time, they are all operating in sync!
The calibration tone is an encoded audio signal that tells the Wham City Lights app what to do, and when. After you’ve developed your light show and clicked “Publish,” the light show editor will guide you to download your unique calibration tone. The calibration tone is a WAV file that your sound operator just plays over your sound system at the beginning of your event the same way they’d play any kind of prerecorded music. Voila! All the phones in the room are ready to go!
What does this tone sound like? How long is does it last? How many times do I have to play it?
The tone sounds like a buzzing noise, and lasts approximately 2.5 seconds. To start the Wham City Lights show in your audience’s hands, you simply announce that everyone should open the app on their phone. Then you play the tone once, a few seconds before your song or performance starts. After that, the phones pulse and fade in sync with each other according to the light show you designed.
I’m sound checking for an event, and I can’t get the phones to hear the calibration tone you sent me!
Occasionally, some tweaking of the audio mix and effects is necessary to ensure the calibration tone is playing clearly enough for the phones to hear it. Please visit our Calibration Tone Setup Guide for tips and troubleshooting. If you still have questions, send us an e-mail.
What phones does the Wham City Lights app work on?
We currently support:
• iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, and 5 (iOS 5 or higher)
• iPad 2, 3, and the iPad Mini (iOS 5 or higher)
• all of the most popular Android phones and tablets – Samsung, HTC, Motorola, etc.
Can I try out my light show on my phone before I actually sign up?
Yes! Just click the “Preview” button in the light show editor. It will guide you through the process of testing your light show. And because the app is free for up to 10 phones, you can even invite friends over to test it with multiple people-- simulating a mini version of your event! You can create and test as many of these shows as you want without paying anything!
How long does the whole process take to set up?
This depends on how long you take to create your light show. Some users may want to spend a lot of time crafting a very particular and detailed pattern for their lights-- this is easy to do, since the light show editor makes it fun. But if you’re in a rush, you can easily use the light show editor to create a light show in just a few hours. Once you “Publish” your show and pay your licensing fee, the editor will guide you to download your personal calibration tone, which is available immediately. Once you’ve downloaded your calibration tone, your light show is ready to go!
What is the light show editor?
The light show editor is a free, web-based program that you use to design your light show. It’s available at http://editor.whamcitylights.com. It is very easy and fun to use. If you’ve ever used Apple iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, GarageBand, Audacity, or other audio/video editing software, you’ll have no problem at all with the light show editor. The interface was designed to be intuitive and simple-- making it accessible and fun to use, even if you’re not a “computer person.”
On what devices can I use the light show editor to make my light show?
The light show editor works best in Google Chrome on Windows or Mac. However, you can also develop your light show in Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer. Though the editor itself is intended to be used on computers, you can also make minor changes and preview your light show by opening the editor website on an iPad.