Falcon Player (FPP)
Falcon Player (FPP)
Falcon Player (FPP) is free, open-source software that plays animated lighting sequences without requiring a dedicated computer during a show.
FPP runs on small single-board computers, such as the Raspberry Pi, as well as specialized hardware designed for Christmas lighting. It reads exported sequence files and transmits lighting data to controllers using industry-standard protocols.
FPP is widely used in both residential and commercial animated lighting displays.
Features
Falcon Player provides tools for:
- Playing scheduled lighting shows
- Synchronizing music and lighting
- Scheduling playlists
- Remote management through a web browser
- Multi-player synchronization
- Controller testing
Because the show is stored locally, a full-time sequencing computer is not required during playback.
Hardware
FPP commonly runs on:
- Raspberry Pi computers
- BeagleBone Black
- PocketBeagle
- Supported commercial lighting controllers with built-in FPP capability
The hardware used depends on the size and complexity of the display.
Sequence Playback
Lighting sequences are typically created in xLights and exported to Falcon Player.
During playback, FPP reads the sequence files and transmits lighting data to controllers using supported communication protocols.
Supported Protocols
Falcon Player supports numerous lighting protocols, including:
Support varies depending on the hardware platform and configuration.
Advantages
- Free and open source
- Eliminates the need for a dedicated show computer
- Reliable scheduled playback
- Supports multiple synchronized players
- Web-based configuration
- Widely supported by the Christmas lighting community
Typical Christmas Lighting Applications
Falcon Player is commonly used to:
- Schedule nightly lighting shows
- Play synchronized music and lighting
- Coordinate multiple controllers
- Synchronize multiple Raspberry Pi players across large displays
- Operate displays without a permanently connected computer
xLights and Falcon Player
Although often used together, xLights and Falcon Player serve different purposes.
| xLights | Falcon Player |
|---|---|
| Creates sequences | Plays sequences |
| Builds display models | Schedules shows |
| Designs lighting effects | Outputs controller data |
| Runs on a computer | Typically runs on dedicated show hardware |