Thread: HELP!!! i-zombie lightning controller

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HELP!!
I just received my stereo lightning controller yesterday (noooo comment) and I cannot figure out how to hook it up to my sound system.
The instructions are incredibly vague and I am not a stereo geek.
I want to hook it up directly to my dvd player which has surround sound. I would have thought it would be simple... again, noooo comment.
There are two red/white jacks on the back of the unit.
I have no idea how to connect it to the back of my player. There are 3 dozen different outlets back there, but the only ones that connect to the red/white don't work.
I am *unbelievably* frustrated. Please, please, *please* help me!!!
I tried a few configurations and the light sources do not falter. For the price, you would think that they would include the cords.

They have manuals online:
http://www.i-zombie.com/pages/sc1201...controller.php

Basically...sound will go from your stereo, into the lightning controller, and from there to the speakers. The controller "listens" to it and flashes the light. You plug the light you want to flash into the back of the controller.

According to their docs, run the speaker cables coming out of the stereo, into the i-Zombie box, and then from the i-Zombie box to your speakers (this assumes you have one of the controllers on the page I linked to above).

The i-Zombie box uses standard RCA (or "phono") cables like this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2284530
These are available everywhere - Target, Best Buy, probably in Walgreens too.

Look for Audio Out jacks on your DVD player. It's possible that your DVD player might need to be reconfigured to use the right type of jacks. Honestly, if you have an old CD player that will work just as well. Use a cable like this to connect a CD player to the iZombie:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3240426

NOTE: Do NOT buy the Monster cable!!! It is way overpriced, you can get the same thing for about five bucks if you need it. These also come with a lot of other stuff, ask your friends if they have a spare.

Bliss3333,

Included with your i-Zombie ST-2401 is a complete set of instructions on how to hook up your new lightning controller. There is also the phone number and address for i-Zombie Productions where you may contact us regardless of where you purchased your controller. Please call for help if you cannot figure out the hook up using the directions. The instructions are not "incredibly vague"as you stated in your post, but are written for those who have at least a basic understanding of audio circuitry. The correct order of hook up is: CD player to i-Zombie controller to amplifier to speakers.

Hopefully, you will see this post and call me tomorrow (Halloween) in time to get your effects running before the witching hour.

Bliss did you get it to work? I have a I-zombie controller. I LOVE IT!

I do not own any of the lightning controllers mentioned above - but I did check out the wiring diagrams and manuals. I love the fact you are here responding and supporting your product.

Not sure I would say it is vague, but would have to agree that the wiring diagram is not all that clear. Add some spacing to better deliniate the options, the cable graphics seem to be off in space, not clearly associated with the text, etc. The option for the delay effect, doesn't line-up in an obvious way.

I am familiar with audio components and lighting systems and could have easily found my way to hooking this up. But if a general person is looking to spend high end for a plug/play effect, you gotta put as much into the docs as the circuitry inside.

Or skip the docs, and just label the jacks on the back of the unit, INPUT SOUND or OUTPUT SPKR, etc.

Looks like a well built product line, best of luck.

I have a izombie for years, my only complaint is the lack of labels on the rear for In and Out. I remember its like water, goes in at the top and out at the bottom, or does on my unit.

here is my setup process, dont hook everything up and hope for the best, before you plug in the zombie into power, plug the lights in to the outlet confirm you have power and the lights are wired up and on, also if your using a mp3 player, use headsets to confirm that sound is coming out (volume is up), do the same with the speakers using barrel RCA connectors. NOW that you know the speakers and lights are working, unplug the lightening lights from outlet and put into zombie, remove barrel connectors and put on zombie, turn know counter clockways and plug in according to the directions knowing that all other problems are elimated.

I dont want to tell you how long it takes fiddling with the zombie only to find out 30 minutes later (opps i told you) that the button on the back of my work lights was off or someone has tripped over the speaker/power wire and pulled it from the speaker/lights in the front yard.

also, if you have high mounted flood lights in your yard, and you tear down at end of night, upplug the zombie and reconnedt the lightening lights to the outlet used for the zombie and they become work lights making it much easier to shut down in the dark.

best of luck

Several posts have mentioned that the i-Zombie RCA jacks (on the back of the unit) are not labeled IN or OUT. The reason for that is because it doesn't need to be. The RCA jacks on the Single Channel units and the Multi-Channel unit are what is called a patch panel. That means all the (+) leads on all four jacks are hooked together and the same for the (-) leads. It makes no difference whatsoever which two jacks are inputs and which two are the outputs. That is why all four jacks have the same black color code. The i-Zombie is just utilizing the audio signal on its way to the amplifier.

The Stereo unit is slightly different. This unit has two red (Right Channel) and two white (Left Channel) color coded jacks on the back of the unit. Use either Red jack on the i-Zombie for Right Channel input and either White jack for Left Channel input. Use the the remaining Red and White Jack for the outputs which go on to the amplifier.

The order to hook up the i-Zombie Lightning Controller is: CD Player to i-Zombie to Amplifier to Speakers. Very Simple!

If anyone has any questions about setting up their i-Zombie Controller, we are no further away than your computer or telephone. Our contact info is a on our website at www.i-zombie.com

I trust the guy who built the product who has commented on his design.. wouldnt you?

Originally Posted by Bliss3333

HELP!!
I just received my stereo lightning controller yesterday (noooo comment) and I cannot figure out how to hook it up to my sound system.
The instructions are incredibly vague and I am not a stereo geek.
I want to hook it up directly to my dvd player which has surround sound. I would have thought it would be simple... again, noooo comment.
There are two red/white jacks on the back of the unit.
I have no idea how to connect it to the back of my player. There are 3 dozen different outlets back there, but the only ones that connect to the red/white don't work.
I am *unbelievably* frustrated. Please, please, *please* help me!!!
I tried a few configurations and the light sources do not falter. For the price, you would think that they would include the cords.

Maybe you can take a picture of the back of your surround sound system and post it here.

I think you have been given enough information, but you may not understand exactly what you are looking for. Generally surround sound systems do not have many if any pre amp output jacks. They are by nature input only. So they can take pre amplified sound from various sources. Like a Tape player. Or a Phonograph. Or a DVD or CD player. Or of course a TV. But outputs? Why?

So likely the red and white jacks you found are inputs.

So what needs to happen is the following. You need an audio output. The jack will be labeled as such. A DVD player, which is not what I believe you have, will have a few sets of outputs. If you do have a red and a white audio out set of jacks, which I fear you do not, then you run a single cable from red to red on your zombie and from white to white on your zombie. Then you run another single cable from the Zombie second red back to a red jack labeled audio input on your system and do the same thing with the white. Take note of the input labeled. That will be selected as your input in your playback options.

But to be quite honest, I think this may be a futile effort. I am almost sure you do not have external output from your DVD player. The reason is because I believe it is part of your surround system. Why would the mfg put outputs for a device that is internally connected to the amplifier? It would be like you and I standing next to each other and use our cell phones to have a conversation.

I just took another look at the hook up diagram. I may be wrong re your needing pre amp output. The diagram states from CD or amplifier to amplified speakers or speakers. But speakers require two wires each. This means that you would need 4 inputs and 4 outputs if you are passing through the amplified signal through the Zombie.

If you don't have an amplifier with speakers lying around, you can use your DVD player and surround sound system for your television with your i-Zombie Lightning Controller. To hook-up follow these simple directions for a Stereo (ST-2401) i-Zombie unit:

1. Load your i-Zombie ThunderTracks CD into your DVD player.

2. Run cable from DVD audio outputs into Red and White jacks on the i-Zombie.

3. Run cable from remaining Red and White jacks on the i-Zombie to the Red
and White audio input jacks on your surround sound system. That's it.

You won't get surround sound, but you will get stereo sound if using the stereo sound tracks! Don't want to use your DVD player? -Just substitute it with a handheld CD player. Hook-up is the same.

Remember- CD player to i-Zombie to Amplifier to Speakers.