Multifunction light controller

A method comprising:

• electrically coupling a plurality of light arrays to a plurality of electric receptacles;
• receiving from an interactive remote control device user-selectable control signals;
• receiving sound input signals from a sound input stage operative to detect sound;
• and
• separately modulating each one of the receptacles according to both the received user-selectable control signals and the received sound input signals, wherein modulating causes the light arrays to produce a decorative lighting effect responsive to sound input including one or more of dimming or fading.

A method of controlling a lighting system, the method comprising:

• connecting the lighting system to a receptacle;
• receiving sound input signals from a sound input stage operative to detect sound;
• modulating the receptacle both according to a control signal received from an interactive remote control device and according to the received sound input signals;
• and
• switching the control signal among a plurality of different user-defined settings, wherein at least one of the plurality of different user-defined settings causes the lighting system to produce a decorative lighting effect responsive to sound input including one or more of dimming or fading.

A multi-function lighting display apparatus, comprising:

• one or more electric receptacles;
• one or more light array circuits, each light array circuit connected to a different receptacle that receives a separate user-selectable control signal;
• a remote control device;
• a sound input stage operative to detect sound;
• and
• a controller which, in operation, independently modulates the user-selectable control signals according to both sound input signals received via the sound input stage and according to instructions provided by a user interactively, via the remote control device, wherein the modulation causes the light arrays to produce a decorative lighting effect responsive to sound input including one or more of dimming or fading.