Speakerplans.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Other Chat > Lighting Talk
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - party tent
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

party tent
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 9>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: party tent
    Posted: 04 December 2012 at 2:53pm
iv started a couple of posts now and i know this forum is mostly for speakers but im slowly working towards an 18th bithday party and want it to be the best i can for a moderate budget.

The gazeebo shold be around 4m x 8m (if i can) so want to put on a good light display.

DMX. yes i want in to be semi inteligent. im reading up and watching youtube for DMX basics and what can be done and whats needed. so, a mini starter shopping list.

controller.
2 scanners.
4 PAR cans.

the idea was to put my speaker stacks on the top corners (8m apart) and put two light stands behind them
with the scanners on and the 4 PARs in each corner firing upwards to light the ceiling to change the colour of the tent.... all hooked up via DMX. i want to be able to control all lights and create scenes for the whole night (6hours... ish).

questions.

what should i look for in a good scanner? (links.. i do love a good link)
PAR cans... LED?.. i want to be able to change colours. will a mini controlloer be best or a smei cheap DMX 2 USB and control it via a laptop?.... will this be enough for a good display of light?

any help is good help    this is very new to me but i pick things up real fast. and no, i havent played with any type of DMX yet. i dont want to buy cheap and chearful and then 6month later relise i need a better controllor and have to by twice. yes this is more or less a one off but it also means any part i have in the future will be alot more fun!!

cheers guys.
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 4:05pm
would some thing like this be a good starting point?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/american_dj_revo_scan_led_bundle.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_par_56_alu_schwarz.htm

for lights... still looking at controllers as i have a spare laptop to run them if it would be better...

cheers guys
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:20pm
http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_par_56_b_4er_road_kit_mk1.htm

or maybe these as a set... as i want one for each corner.... its the scanners im not sure about or what to look for as i know that i can strobe all lights for some good club vibe...

im just trying to turn it into a mini club in a gazebo... 

would a smoke machine be point less?
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
cravings View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 30 January 2007
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 7442 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cravings Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:43pm
i don't know much about lights, i've a few random bits and pieces. but i will say that any lights you're interested in, look at videos on youtube to get an impression of what they'll do.
Back to Top
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:54pm
i have been, only prob it they do it in a completely dark room with a light haze of smoke... so anything they show you looks amazing! lol

its the scanners im most worried about... i want to buy something that i can really control and go ape sh1t on... so one song they can be independant and the next.. perfect sync.. kinda pro lokking buy on a moderate budget. i want to blow the kids away with the whole night.......

wen she had her 8th birthday (alice in wonderland) people still take about it to day.
im playing one up-man-ship with myself.

thanks for the input though.

its the Xmas lights on the other thread in sync to music that has got me revved up
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
Audio_AL View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User
Avatar

Joined: 20 July 2012
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 244 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Audio_AL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:57pm
Its a great starting point Id say. Im not familiar with those lights in particular but as long as they strobe/dim they should be fine. This are the ones I use... http://www.chauvetlighting.com/slim-par-56.html I got some 38's as well. I love them all and never leave for a gig without them. Strobing feature always get the crowd going.

As for the scanners I think its kind of a double edged sword. Please keep in mind this is just my observation, yours may be different. Mine work great if I have computer based software controlling them but If I have them run by a small/cheap lighting desk such as... http://www.chauvetlighting.com/obey-40.html they don't  look all that great IMO. Just too random and not synced with each other. These are the scanners I am specifically talking about... http://www.chauvetlighting.com/intimidator-scan-led-100.html

NOW, if you had them linked together in slave/master mode and let them run in sound active they probably wouldn't be that bad. Up to you...

I use a fog machine whenever possible. Without one you just see the light on the surface it is pointing at but with fog you also can see it in the air. Im sure the cheapest one you could find would cover your 4mx8m as long as it is enclosed.  Hope this helps
Make it loud!
Back to Top
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 7:09pm
i have a small smoke machine i use for house parties so i know what you mean.

cheers for the links. i like 'em.

as for computer controlled... i know theres a few USB to DMX leads,but are they all the same? is it the software that "sets them free"?

thanks for your in put.

whats everyone else using for PAR cans in the UK?
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
JohnnyPyro View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc


Joined: 17 November 2008
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 2083 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnnyPyro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2012 at 11:19pm
avoid cheap LED scanners .. utter utter shite .. look for some used abstract vrx, martin mx4's , robe dj scan 150/160 .. with par cans its best to go see them in the flesh
Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o)
Powered by MC2 & XTA
Back to Top
mini-mad View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2012
Location: london
Status: Offline
Points: 6903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mini-mad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 December 2012 at 1:09pm
advice taken Johnny.

i like those scanners... little bit outta my price range. the abstract vrx's... theres like 6 different kinds! lol

ok lloks like i need to find somewhere that sells LED PAR's in a shop some where then.

Johnny, im after a nice strobing from the scanners... will non-LED strobe well? (all the PARs i wanna use as uplighters and will join in the effect of the strobing) also... how do you control yours?

Cheers again guys... im taking all this onboard.. slowly lol
If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down.
Back to Top
Lex View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User


Joined: 14 December 2011
Location: Bristol
Status: Offline
Points: 31 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lex Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 December 2012 at 2:14pm
Originally posted by JohnnyPyro JohnnyPyro wrote:

avoid cheap LED scanners .. utter utter shite .. look for some used abstract vrx, martin mx4's , robe dj scan 150/160 .. with par cans its best to go see them in the flesh


+ 1


Find some good 2nd hand scans, MX4's are allways on the bay. Most good makes (read. martin, clay paky, robe etc...) have good shutters so you'll get some great strobing effects - Also usually a DMX channel on these small scans to select the various modes (DMX, sound to light, auto show) from your DMX desk Smile So you can change the show real easy during the night.

American DJ do some great little LED par's and bars, worth a look.

Here's my old MX4's running off a 2518 controller, nice and easy little rig:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOSLfGxW4pk

I have some other vids, take a look.

I would go for a haze machine, kids still get a kick out of seeing it go and your lights will cut through it better. No LED light (appart from the big boys stuff) can cut through haze/smoke like a discharge lamp.


Edited by Lex - 05 December 2012 at 2:28pm
Back to Top
mk2_ginger_biscuit69 View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc


Joined: 03 November 2008
Location: Brighton
Status: Offline
Points: 7801 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mk2_ginger_biscuit69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 December 2012 at 2:19pm
send me a PM, i have a cheap no thrills USB DMX controller going spare if i can find it, yours for not much!
''Remember that the object of a subwoofer is to enhance the output of your main speakers, not overpower it''

''Dubstep - an elongated electronic fart''
Back to Top
JohnnyPyro View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc


Joined: 17 November 2008
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 2083 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnnyPyro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 December 2012 at 4:48pm
Mini.. i use a Robe control 1024 lighting desk .. overkill for what you need  .. i do a similar party for my sis .. but am lucky enough to have a boat cover that was built to stay up in 80mph winds LOL so its more than ample to hang a few lights from.. all made from 3mm steel tubing .. last year i had 4 Evl spins, 4 robe 160xt spot moving heads and 8 studio due led par cans  .. this year i'll be using 8 160xt moving heads and some ADJ led pixel bars
Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o)
Powered by MC2 & XTA
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 9>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.06
Copyright ©2001-2023 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.110 seconds.