party tent
Printed From: Speakerplans.com
Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Lighting Talk
Forum Description: All your lampy, laser and 'other' special FX needs....
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=74199
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 10:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: party tent
Posted By: mini-mad
Subject: party tent
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 2:53pm
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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. |
Replies:
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 4:05pm
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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. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:20pm
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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. |
Posted By: cravings
Date 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. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:54pm
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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. |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 6:57pm
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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! |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 7:09pm
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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. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 11:19pm
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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 |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 05 December 2012 at 1:09pm
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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. |
Posted By: Lex
Date Posted: 05 December 2012 at 2:14pm
+ 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 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. |
JohnnyPyro wrote:Posted By: mk2_ginger_biscuit69
Date Posted: 05 December 2012 at 2:19pm
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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'' |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date 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  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 |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 05 December 2012 at 6:39pm
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How much budget do you have to play with? Chamsys do a 5 hour time limited USB dongle for £10. After 5hrs you have to unplug it and plug it back in again. MagicQ, their software is free, but will do just about anything and can be a bit daunting at first glance, particularly if you have no previous experience of lighting control. I might be clearing out some old stock soon, and have some very good condition Martin Destroyers (gobo flower effect, M33 lamp version - youtube them...) that might end up going. A good desk will make a bad light look ok, a great light on a crap controller will just look crap (and often uncontrollable in any real sense) If you want to use intelligent lighting fixtures, avoid any controller that requires you to manipulate the actual DMX channels (e.g. any of the cheap DJ controllers). Most decent desks/controllers hide all that stuff and you simply use 'colour', 'position', 'intensity' options to control the lights. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 12:22am
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thanks to everyone... so far! iv PM'd a few people on little bits, but i still would love to know if i need more lights/less lights, bet software to use for laptop controlled DMX... tips on making it all go well... problems people have come across and how theyve over come them..... i mean if im running DMX cable around 24ms worth of gazebo is there any signal loss?... does it interfere with speaker cable? rope lights?.. should i buy some run them round the ceiling (inside) and have them as part of my DMX display? im very open to any ideas as iv got a while to do this and am happy to try and test things out. ive been looking on youtube too and it would seem LED scanners are nowhere near as bright as discharge lamps.. and gobos!... im loving gobos!... ive got some disco lights ive bought for her halloween party she had this year but i really can stress enuff how "balls out" i want to go!! cheers to everyone so far. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: infrasound
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 12:32am
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F*ck rope lights. Cheap and nasty
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Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 12:45am
i ment to go round the whole length of the ceiling so i could jump between having that on one second then the up lights (PARs) on the next in a flip-flop. so all the lights are DMX controlled or use the rope light all the way round as a room strobe...... no one tried that?.. i dont just mean shit rope lights static on just hanging there... can i get a +1 on rope lights set out like this as good or shit. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 1:21am
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hmm I think it would look good to have it strobe but I'm not sure how you would do that...? One of those relay packs for converting halogen par cans to DMX? Static rope lights = Shit +1 Strobe rope lights = good +1 Let me know what your budget is and ill tell you what I would buy. ------------- Make it loud! |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 1:28am
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theres no budget so to speak it will be a work in progress... but... if i buy a small DMX dimmer or said rope light... and 4 LED PAR cans i should be able to control the lot. LED PAR cans for up lighters and they will be able to colour change/dim and have seperate addresses so i can run them in a bank or "chase" them round the room for yet another effect. i think running a rope light off of some sort of DMX interface wont be to hard. then incorparating the scanners in to should make it quite a show.... what do you think Audio_AL? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 3:03am
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Did I hear 'no budget' ?! haha This is what i've got my eye on... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9MHj1qo9fw Anyways... that should look nice. I think if you are going for more of a club type feel I would put the pars up in the corners and shine them down towards the dance floor. ------------- Make it loud! |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 11:02am
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ok, now this guy uses bars.. i wana do some thing with the same effect but using PAR cans in the four corners of the tent and usng the rope light all the way round for the 360 degree strobe.... and wen the PARs are not chasing or colour changing the dance floor the scnners come in to throw beams of light across everyone with some low light colour washes. ... ok now i understand what a universe is! lol ok got a million and one ideas for the lighting it just getting it al together and making it work. anyone else used and cool effects they like? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 12:33pm
I think it all depends on what LED fixtures you are looking at. Of course the cheap ones won't compare, but some do. Unfortunately, most LED scanners fall into the 'disco tat' category, and that is where they aim them. For under £250 each you could buy a Stairville MHX25 moving head which is roughly comparable to a 150w discharge fixture. I encountered 4 of these at a festival over the summer and was very impressed. Nice smooth movement on everything, pretty flat brightness over the output area, rotating gobos, nice range of colours, etc. Certainly very adequate for your event, and beyond if it takes off for you. I liked them enough that I'll probably be buying some of their bigger brothers, equivalent to a 250w discharge lamp. As for software suggestions, for cheap, you probably will struggle to do better than Chamsys MagicQ (free) on one of their £10 dongles. It's basically the software off their fully fledged consoles, with a few restrictions to give you an incentive to buy their products at some point. But it works fully and well just as the software. But as i said in my last post, it will take some time and effort on your part to learn it, as it can do pretty much anything you want. A cheap touch screen (15 or 17" ELO off ebay for ~£100) transforms it, and makes it very powerful. Once you know that, you could step up to any of their consoles and feel right at home, and even take a show you've done on a memory stick and load it straight onto the hardware. I'll stop, because I'm a fanboy, and people get fed up with hearing it, but lots of people like it for a reason. However, you will need to suspend your thinking that it is running on a laptop, so it must work like a Windows application. If you approach it as you would a dedicated piece of hardware, then you'll get along much quicker. There are other options, such as Freestyler which has a more 'MS Windows' workflow and feel which you may gel better with, but if you want 'pukka lighting desk' then MagicQ is the one. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 4:26pm
| And that's why most major lighting companies worldwide now stock their hardware. Orbital, leftfield, underworld, groove armarda, pendulum, nine inch nails, korn, elbow, chase and status, inxs, even the human league (to name just a few) - all tours with chamsys desks on them. |
Posted By: cravings
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 5:00pm
| is magigQ fairly lightweight software? as in, will an old spec laptop run it fine? |
Posted By: cravings
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 5:05pm
| reading the specs on their site.. it seems very light on pc specs, but they suggest a good graphics card for visualisations... would you use the visualisations a lot? |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 5:35pm
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Can be handy for pre-programming but I use wysiwyg or capture on a second machine for viz. Magic Q runs great even on a dell mini 9. The biggest limiting factor we found is using the 4 dmx ports out of the maxi wing, on big festival rigs, suffers from slowing down, but if you come out of the computer via artnet it's fine. This isn't a limitation of the computer, more of sending 4 universes of data down one usb port |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 10:08pm
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I use a single core Acer Revo mini PC to run mine, and no problems whatsoever. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 06 December 2012 at 11:25pm
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The Avolite Pearl 2000 wasn't even a pentium, it was a Motorola 68340 processor, the Hog 2 was IIRC less than 500 mhz processor, traditionally lighting control has been not very processor heavy. It's designed to run on linux, the big desks certainly are not massively high spec machines |
Posted By: funkyparrot
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 1:53pm
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I know, compared to some of the lighting effects discussed here, what I'm suggesting can't match the brightness of current product, but what about a bit of retro? And if that raises your curiousity level, there's lots more where that came from.
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Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 1:55pm
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... in that case i have a couple of netbooks i could load it on to and give it a whirl then.... nothing wrong with being a fanboy, your always enthusastic about your hardware. its the moment you start slating other hardware is wen it all goes tits up and all hell lets lose on 90+page threads lol ok well being a geek i'll dig out one of my touch screens and hook it up. iv got pc hardware coming out my ears!! £250 for a single moving head doesnt sound toooooo bad. do a bit of overtime at work and buy to of them maybe... not saying moneys no object but i do want it to go with a bang and EVERYONE love a moving head strapped to a speaker stack going nuts!  ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 2:23pm
 ok lads ive got an idea.... (love the italian job- great movie) this is the way im seeing it in my head. nice big party tent and a smaller one off one side so theres room to let lose. not to scale nor are the stacks facing the right way but the way its set up is wat im thinking. four PARs one in each corner (hanging down facing the dance floor or on the floor lighting the walls and ceiling up?) to scanners/moving heads ontop of the stacks and then as i said earlier maybe a single white rope light running the whole way round the top (inside) on a DMX dimmer pack that i can use as a 360degree strobe! (and room lighting for the end of the night when i gotta clear this sh1t up lol)
------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 5:45pm
So an oil, two 3" cassettes and a slide with a spektraflash wheel? I'm a bit of an opti addict. I collect 100b's rather than 250's as I do a lot of recording gigs where fan noise would be an issue. Currently have 10x 100b's, 6x 250's and a pair of 575's. Always on the look out for more bits and pieces. To keep it on track I'd not go with the pars in the corners pointing at the dance floor or you'd loose the dark spaces that beam lights work so well in. I know others will disagree with me but a couple of moon flowers in corners pointed at the dance floor with a bit of haze is quick, easy and effective. You can pick up a second hand pair of Abstract Twister 4's for less than £60. Don't saturate the place with light, darkness is your friend. Did many years of large warehouse raves with just 4 Goldenscans, 4 strobes, some solar 250's and a handful of pars for functional lighting (bars, stairwells, dim light on Dj) |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 7:04pm
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nooooooo..... i think you have misunderstood. i dont intend to use all the lights at the same time. the rope i think im gonna leave out for now too. i want lights i can chase around the room and be dimable. i dont want to just throw light at the dance floor. the scnners would one second then tthe PARs would chase round the room one at a time in a strobe effect. theres gonna be no effect thas just gonna be left on alll the time. the reason for the PARs in each corner is their multi use i dont want to just use them as a wash i want their multi colour fast reaction seperate DMX addresses to be their versatile-ness. i use to qork as a roadie for a moblie dj years ago and he had two 4way dimmer packs and a few "effects on sticks" and i use to manually play with them all night (old skool inteli-lighting lol) and the effest of having the different colours on different channels and using flash buttons on the 4ways proved really effective. i refused to let him just press the sound to light button and it kept me amussed all night. does that make sense? lol ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 7:55pm
If people think the rope lights are a bit tacky, and someone else likes the retro, how about some Arcline? Thinking about selling mine at the moment funnily enough...  Agree with James on the gobo flower suggestions. Twister 4 have great sound to light, and I pretty much started out again with Destroyers, and why I still have 6 of them (and Solars, just like everyone else says, think I bought a load of bits off funky parrot years ago actually) ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:07pm
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Yep, it made sense, it's just I find most led wash fixtures to be too wide for that sort of thing. The link you posted had small cells, so was very effective. Plus with only 4 fixtures and a surround layout it's gonna be very much a set look, sure you can do odds and evens, flash rounds, lefts and rights in lots of colour options, but as led fixtures dont mix colours that well people are still looking at red, green and blue sources. Think in layers, what you have there are only two layers. Add a couple of cheap beam effects in the corners and you have another layer. If run off a desk you can control a pair of twister 4's, for instance if you had the heads doing sweeps in a blue gobo, a chase on the led pars in yellow, then a third layer of the twisters flashing in. I got the fact you wanted to op rather than just leave things on sound to light. Add a couple of strobes for a fourth layer, then maybe consider another specials layer. I'm a big fan of specials, something you might only use only once or a few times. I worked for a Dj who had a big track with a "Let there be light" sample, and I would rig a dozen wide theatre profile lamps around the venue at floor level, pointing in and across the floor and shuttered hard. When the tune dropped and the sample came in I would flood the floor with open white light, and with the right amount of low smoke the effect was one of being stood on a cloud. Only used it once a night, made that moment very special. Gave some people vertigo, often made people fall over. Took half an hour to throw out but oh so effective |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:12pm
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Norty, we should talk arcline. Might be very interested at the right price, and would make it available if you ever wanted to borrow it back |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:12pm
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i do love all help im getting, i really do, but i want to keep it all DMX (no sound to light) i believe using a select choise of lighting i can create some outstanding effects with some very simple patterns and switching between different effects. KISS.. im keeping it simple yet highly effective by having some choise lights and hours and hours creating complex sequences for 45 mins of light display i can then loop for 5-6 hours worth of lighting. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:17pm
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Twister 4's are controllable by DMX.... |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:21pm
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the strobes i wouldnt need surly if i can make the PARs strobe? im really loving moving heads right now as they have gobos colours and will wizz arounf like a nutter wen prompted.... i thoung they where two very effective layers with alot of versitility. do you think i'd need some sort of lazer then for a third layer? i dont want to clutter the place with lights if i can find one light that does 2 or 3 jobs... again thanks for the input so far guys... i am learning. what about a mirror ball in the ceiling that as a third (or forth) effect that the movong heads what sop on and light the room with while cycling through colours? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:43pm
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An led strobe does not yet have the "ping" of a proper strobe, although I have been playing with the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plxHdMfNzV4" rel="nofollow - SGM X5-C which is getting there. Lasers are best used as a specials layer, often when doing bands will only use them for one or two songs a set, for high impact. Mirror balls - another layer but often work out to be cheesy - the video doesn't do it justice but we used them behind the band in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNmvzRFS1Ag&playnext=1&list=PL94587C81CA628535&feature=results_video" rel="nofollow - this video (which features some laser action by Ryan of ER lasers) you can see them nearer the end. Don't just throw it up in the middle of the tent, try to use it in a different and interesting way. The photo below might illustrate it better, click on it for a bigger view http://img203.imageshack.us/i/img2300ke.jpg/" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 8:48pm
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Oh and by the way that video was nearing the end of the set so all the big specials were pulled out! |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:06pm
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yeah i think the mirror ball might be a no-goits a strate rectangle room so not much i can do really. smoke machine will be a must. are there any cheaper DMX lazers as the ones i keep finding are over £200... i dont mind going to near a ton but two bills is a little over the top as im looking at spending nearly a monkey on a pair of moving heads anyway and the PARs are gonna set me back about 120-150 aswell... i dont mind spending the £££ but i have to limit it somewhere. i have some cheap DMX "disco" lights.. i'll go see what they are to see if i can add a layer with one of those... i remember one of them is called a mushroom. quite nice at house parties. maybe suspend that in the centre as it spins and wot-not to and it runs on DMX as well. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:07pm
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by the way..... wicked display you did there! ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:25pm
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Can't take the credit for it, I'm a humble dimmer man if truth be told. LD was Jonny Gaskell (Groove Armada, Orbital, Inxs, Verve, etc) I put lighting rigs up and make them work, most of the time other people flash them. I do design and flash festival rigs if not touring with a band throughout the summer. There was a deep blue laser made by Lanta called Saphhire that retailed for about £250, I've been after one for the Mrs, it had dmx control and was very different to a stock red/green unit. Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEc6GHk1R1Q" rel="nofollow - here You can find them on ebay for about the £150 mark, for a cheap unit it was pretty good. Don't confuse it for the twinkle laser, a very different kettle of fish |
Posted By: Audio_AL
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:29pm
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I agree with you James Tengo. LEDs don't pack the punch of xenon/proper strobes but they can do washes, chases, multi-color, dim, etc. IMO those pros out-weigh the con of less intensity in the given situation. That is a darn nice light rig there! What kind of lasers are those and what is all that being controlled by? ------------- Make it loud! |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:33pm
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The reason why I mentioned the sound to light on the Twister 4 was that you WILL end up wanting to do a gig where you just throw up a couple of lights in master slave and get on with partying, or go and do another job. As a dry hire set they'll pay off quite quickly. Think about versatility in everything you buy. James: the Arcline is the 0.8m blue stuff. 8 working lengths and 8 half working or in need of attention. And an as new 'new old stock' AL100 with 20m 4 core cable. Drop me a PM if you want more info. I also know someone who has recently sourced all the spares for the tubes. He dropped me a PM as he knew I had some 'projects' ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 9:57pm
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lanta-Quasar-Sapphire-Blue-Twinkle-Laser-Bright-Blue-450mW-Laser-Star-Cluster-/310418897698?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item4846687b22&_uhb=1 so this being the twinkle one we dont want? ...for your Mrs? your chick does lighting rigs too? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 10:16pm
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Yep that's the rubbish twinkle one. Her indoors isn't a lampy, she just loves lasers, and so I thought I'd buy "her" one, with the benefit of being able to borrow it every now and again The Groove tour was run off Pangolin, not sure which software or the model of lasers used, check out ER's website http://www.er-productions.com/index/" rel="nofollow - here for an idea of what kit they stock. I'm going to be seeing the guys from there next week so could ask them then |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 10:34pm
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.... oooooh she like trace. gotya ok, well laser might have to put off for a while then i have 18months so will prob end up with one any way. LED PAR 56s, any brands to avoid? im gonna need 4 and want to buy them in one hit january of 2013. any brand you guys trust? as soon as they turn up and i get a USB DMX thingie im gonna start teaching myself how to programme them and see what i can really do... the moving heads will have to wait to april'ish. as its the wifes 40th and we're going to poland. and i still have to buy some BMS bass drivers for the THAM15s im gonna build. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 10:48pm
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The Stairville 3w par56 are really good value at ~£65 each. They are bright enough to work as strobes too. Personally I'd avoid the very cheap 5mm led ones as they don't really cut it for output. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 December 2012 at 11:01pm
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good man! starville it is.. these ones? http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_par56_pro_24x3w_black_rgb.htm if so i can start ordering those up in january and get cracking on that side of the lighting rig. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 12:40am
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I agree with Norty.. 5mm led cans are for disco daves .. or for wall washes or truss lighting .. those stairville ones look ok for the price.. how reliable are they norty? btw what colour arcline have you got? im after orange and red.. someone on here was selling some ages ago and not heard a word from them ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 12:48am
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I've got the same cans but they're the 1w LEDs. They're basically the same but they updated the LEDs for the same price. Only thing I'd do is put a drop of thread lock on the cable gland inside through one of the vents. 2 of 6 of mine have come loose. Metal is thin and flexible but what do you expect for the money. Was that Rich Porrito with the Arcline? Mine is he blue. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 12:51am
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those will be the PARs i buy then. job done. ... was thinking about all the DMX cable im gonna need and then thought f**k me, iv gotta roun power everywhere for this lot. i can see me sitting up to the small hours making 5m runs of mains cables... and 10m runs... plugging them all into a big surge protector... running it all back to the house. ..then my laptops... amps....... oh! UV lights should i/shoudnt i? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 12:54am
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good call on the locktight!... it'll be the 1st thing i do wen i get them. see its the little tips like that i like. should i leave all the lighting on 13a plugs or convert them to powercons? are powercons "slight rain" proof?... ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 1:20am
| Led, splash out on 16a t lines, then you can link without need for splitters. With a current draw of circa <1a you can link loads of them in a chain. Uv is great only if you have something uv active to shine it at, otherwise is just for pinging teeth and white trainers, not that you'd find me in them. Adam Norty I sent you a pm, not sure if you got it, but Orbital Tuesday at the Brighton Dome guestlist if you want it |
Posted By: DevonRocks
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 2:03am
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Not sure if you've got a controller yet... But I have Das Light DVC3 128 standalone for sale if your interested.. Brand new.. Ed ------------- http://www.avsevents.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.avsevents.co.uk |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 2:13am
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thank you but thas a little bit out my current price range and i dont start buying hardware til the new year (xmas is murder!) but if you still have it feb next year i'll PM you ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 4:27am
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Yes got the PM James, had guests tonight and much Jäger was drunk (hic) Agree on the t lines, the nice black ones work out at £10 each if you buy 10 or more from Essential Supplies. CPC do their own brand of DMX cable which are a nice balance between cost and durability. I think I've only broken 1 to date. I try and do everything on fee form connectors and have short jumpers to go from/to 13a as required. It's easier and more cost effective to get all your cable stock on a common connector rather than mix different sorts. Buy a reel of 1.5mm HO7 and 15 of each male/female and make up 10m and 5m lengths. You'll use it for years. With LED and low power lighting you just need the distribution rather than the amp capacity. (Await to be shot down for that one) I actually have a mixture of 1.5, 2.5 and 4mm depending on how it's being used. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 9:28am
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ok cheers fella... i'll see if i can order up a reel of cable is there any chance you could link me to the exact male/female connectors so i can get the correct ones and not some cheap tat. and yeah i know its all low wattage LED, but if i buy more PARs in the future they will all be the same so 1.5mm will be perfect as the losses are minimal. cheers again ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 1:08pm
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http://essentialsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Midnight_Series_.html" rel="nofollow - http://essentialsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Midnight_Series_.html This is all their black stuff. 16A t-lines, plugs and sockets. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 1:19pm
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really? are you suggesting putting a cee form that big on the end of a can? its rather large isnt it?.. dont get me wrong i see where your going with having all the connections the same through out, but they look huge!! lol ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 2:38pm
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http://www.thomann.de/gb/showtec_phantom_25_led_spot.htm
these look interesting.... seem very bright and very small for what they are/do. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: Goodvibetribe
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 3:09pm
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If You dont want to use Cee Forms, I Put IEC connectors on my LED Pars. That said, they are more for disco/small event stuff. If i went large scale i would use Cee form purely due to the fact they are considered industry standard and accepted Like Norty said. If the Pars are for personal use, and considering the amount you want to use 'id use IEC. Nothing wrong with it, Much more compact, lots of distro options (you can also get IEC T connectors) and cheaper.
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Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 4:07pm
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think i'll go with the iec ones 1st.... as im not sure if im gonna be using these for other stuff. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 8:09pm
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Stick to cee-forms mini , it means all you power leads will be the same, so iseal for other things as well as lighting .. where abouts in london are you ?
Norty .. i cant remember who was selling them.. . but that name looks familiar .. .. i think i shall be investing in a few of those cans after xmas.. gives me a few more flight cases to build ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 8:14pm
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south east near greenwich.... ish... lol good point, i'll wait til they turn up and build a box on wheels... that will fit through a door with any luck lol------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 8:28pm
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Well if you get stuck for lights any time, give me a shout.. im just the other side of the water ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 9:02pm
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i wouldnt mind coming to see what you have.... maybe have a little play, if that would be ok with you ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 10:37pm
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its all in a lockup bud.. no power, apart from the bulkhead light .. and ive already been bollocked for running a tap off it lol ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 11:10pm
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lol...fair play... i just want something to play with to see if i like it or want one. i wana play with another kids toys so i know what to ask santa for ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 29 March 2013 at 10:49pm
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4 months on.... lol so i now have 2x X10 tops (from Tony Wilkes) 2x XT800 amps (off two members on here..t0m and... cant remember the other) 1x 6004 matrix amp (4x1200 and at quite a good price i believe) 4x cubo15s (from TMAL) ..just need a good deal on 4x kappa LF pros and im set for sound ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: amlu
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 12:55pm
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i have my lighting rig, used mainly for raves and psychedelic trance sessions there is 6x acme led scanners 4x acme 100w scanners couple of lasers 1x acme miracled, equinox krypton, acme littled , acme supernova run them sound to light, cant be bothered controlling them all night all gear is kind of lightweight easy to rig it up in some weird places :) |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 1:09pm
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.. i have a cheap a$$ smoke machine and an NJD 250w discharge thing some one on here suggested. fantastic little beast! and its an old skool jack DMX english built one next up are the kappas and then near the end of this year 4 LED par-cans. i do really want to run it all DMX as i do like control over the mood of the lighting (as simple as it is) amlu... i'll have a look into some of those lights... i think scanners/moving head(s) will be my next move. cheers for looking through the thread ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 3:20pm
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ok boys and girls... the sound system is getting tested at a mate party on the 21st of april. i only have a active 2way crossover (citronic) its gonna cover about 300 people (give or take) its in a hall/club about 30m deep and 20m across half of thats the dance floor and the DJ gets the far end of the room. do i stack my subs 2 a side or all four in a line down the front? the X10s will be on sticks about 4m aprt (ish).... it should be R&B/hip-hop and dance music all night... any advice to set up is welcome ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 4:15pm
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http://www.chauvetlighting.com/colorband-pix.html" rel="nofollow - These have impressed me lately, when used pointing at the crowd, were pretty cheap and apart from the menu and nav buttons pretty well built. We've replaced 6 James Thomas pixeline 1044's with these in the Underworld rig (lighter, cheaper to ship) and they rock in the role we use them for, kind of the effect you've been looking at. You can just about see them at 1.34 in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHtmAQADYYg" rel="nofollow - this video in front of the kit, punters get in the way a bit |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 4:19pm
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ZbNyB0ezc" rel="nofollow - This video shows pixeline in comparison at about 2.44, much bigger stage but less output in comparison. Granted one is 7 years further down the line in led tech |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:09pm
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ok cool..... so what model am i looking for? i like the look of them and i dont think im reading your post rite as i cant figure the model out... its prob me just being thick. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:16pm
| If you want an led batten like in the video you posted way back, then the Colourband pix gets my vote. Very bright, nicely mixed colours, better than chucking an LED can in each corner, gives you more to play with |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:29pm
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nice... but a little out of my price bracket fella... the cans are only 65 each! i still have over a year to get the lights so that may change lol plus with the cans i can spread them around where for one baton i can only get one light source  dont get me wrong, would prob be far far better but i can chase the light around the room my way. the idea i my console will be off to one side, i dont want to be lit or a source of attention. so it would be more like a 360degree "show" in the tent ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:36pm
| I was thinking one in each corner in a vertical orentation, so you could still get your round the room effects, but with 10 cells in each batten you could do so much more than you could with just a single large cell. I guess they are cheap to me, your budget is quite small |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:37pm
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you say that... they do a mini for 160.... which isnt toooo bad if i buy pairs over time. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:39pm
| I don't think we paid £160 each for the full size versions, we did buy a metric fuckload of them however |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:43pm
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no i mean they sell a six cell version, a "mini", for 160 each.. but i cant buy in bulk and being english you should be buying in an imperial fuckload lol
http://www.jpleisure.co.uk/item99554.htm?gclid=CI7i16eypbYCFXHLtAoddkEAOA" rel="nofollow - http://www.jpleisure.co.uk/item99554.htm?gclid=CI7i16eypbYCFXHLtAoddkEAOA ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:50pm
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Stairville have recently released an 8 element 10mm led bar for under £70 each. I suspect its the same as the Showtec LED bar 8, just a bit cheaper. I've got 8 arriving next week. If you buy a few they're nearer £60 each. ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 9:57pm
| http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_bar_2408_rgb_dmx_30.htm?sid=f8306199802212842dde83def656f394" rel="nofollow - This one? |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 10:13pm
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That's it, the 240/8. They claim to have had them since January but I've been looking for a few months and only spotted them in the last week or so. I even got Ariba bags for the price of the Stairville ones (after already getting discount on the bundle!) James, are you still interested in my scans when you get back in the country? ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 10:26pm
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i was told the whole 10mm LED thing wasnt as good as the 1w/3w LEDs.. hence the stairville par-cans im lookin at or are bars different? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 10:31pm
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Depends what you want to do with them. If you're viewing from the front with a bar, 10mm will give an awful lot of glare to the eyes. 1W and 3W will be superior for lighting things. 4 really bright bars are not as good as twice the amount of less bright bars when doing pixel mapped effects IMHO In a Parcan I wouldn't use 10mm any more ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 10:42pm
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well in all honesty the bars will be hung from each corner in this instance or in the floor corners facing up to light the corners up so can the 10mm bars do both well? the cans are compact and small footprint... but loving the idea of mapping for future use. although im now thinking mapping might just be a pipe dream. i still love the idea of the bars would two cans and two bars work well together? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: James Tengo
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 10:46pm
| We have a load of the 10mm 3 cell units doing pixel map stuff in an install, I wouldn't buy them now personally, I prefer a blended source over seperate RGB any day. Even if that means less units for the money. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 30 March 2013 at 11:01pm
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ok 9 times out of 10 they will be used for flood/wash i just like the idea of the slim line bars... so im waying up which would would make more sense the cans or the bars... ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 August 2013 at 10:07pm
to dig up an old thread... well, a slow progressing one anyway. after lots of looks, reading and pissing about... HERE THEY ARE!! i wanted some spectacular lighting for this 18th birthday next year (my daughters, long read by the way) and this is the fruit of said debating. 2x iSolutions iMove 5S (250w HID Ver.) and i must say im verypleased with the buy. was from ebay and by luck in reading and i was in windsor for the last few days so was 15mins up the road. not toooo sure how much they should cost but i got them for almost pennies!!!!!!!!!! if anyone can chime in on second hand value i'd like to know how much i really did save the pic was from my hotel... just gotta learn a wee bit of DMX and hopefully should be on the road to success!! .. oh and bought a LED par 36 for a tenner of the bay.. 10mm LED jobbies. 4ch DMX and its quite bright and not to bad for a little bit of a gamble. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 07 August 2013 at 11:12pm
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Imove 5s only did 250w halogen or 150w HID aka acme spot knight .. ebay price usualy 100 -125 each ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 07 August 2013 at 11:36pm
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iment the 24v 250 one... got a little ahead of myself there. i cant find them on the bay for less then 400 a pair. would love another pair but fear will never touch the price i paid for them. still something new to learn. any one up for teaching a little bit of DMX control, laptop stylee? i have the usb-dmx box and sofeware just finding it hard to get me head around it all. i mean the loading/creating profiles and the like. abox with sliders and a few buttons and im away but i think iv just come across something on a pc i genuinley need help with. cheers peeps ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 12:21am
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i doubt they will sell for £400 a pair.. you can pick up robe 160xt's for that money and they are far superior DMX is easy bud.. just takes a bit of time ------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 10:38am
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i know but its the software thats a bit overwhelming... and with the little bits of lighting i do have iv ONLY just realised i have no DMX leads lol lol... back to ebay it is then... lol thats just it, they do sell for that sort of money would be nice to pick up a second pair for the 150 (yes for the pair not each) i paid for these badboyz!.my plan is slowly coming together now.. got me sound rig... 90% of the lighting bought (anything else with just be bells and whitles... not literally) early next year will be the marquee!! Johnny, do you ever have a little time to spare a fella?... just want experience from some one whos done a few light displays. ya' know "tips and tricks" sort of thing? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: norty303
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 12:05pm
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I was going to say the most I'd pay for a single one of those is £100. But then there are better fixtures around for that sort of money. The only halogen fixture I'd buy these days is a Solar 250 ------------- My laser stuff: http://www.facebook.com/SubsonicSystems" rel="nofollow - Frikkin Lasers |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 12:27pm
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it was more the fact they would be a matching set as i already have two! ..saying that 2x 1Moves and 2x XXXXX wouldnt be two bad as they are two matching sets... who makes the Solar 250's? ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: JohnnyPyro
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 6:00pm
Busy time for me at mo mini (sorry shit with names)  in plymouth next week for the british firework championship .. as well as the festival of fireworks plus all the crap inbetween .. and then .. the run up to the mental season .. if i do get a spare day i'll give you a shout------------- Pyrotechnics... its not rocket science, well.... actually it is !! :o) Powered by MC2 & XTA |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 August 2013 at 11:52pm
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mucho thanko's fella. cheers ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |