Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

WHICH LIGHTING?!


Rik (ESA)
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi - I'm in a generic 4 piece covers band playing weddings, pubs, functions... You know the score. We're looking to purchase our own lighting now - we have the rigging (2 stands for 4 lights with a cross rig between them for a banner), but are at a complete loss with where to start. Doesn't need to be anything fancy (I.e. Moving heads...) but shouldn't be soooo budget that we need to replace within a year.

Suggestions if you please!

Cheers
Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recommend that you go for LED lighting rather than traditional par can lighting. It's more flexible (a single light can provide multiple colours, unlike a traditional par can with a bulb and coloured filter), requires less power and produces significantly less heat. LED lights usually have built in programmes so you can run them without a controller in standalone or master/slave mode or they can be easily operated using a DMX controller. Different manufacturers produce lights that run in 4, 6 or 7 channel mode so if you want to invest in a DMX controller then get one that can that can cope with this.

LEDJ Q Colours are great for providing a wash effect. Two of these will light up a decent size stage and you can add other lights as you wish to provide colour contrast. I specced and run the lights for my band and we use 2 LEDJ Q Colours plus 7 LEDJ Slimline 7Q5's for contrast. I run these all from a Transcension LED Master 64 controller.

One thing that has worked well is that we have 3 white lights always on the vocals, guitar and bass. It makes it easy to see what you are doing, just as importantly, ensures that the audience can see the performers clearly regardless of the colour stage wash.

Hope this helps but feel free to drop me a PM if you have any other questions

Regards

Gaz

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I started off with a parbar system. The usual thing with four LED par cans on a stand with a footswitch. The plus is they look good the light level is about right for a pub band and they are quick and easy to set up. the munus is they aren't stable enough on the stand to take a shove from a drunk, so the places you can use them are limited unless you have them on stage, which is more clutter. It's often hard to find the right spot for them, at the side they stop you from seeing the rest of the band and from behind they leave you in shadow as far as the audience is concerned. The pre programmed flashing or fades are all a bit too fast for a band.

Since then I've acquired an ADJ ultrabar 12 [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iXdQjxtNmg"]https://www.youtube....h?v=9iXdQjxtNmg[/url] this sits behind the drums uplighting the wall and is pretty stunning, I'm going to mix that in with a couple of colour washes and some white as described above as soon as funds allow, these will ensure we can be seen, see what we need on stage and give some movement whist taking up minimal space. I'll use the Parbar on the audience when space allows.

The Led lighting is moving on apace, prices are tumbling and we've moved from dozens of 5mm Leds to fewer 10mm then Tri Leds and now COB Leds, with an increase in brightness and colour intensity each time. The tech is improving fast so it might be worth hanging on whilst you research your needs.

Edited by Phil Starr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Going through this too at the moment. I've got 4 ledj 7Q5s that will probably be enough for our pub rock needs. Nicely made units that can go on bars or on the floor.

I found the pre-programs to spend too much time in the lighter/pastel colours so have just dipped my toe into DMX with a basic unit. It's starting to make a bit more sense and does mean that you can have pretty much whatever you want colour wise etc. So I've now got a few simple chases (sequences) that I've built myself and that I can speed up/slow down or set to react to the music.they can either fade in and out or change quickly too.
Evidently the software route is easier still to control but not sure I want/know enough to start looking at that just yet.

I've also done a mad red and white strobey bit for a heavy number in the set and evidently it looks pretty good - think we might all pass out if I used it too often though...

Beware though, I have discovered lights GAS...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am just looking to get some lights for our band too.
I have no idea where to start. . . .

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320-10mm-LED-RGB-DJ-WASH-BAR-LIGHT-DMX512-EFFECTS-/231687582233?hash=item35f1a7f219#ht_25wt_1399"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320-10mm-LED-RGB-DJ-WASH-BAR-LIGHT-DMX512-EFFECTS-/231687582233?hash=item35f1a7f219#ht_25wt_1399[/url]

Something like that? To face back at the band? Then some spots to face outwards?

I've been in plenty of bands before with lights, but paid absolutely no attention to them what so ever.

I really have no clue, so all help is appreciated.

Can start my own thread if needed?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a couple of chauvet mini 4 bars,and 4 led par cans. I set 2 par cans on the floor to up light the singers, 2 pars on sound to light to light up the kit. 1 bar on a wash to light the stage and another bar sound to light to light up the dancefloor. Just bought one of these too http://www.amazon.co.uk/Denshine-TM-Lighting-Changing-Ballroom/dp/B00P66CDB2/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1442942304&sr=8-13&keywords=Magic+crystal+ball+light

All looks good and if you buy 2nd hand doesn't cost the earth.
Here's a video of it all:http://youtu.be/d5NSDNXuIec

The lights aren't quite right and I've since changed some settings. But you get the idea.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Just moved over to LED from standard pars.

Got 8 of these.

[url="http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Beamz-FlatPAR-154x-RGBW-LED-PAR-Spotlight_i17208.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQjwqNiwBRDnq93MioaqtKQBEiQAb7Ezn_bhiKuHjoP2xzLmtYp3FJBWj44GNL20rQHyZXf_GYMaAshg8P8HAQ"]http://www.hifi-towe..._GYMaAshg8P8HAQ[/url]

[url="http://s970.photobucket.com/user/gelfin5959/media/Beamz_zps54bg2rio.jpg.html"][/url]

Easily found on the web not just Hi Fi Tower.

Apart from the decent lighting effect there are some other benefits. Power wise they can be daisy chained with iec male / female extension leads, so no need for a psu for each lamp.
Simple set up with daisy chain of xlr DMX leads and first as master rest set as slaves and use some simple program functions or sound to light.
You could have a master with IR control. Not that easy when playing but can be used to set scenes chases etc.

Best way with a DMX controller. I use a Chauvet Obey 70.

[url="http://s970.photobucket.com/user/gelfin5959/media/OBEY70_zpsuahtghay.jpg.html"][/url]

Spend a little time programming and you can have set scenes / washes. Or if more adventurous set the scenes as chases which loop and can be set for speed of chase and speed of wash change.

The Obey 70 can control up to 12 fixtures, so other DMX lights can be incorporated into the show.

Edited by gelfin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1442847046' post='2869949']
I am just looking to get some lights for our band too.
I have no idea where to start. . . .

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320-10mm-LED-RGB-DJ-WASH-BAR-LIGHT-DMX512-EFFECTS-/231687582233?hash=item35f1a7f219#ht_25wt_1399"]http://www.ebay.co.u...19#ht_25wt_1399[/url]

Something like that? To face back at the band? Then some spots to face outwards?

I've been in plenty of bands before with lights, but paid absolutely no attention to them what so ever.

I really have no clue, so all help is appreciated.

Can start my own thread if needed?
[/quote]

Give me a shout if you want to see them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...