EBS_freak Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Looking into getting a hazer primarily - cost aside, any body got any in-depth information about them. I guess the primary concerns are not setting off fire alarms (which smoke machines do a lot more readily than hazers) and a good coverage without loud operating volumes. MVS has currently got my interest... what are you guys running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 We run a smoke machine, smallish, cost about 30 quid I think. We only really want it to enhance the lights to be honest, not fill the stage with a smoke effect. Has set the odd fire alarm off in the past but generally it doesn't. Dissapites quite quickly though. Don't really know anything about hazers I'm afraid. Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 (edited) We use a Hazer - it's loads more useable and effective than a smoky. Pretty good in smoke monitor equipped venues although it will set them off if you go nuts with it. It's pretty essential to get a variable one - ours has a good remote that you can set to constant or timed output and also alter the intensity of the haze. That's what makes it so useable..... And it makes a huge difference to the lights and lasers. Ours is a Beamz H1500 from Electromarket. (We had a smaller Kam one before but it was rubbish and kept conking out) Here's a little clip in a smoke alarm equipped pub https://youtu.be/CVYY7eCcH3s Edited December 15, 2016 by Mudpup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 [quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1481794603' post='3195139'] We use a Hazer - it's loads more useable and effective than a smoky. Pretty good in smoke monitor equipped venues although it will set them off if you go nuts with it. It's pretty essential to get a variable one - ours has a good remote that you can set to constant or timed output and also alter the intensity of the haze. That's what makes it so useable..... And it makes a huge difference to the lights and lasers. Ours is a Beamz H1500 from Electromarket. (We had a smaller Kam one before but it was rubbish and kept conking out) Here's a little clip in a smoke alarm equipped pub https://youtu.be/CVYY7eCcH3s [/quote] Looks great. Do you know what lights they are at the back pointing down on drummer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 (edited) [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1481931032' post='3196448'] Looks great. Do you know what lights they are at the back pointing down on drummer? [/quote] Yep, we use 2 x American DJ Sweeper Beam Quads [url="https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/led-bar/american-dj-sweeper-beam-quad-rgbw-led-bar?gclid=CL2MsMbh-tACFUWfGwodStoMQA"]https://www.bax-shop...CFUWfGwodStoMQA[/url] on stands (one each side) at the back and also a twin pack of AM DJ VBar Pak [url="https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/led-bar/american-dj-vbar-pak-led-bar-kit?gclid=CLWS_Zzh-tACFQrjGwodfMEJhg"]https://www.bax-shop...CFQrjGwodfMEJhg[/url] on the front floor as uplighters. The Quads are set on an internal program to rotate and the VBars are set on a slow colour change fade. We experimented with a DMX controller for a while but couldn't be arsed with the faffing about programming them - this is just a case of link them together and switch them on. They come with remotes so you can mess about with them a bit changing programs during the set. The good thing about them all is that they give the effect of lots of lights but its only actually 4 units so nice and easy to set up/break down and very few cables to trip over. Its just 4 power leads and 2 DMX cables for the whole lot. The cash for 2 gigs paid for the Quads and i reckon we've got a load of better gigs because of them. The VBar's are just a downright bargain - think we paid about £120 the pair in a sale last year but they've gone up a bit now. Edited December 17, 2016 by Mudpup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 [quote name='Les' timestamp='1481762624' post='3195011'] We run a smoke machine, smallish, cost about 30 quid I think. We only really want it to enhance the lights to be honest, not fill the stage with a smoke effect. Has set the odd fire alarm off in the past but generally it doesn't. Dissapites quite quickly though. Don't really know anything about hazers I'm afraid. Les [/quote] We have had a couple of venues stipulate that we MUST NOT use a smoke machine, I suspect trying to explain the difference between a Hazer and Fog would have been fruitless too! Our fogger that the drummer owns is also so old and roadworn that it probably puts smoke out without the need for any fog juice,it has been retired off along with the stage lights they made in the back of the van on the way to a reggae gig in the 80's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 [quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1481961876' post='3196530'] Yep, we use 2 x American DJ Sweeper Beam Quads [url="https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/led-bar/american-dj-sweeper-beam-quad-rgbw-led-bar?gclid=CL2MsMbh-tACFUWfGwodStoMQA"]https://www.bax-shop...CFUWfGwodStoMQA[/url] on stands (one each side) at the back and also a twin pack of AM DJ VBar Pak [url="https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/led-bar/american-dj-vbar-pak-led-bar-kit?gclid=CLWS_Zzh-tACFQrjGwodfMEJhg"]https://www.bax-shop...CFQrjGwodfMEJhg[/url] on the front floor as uplighters. The Quads are set on an internal program to rotate and the VBars are set on a slow colour change fade. We experimented with a DMX controller for a while but couldn't be arsed with the faffing about programming them - this is just a case of link them together and switch them on. They come with remotes so you can mess about with them a bit changing programs during the set. The good thing about them all is that they give the effect of lots of lights but its only actually 4 units so nice and easy to set up/break down and very few cables to trip over. Its just 4 power leads and 2 DMX cables for the whole lot. The cash for 2 gigs paid for the Quads and i reckon we've got a load of better gigs because of them. The VBar's are just a downright bargain - think we paid about £120 the pair in a sale last year but they've gone up a bit now. [/quote] Great. Thanks for that. Will look into them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 At our gig last week I had a guy vaping right by me so had a haze effect for free 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazhowe Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 (edited) I've used both and prefer smoke as (IME) it provides a slightly different effect as you can see the smoke swirling in the lighting beams, whereas the haze helps define the lighting beams without this effect. What type of effect are you looking for? The other important point to consider are the control options. I've found programmed settings that work in one venue can result in too much effect in a smaller venue with less ventilation. I'm currently using a Martin Magnum 1200 smoke machine which has the option of dmx, programmed or semi-manual control. The latter setting works best for me. As for alarms, I've set them off occasionally with both smoke and haze and there are various contributing factors that cause this, e.g. Output level/frequency, density of fluid, venue conditions. I always think it's worth spending as much as you can afford to get something that is well built and easy to operate and the MVR looks like it would do the job if you decide haze is what you want. I bought a relatively cheap hazer (less than £200) and had lots of problems with it. IME the cheaper kit (smoke and haze) often doesn't have the control features that make it easy to operate in real world gig situations. Gaz Edited December 17, 2016 by gazhowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 We had a practice session on Wednesday in the theatre we played yesterday and used the smoke machine from their store (our works do so know all the people). It's been used loads of times but we managed to set the alarm off with a couple of blasts. It has happened once before and no one has any clue as to why it's ok most of the time but always. We decided not to use it yesterday for obvious reasons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 Our smoke machine Promblem solving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Not enough fog Les.... I don't wanna see yer pal in a vest 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Nice effect though!!! As said above, it depends what effect you are after. If you just want to see the beams, then a hazer is definitely the way to go, you also don't get the big patches that the band can't see through that you have to wait to dissipate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 (edited) We have the le maitre MVS and it's a really really good bit of kit. Not cheap by any means but gives a very even classy effect. We use it set to very low density as we're after fine atmospheric haze like you'd expect in a theatre not a really heavy swirly effect like you'd expect in a pub. Can definitely recommend, Le maitre stuff is quality. Edited December 19, 2016 by mrtcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Haze will hang in the air better than smoke and give you better results with your lighting in terms of picking out beams etc. You're probably stuck if you're in a pub, but in your typical function venue, it's often possible to have the fire alarms isolated for the room for the duration of the event. Best bet is to grab the duty manager and have a word, in most busy wedding/conference venues it's not an unusual request for them and most places will be able to accommodate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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