Question/Suggestions about lighting controllers.....

[JessieJustice]

Hello,

I found your website while searching google. I've noticed this is more for Theater Productions, but hopefully SOMEONE could help me.

I recently just started doing lights for my friends band. Right now, we are using 6 flood lights and a American DJ Mega Flash strobe. All 6 flood lights are plugged into a relay pack(Basically a switchable power strip) and then this is connected to a Chauvet SF-9005 Timing Pad.

All 6 flood lights work fine. We turn the switched on and the lights come on immediately. The strobe light however, does not. After jamming down the switch button several times and holding it, it will come on.

At first, I thought that the replay pack was overloaded, I unplugged all other lights and it still doesnt work correctly. Then I thought theres something wrong with the strobe. I plugged the strobe directly into a wall socket and it turned on instantly.

I read online a bit, and they told me to run the strobe through a DMX port thats on the back. Problem with this is, that the built-in strobe controller on the Chauvet Switch doesn't have a DMX output or input. So I went out and bought a XLR to 1/4 inch port since the Timing Pad has a 1/4 inch port. I noticed that the 1/4 inch says "MONO STROBE". Do I need to get a mono strobe?

After doing this, the stroke still doesnt work.

So I was wondering, is there a DMX address I need to enter? I'm very new to this so I don't know how to do it.

So basically, I don't know if theres any other options to get around this and make it work correctly. Do I need to purchase a new light controller or DMX Controller? I was reading that the DMX controller will not work with the flood lights since all they have is 3-prong power plug ins. Do I need to get a different cable? Should I purchase a new MONO strobe? Let me know the most cost effective way to solve this issue.

My friends band has one of its biggest shows they have played this Friday. Theres rumors that Rise records as well as a few others are showing up, so a working light system would give them a better chance at a record deal! Let me know about your ideas!

[shiben]

Ok, so the first thing is, XLR to 1/4 inch mono plug wont work, because DMX has 3 conductors that need to be connected. My guess is that its for a specific strobe light, and a specific strobe protocol. As for the flood lights, you are correct, they dont run off of DMX. However, they can be controlled via a DMX controllable dimmer, which goes between the wall and the floodlight. They can be had for as low as 50 bucks or so, and you would control them with some sort of DMX board. I believe that Elation sells one through American DJ for about 200 bucks, with 2 dimmer packs, a controller, and all the cables you need to get set up. Come to think of it, your "relay pack" might actually be some form of dimmer, and the timing pad is just a way of controlling that through a non-DMX protocol. Now, with the discussion of making a really cool show, how cool do you want it to be and how much do you want to spend on it? Also, what type of venue do you guys regularly play in?

[JessieJustice]

Basically, we want the most awesome show around.

We are in the process of buying two fog machines and a bubble machine, so we need something we can hook those up to also.

We play everything. Small clubs that sell out around 400 people, and huge venues like the Showbox SoDo that sell out at 2200. The show on Friday is at the SoDo so we have a big stage to cover.

[gafftaper]

You should be looking into some sort of DMX controller. As has been said there are some entry level DJ options made by Chauvet and Elation. Another option would be to go with a laptop computer, Champsys MagicQ, and an Enttec DMX USB PRO dongle. I've you've got the laptop the software is free and the dongle is about $175.

Let me also suggest you look at getting some "Shoebox dimmers" like the Elation Cyberpack or the Chauvet DMX4 both cost about $200. From their expand your rig by buying a bunch of cheap Par Cans... look for them used on E-bay, craigs list, pawn shops. You could also look at picking up some cheap LED Par's... around $100-$150 each. They cost more but don't require the dimmer pack. Start building your inventory toward something greater by making the switch to DMX control.

In Seattle go down to PNTA or Hollywood lights (south SODO area only a few blocks apart) to get some price quotes. You also might want to call CB member BillESC. No direct sales is allowed here on CB so you have to contact him. He's a dealer who carries Elation, Chauvet, American DJ, and Chinese options. He's knows a lot about getting the most from low priced options and won't rip you off.

[shiben]

Also, bill has a lot of "mid range" LED stuff as well, thats lower priced than the big boys in LED tech, but still higher quality than ADJ stuff. I think for you guys some LED PARs would be a good thing to start with, because it gives you several color washes, and depending on the device, a passable strobe feature. Once you have a couple of color washes down, you probably want to start looking into low-level moving lights, such as MAC250s. These will let you throw textures into the air, the audience, and onto the band, but will start running you a lot more money (a MAC250 on ebay costs around 3300 bucks, and the lamps cost around 200 or so). Also, your controller would need upgrading, which is why MagicQ is probably a good option in that regard. In addition, these need maintenance, so you would probably want to rent these for bigger shows only.

[Les]

Originally Posted by shiben

a MAC250 on ebay costs around 33000 bucks, and the lamps cost around 200 or so)

I'm assuming that this is a typo, otherwise those are some expensive fixtures

Actually, you could probably find used Mac250's in the neighborhood of $2000-3000 but that is still a lot of money.

[shiben]

Yes, my bad. Editing now. I searched ebay, and 3k is about what you can expect to pay for them. However, they are considered by the people I know who have them to be the best low-end ML out there. Now for 33k, you could probably get a showgun or something cool like that...

[TimMiller]

for around 50-60k you can get 2 DL3's oh ya and the controller will run around other 18-40k depending upon prefrence.

FYI, LIGHTING IS A VERY ADDICTIVE DRUG!!!!!!!!!!!! AND ITS LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!