Strobe systems

[mattvivsound]

I am looking at adding some strobe lights to my lighting system.

I have been dead set on getting Martin Atomic 3000s with a Detonator controller.

Is there any other strobe system that has a independent controller like the Detonator?

I also would like the "Blinder" effect, what are some other strobes that can do that?

 

[NickJones]

Hi Matt,
The Martin Atomic strobes are OK, used in a lot of touring shows, the detinator isn't that great and you would get a lot better control if you hooked it into your DMX controlling lighting console, it also means you don't have to run as much lead, like you would if you wanted the Detinator on your desk. The "Blinder" effect I presume you mean is to slowly bring up the lights like floods, I think the Atomic is capable of a 6 second flash, meaning the light stays on for 6 seconds, but it cannot stay on like a flood light our audience blinder.
Nick

 

[TimMiller]

When you use the blinder function, it stays on much longer than 6 seconds before thermaling, i think i have gotten about 30 seconds out of them. The atomic strobes is one of the best strobes made. The biggest design flaw is that if the lamp goes out, it can take out the dmx tranciever chip since they are not isolated from each other. I had this happen once so far, and light parts fixed it for me for not a bad price. Being able to run effect mode on a dmx console makes a big difference. You have many more options that the detinator.

 

[BillESC]

The Atomic is your best choice IMHO.

 

[mattvivsound]

Nick, I wasn't looking for Crowd Blinders... I would rather use the Detonator contoller, my main DMX control from from MyDMX and Lenovo Tablet. But 6 secs of Blinder is perfect.

 

[mrcog]

I thought that what the OP meant by the 'blinder function' was the very fast flashing on the strobe almost too fast for the eye to see. Its one of the buttons on the strobe controller...

 

[porkchop]

We have 8 Atomics on our rig. They are fantastic. We control them off our Maxxyz and have had zero problems with them. As far as a "blinder" function we don't even have the lights very close to full and when hung at 40' above the ground the 8 of them can fill a 60' x 120' rink with light so bright it's hard to look at, we keep this on for a few seconds, I'm sure they could do it longer.


EDIT: A user pointed this out via PM. I work on ice shows that's why i said rink. For an idea of my performance space think of your every days hockey rink, then make everything from the blue line on one side to the line for the goal on the other side the performance space. There's more too it than that, but it gets the idea across.

 

[NickJones]

Quick diversion, what does Disney on Ice use strobes for may I ask? Just for the lightning before the evil witches?

 

[porkchop]

On my particular show they are used very extensively at higher intensities in a number about The Incredibles (Violet's force field specifically and then they go quite nicely with the music to add action during the less technical skating segments) and they are used at very very low intensities for twinkling effects for the blue fairy in Pinocchio. I'm the spot caller not the board op, they may be used else where too, but those are the two that stand out right now.

 

[NickJones]

Going even more off topic... So you tour the globe? I so wanna tour!

 

[GreyWyvern]

The show that I was on used the strobes during the fight scene in Mulan. Complete with snow and even a bit of pyro. They were used for something else too, but I don't recall what. Maybe they were used in some of The Incredibles bit too. I don't know, it all runs together after a while...

 

[porkchop]

I don't remember it in Mulan, doesn't mean it's not there I'm doing a lot of other stuff then. But yes there's lots of snow, that mixed with the bubbles from Nemo make for an awesome ice floor to load out on after a three show day I promise. As for pyro there's a lot for a Feld show, something like 60 shots in the whole show. But I came from the only open show with more (I had 73 shots) so I haven't been too impressed, that and they have there pyro spots full so my license is worthless to me right now.

 

[TheSwami]

A little off the subject of touring, but swerving back toward strobes and such: has anyone used the Atomic Colors scroller unit for for Atomic 3000? Does the strobe have enough oomph to make a noticeable flash, even after pushing through the color medium?

73

 

[mattvivsound]

A little off the subject of touring, but swerving back toward strobes and such: has anyone used the Atomic Colors scroller unit for for Atomic 3000? Does the strobe have enough oomph to make a noticeable flash, even after pushing through the color medium?

73

I saw the Atomic 3k with Color Changers with Lamb of God and the blinder and flashes still cut.