Any lighting
console that you buy will also require
dimmer packs or a rack. The
console does not deal with any of the AC
power that goes to drive lights, it only controls dimmers or other devices such as moving lights or other lighting accessories such as color scrollers.
If you haven't already purchased the Behringer LC2412, don't. For the same money or less, you can buy one of the Irradiant consoles, that are sold under the labels of Chauvet, Elation, Matrix, American DJ and a few others. The consoles that are labelled "SceneSetter" or "
Stage Setter" are much easier to program than the Behringer. The only advantage of the Behringer is the ability to
softpatch a maximum of 3
DMX channels to one operational
channel.
I have six
DMX consoles, that rannge from quite expensive (Compulite Micron 4D) down through An
ETC INsight 3, and
ETC Express 250 and to the much cheaper Lightronics (forget model #), Chauvet
stage setter 48 and a Behringer LC 2412. While some these are Chinese made, and maybe a little fragile, The Behringer is the most difficult to program and
play back. At this
point it is only used as a test board on my workbench.
Additionally, if you are looking to get a
dimmer console and
dimmer packs in the lost cost variety, check out bulbamerica.com and buy their
bulb america brand 4
dimmer packs at $59.95 or the slightly better one at $69.95. They are the same ones that you get for quite a
bit more money from the same dealer. These units will work just fine for you as long as you don't overload the
dimmer channels and treat them with a
bit of care. But one again, you will also need a
console to control the packs, also available from bulbAmerica.