Hey all, as a long time lurker here, I have read lots of threads 'please tell me what to buy' threads. This is not that.
We have a small budget next year for adding some moving bits to our system (20k ish). This is a live corporate theater which does television (web broadcast). We have a weekly live show in which we have everything from talking head, awards (en mass like 300 people), interviews, and a 200-500 person audience. As this is a corporate facility, the last minute changes, and the 'oh can you justs' are abundant. While we need area lighting, we also need weeehaw! as well.
I am trying to kill many birds with as many stones as 20k will buy. Clearly, 20k will not buy a lot of new MLs, so I am pretty set on picking up some used gear. As I have been reading, MLs require quite a bit of maintenance, used gear requires probably even more. By nature I am a tweaker, so getting my hands dirty inside a light does not scare me. We currently have both standard and LED fixtures and enough addressing that I do not have to go into a 3rd universe (yet). This will be my first real experience with movers. I have dabbled here and there, but nothing I could call usable knowledge and while not trying to get too cliché on you, but I don't know what I don't know.
What I am looking for is sort of a heads up as to what kinds of failures you experience the most with various fixtures.
My plan is to buy a few extra of each so I can , replace as needed, and or canibalize the dead ones to keep the live ones going. What is the actual lamp life vs what the specs state? When I get them and I get my (cough) 48 hour warranty, what would be the things I would want to test it out on to make sure that I did not get a dud? What kind of parts would you say to buy ahead of time to have on hand?
Our throw to target is roughly between 20 to 35 ft.
Mainly I am looking at Mac 500, 550, 575 as I am worried that the 250 range will not have enough kick, and a 2000s would be way overkill.
I am thinking that I do not really need dedicated washes as I could defocus and use at a wash (yes?).
For extra beams I was looking at the Mac 101s. We had a bajillion of em at our last convention and they seemed quite fast and intense given the size and price point.
Fortunately, this will not be a high impact situation for the fixtures as they will not be moving on tour, outdoors, or rented... So... call it an old folks home for kind old MLs.
Thanks for your time and input on this!!!
We have a small budget next year for adding some moving bits to our system (20k ish). This is a live corporate theater which does television (web broadcast). We have a weekly live show in which we have everything from talking head, awards (en mass like 300 people), interviews, and a 200-500 person audience. As this is a corporate facility, the last minute changes, and the 'oh can you justs' are abundant. While we need area lighting, we also need weeehaw! as well.
I am trying to kill many birds with as many stones as 20k will buy. Clearly, 20k will not buy a lot of new MLs, so I am pretty set on picking up some used gear. As I have been reading, MLs require quite a bit of maintenance, used gear requires probably even more. By nature I am a tweaker, so getting my hands dirty inside a light does not scare me. We currently have both standard and LED fixtures and enough addressing that I do not have to go into a 3rd universe (yet). This will be my first real experience with movers. I have dabbled here and there, but nothing I could call usable knowledge and while not trying to get too cliché on you, but I don't know what I don't know.
What I am looking for is sort of a heads up as to what kinds of failures you experience the most with various fixtures.
My plan is to buy a few extra of each so I can , replace as needed, and or canibalize the dead ones to keep the live ones going. What is the actual lamp life vs what the specs state? When I get them and I get my (cough) 48 hour warranty, what would be the things I would want to test it out on to make sure that I did not get a dud? What kind of parts would you say to buy ahead of time to have on hand?
Our throw to target is roughly between 20 to 35 ft.
Mainly I am looking at Mac 500, 550, 575 as I am worried that the 250 range will not have enough kick, and a 2000s would be way overkill.
I am thinking that I do not really need dedicated washes as I could defocus and use at a wash (yes?).
For extra beams I was looking at the Mac 101s. We had a bajillion of em at our last convention and they seemed quite fast and intense given the size and price point.
Fortunately, this will not be a high impact situation for the fixtures as they will not be moving on tour, outdoors, or rented... So... call it an old folks home for kind old MLs.
Thanks for your time and input on this!!!