Lightning - What do you prefer?
- Thread starteradude23
- Start date
Erwin
Member
A Data Flash is the way to go in my opinion. Quite realistic, and an affordable instrument.
iLightTheStage
Active Member
I prefer several strobes in different locations, and programmed so they are offset from each other.
However, I personally hate the Data Flash because, in the past when I've used it, it was not reliable at all.
However, I personally hate the Data Flash because, in the past when I've used it, it was not reliable at all.
I'm with Erwin, all about the Data Flash. Super realistic when programed properly. The ability to pace the lightning effect to match the accompanying sound cue is unmatched. As for unreliability I've found that they had problems only when they are left powered up for too long. My solution was to plug the instrument power into a non-dim controlled by my lighting console, this way I can turn on the instrument only just before I need to fire it, and can then turn it off again until it is next used. Used in this way I have never had it fail to fire correctly.
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I prefer S4 Pars with Narrow Lenses kind of in a full wrap around the stage, single circuited of course. I've used strobes i feel I have more control with the Pars however. Color with L201 for color correction I think they work very well.
There's only one way: Lightning Strikes®.
Okay, two ways; as Hungaroflash has been getting much press lately.
The Martin Atomic3000 and products from Diversitronics may be adequate in many applications.
The Original Dataflash and AF1000 do not compare favorably to any of the above products. Perhaps that's why they've been discontinued?
Okay, two ways; as Hungaroflash has been getting much press lately.
The Martin Atomic3000 and products from Diversitronics may be adequate in many applications.
The Original Dataflash and AF1000 do not compare favorably to any of the above products. Perhaps that's why they've been discontinued?
TupeloTechie
Active Member
I prefer a profile with a gobo and a strobe cap on it. Dome & Ellipsoidal Strobes
Preferably 2, with a different lightning gobo in each.
Preferably 2, with a different lightning gobo in each.
jmabray
Active Member
Ya know... for me it depends upon the effect I am trying to achieve....
Sometimes I want to see the actual lightning. If so, I might use a source four with a pattern and possibly a strobe cap in it instead of the regular end cap.
Othertimes, I just want to see the flash - coming through a window or something along those lines. If that's the case, any wash fixture with appropriate gel does just fine.
sometimes I will do strobes, but not that often.
Sometimes I want to see the actual lightning. If so, I might use a source four with a pattern and possibly a strobe cap in it instead of the regular end cap.
Othertimes, I just want to see the flash - coming through a window or something along those lines. If that's the case, any wash fixture with appropriate gel does just fine.
sometimes I will do strobes, but not that often.
I used Atomic3000's for my last show, and they worked pretty well. Programming took some time to get used to though, mainly because of all of the different options they have preprogrammed into it as well as the different settings for the timing of the flashes. It loses points for ease-of-use, particularly for the people (like me) who jump right in to the most complicated setting for it and say, "That'll be easy; more options means better control, and better control means I might like the effect more." It gains points back though for versatility.
In fairness though, it does have really simple settings that make for great ease-of-use, however us technically-oriented people sometimes have problems settling for that. We tend to be the same people that assemble furniture without glancing at the instructions until we realize that we built it better and more efficiently, using fewer parts than the instructions say we're supposed to use.
In fairness though, it does have really simple settings that make for great ease-of-use, however us technically-oriented people sometimes have problems settling for that. We tend to be the same people that assemble furniture without glancing at the instructions until we realize that we built it better and more efficiently, using fewer parts than the instructions say we're supposed to use.
VegasLites
Member
Lightning Strikes are the best. And if you stand close enough to them when they go off your hair will stand up...just like real lightning!!!
VegasLites
Member
For those tired of hearing stories about my job shadow day at Cirque: Ka move along to the next post...
So there I was down in sub basement #2 of the Ka theater. Super cool rotating flying stage deck is way up there above my head. People are performing doing crazy stuff 50 feet above me. My guide, the deck electrician, turns to me and says, "Don't look up." Well by now you all know I'm not that smart so you know what I did... Just in time to get hit by 4 or 5 Lightning Strikes pointed straight down at me. At least I think they were Lightning Strikes. You can probably still see the logo burned on the back side of my retinas.
Later on when the Pyro guy said, "You can watch this but you might regret it," I listened.
So there I was down in sub basement #2 of the Ka theater. Super cool rotating flying stage deck is way up there above my head. People are performing doing crazy stuff 50 feet above me. My guide, the deck electrician, turns to me and says, "Don't look up." Well by now you all know I'm not that smart so you know what I did... Just in time to get hit by 4 or 5 Lightning Strikes pointed straight down at me. At least I think they were Lightning Strikes. You can probably still see the logo burned on the back side of my retinas.
Later on when the Pyro guy said, "You can watch this but you might regret it," I listened.
Now you are talking my language! For our last show "Night of the Iguana" I hung ten 1.5k Broad Cycs around the black box triggered by 3 bump buttons.
