Gobo - Band Logo

[nixdad]

Hi Everyone -
I’m considering investing in a Gobo projector for my band. We have a simple logo that should translate well using such a device, and we should be able to use it in most gigs.

We already have 4 Chauvet light bars, so attaching the unit to the top of one of these will be easy.

I see these units are available in anywhere from 10-100 watts, so I want to get an idea of how much wattage is truly necessary to be able to project a static image clearly up to maybe 60 feet from the stage. Other features I’d like:
- lightweight
- preferably less than $350
- static image only, no motion
- ability to adjust image size as needed

I welcome any suggestion on brands or feedback on anything else I need to consider before making such an investment.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[nixdad]

I've got the Chauvet unit on order. Now just need to sort out the custom gobo itself. Apparently there are places that specialize in these things - who knew?

Totally serious. As the guy who was responsible for hanging the stupid banner for a band for almost ten years, this seems much easier.

1) Whip out projector.
2) Find a flat surface on or near the stage.
3) Turn on projector.
4) Zoom and focus.

Banners are dumb.

@DirtDog & @two fingers - I see you guys discussed this a few years ago on a similar post. I welcome suggestions or advice you can provide.
Thanks!
Chris

 

[DirtDog]

@DirtDog & @two fingers - I see you guys discussed this a few years ago on a similar post. I welcome suggestions or advice you can provide.
Thanks!
Chris

For sure - give me a minute and I’ll link to the other thread where this was discussed and show how I used the Chauvet gobo unit.

 

[two fingers]

@DirtDog & @two fingers - I see you guys discussed this a few years ago on a similar post. I welcome suggestions or advice you can provide.
Thanks!
Chris

So weird you bring this up right now. I just ordered this one the other day. My guitarist is supposed to print us on for our band logo. I'll let you know how it goes when we use it.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EZGobo--chauvet-dj-ezgobo-10w-battery-powered-gobo-projector

 

[nixdad]

So weird you bring this up right now. I just ordered this one the other day. My guitarist is supposed to print us on for our band logo. I'll let you know how it goes when we use it.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EZGobo--chauvet-dj-ezgobo-10w-battery-powered-gobo-projector

Thanks, @twofingers. This looks like it may be ideal, but I'm interested to find out if 10 watts is enough juice to project the logo brightly & clearly up to 60 feet away. Please let me know how this works out!

 

[two fingers]

Thanks, @twofingers. This looks like it may be ideal, but I'm interested to find out if 10 watts is enough juice to project the logo brightly & clearly up to 60 feet away. Please let me know how this works out!

10W LED is a TON of light. My outdoor flood lights at my house light up the woods around me and they're 12W. If it's focused into a spot 10W should be more than plenty.

 

[DirtDog]

Thanks, @twofingers. This looks like it may be ideal, but I'm interested to find out if 10 watts is enough juice to project the logo brightly & clearly up to 60 feet away. Please let me know how this works out!

It'll do that easily. Here's a shot of my Chauvet EZ Gobo displaying on my neighbour's fence from well across the street...maybe not 60 feet, but at least 45. The fence is 7' tall and there's a streetlight in between the gobo light and the fence. I'd say there's enough juice for 60'.

I went with a metal gobo which is why the text is kind of like how those old stencils looked like way back when. A glass gobo is more refined. I think I went with a metal gobo because it was cheaper and the resulting design was "good enough". I can't remember

And here's how it looks projected behind the band - the unit was attached (magnetic base) to the venue's lighting truss about 25' out in front of the stage and about 5-6' above our heads. Displayed nicely on the stone wall backdrop of the stage. I don't have pictures, but I have projected the logo onto ceilings, floors, walls of all types. Never tried projecting on the bass drum, but it certainly could be done under the right conditions.

Check out the image on the splash page here: The Derringers

The focusing mechanism on the Chauvet EZ Gobo is such that you can project a large image from a distance as well as a small image up close. It's just physics and the focus controls are infinitely adjustable.

 

[nixdad]

10W LED is a TON of light. My outdoor flood lights at my house light up the woods around me and they're 12W. If it's focused into a spot 10W should be more than plenty.

Good to know, @twofingers! Thank you.

It'll do that easily. Here's a shot of my Chauvet EZ Gobo displaying on my neighbour's fence from well across the street...maybe not 60 feet, but at least 45. The fence is 7' tall and there's a streetlight in between the gobo light and the fence. I'd say there's enough juice for 60'.

I went with a metal gobo which is why the text is kind of like how those old stencils looked like way back when. A glass gobo is more refined. I think I went with a metal gobo because it was cheaper and the resulting design was "good enough". I can't remember

View attachment 3664253

And here's how it looks projected behind the band - the unit was attached (magnetic base) to the venue's lighting truss about 25' out in front of the stage and about 5-6' above our heads. Displayed nicely on the stone wall backdrop of the stage. I don't have pictures, but I have projected the logo onto ceilings, floors, walls of all types. Never tried projecting on the bass drum, but it certainly could be done under the right conditions.

Check out the image on the splash page here: The Derringers

The focusing mechanism on the Chauvet EZ Gobo is such that you can project a large image from a distance as well as a small image up close. It's just physics and the focus controls are infinitely adjustable.

Yep, that's impressive @DirtDog - I really appreciate you posting the photos. It's definitely far brighter than I thought it would be, and may be the one. I know there's a bunch of Gobo manufacturers (both metal & glass,) so I'll have to research and determine which will be best for us.

BTW - LOVE the Starcaster!

I appreciate your reply!

 

[DirtDog]

Good to know, @twofingers! Thank you.


Yep, that's impressive @DirtDog - I really appreciate you posting the photos. It's definitely far brighter than I thought it would be, and may be the one. I know there's a bunch of Gobo manufacturers (both metal & glass,) so I'll have to research and determine which will be best for us.

BTW - LOVE the Starcaster!

I appreciate your reply!

No problem @nixdad! IIRC, the most of the gobo makers I researched had the capability to make a gobo for this unit. Has to do with diameter and thickness and is model specific. You should have a fair amount of choice on having a custom gobo made.

Thanks for the compliment on the Starcaster! I was a blast to play, but I don't own it anymore....the guy playing it in the pic is not me but a buddy of mine (Bill) who took my spot in the band after I retired from regular gigging. I sold a lot of stuff post-retirement, including that bass.

And that picture was taken (by me) at the last actual gig I played with the that band - I was coming down with a flu that night that turned into pneumonia - 42 days of living hell! I left early that night since I could barely function by the second set. Bill sat in for the rest of that night and has had the chair for almost two years now! I never got my "farewell tour" with the band since it took me quite a long time to get my energy back up after the basic recovery. And by then Bill was going full speed so there was no point in me coming back for only a gig or two. That said, I'll be subbing with them on a big gig this coming June when Bill is away. Looking forward to it!

 

[nixdad]

No problem @nixdad! IIRC, the most of the gobo makers I researched had the capability to make a gobo for this unit. Has to do with diameter and thickness and is model specific. You should have a fair amount of choice on having a custom gobo made.

Thanks for the compliment on the Starcaster! I was a blast to play, but I don't own it anymore....the guy playing it in the pic is not me but a buddy of mine (Bill) who took my spot in the band after I retired from regular gigging. I sold a lot of stuff post-retirement, including that bass.

And that picture was taken (by me) at the last actual gig I played with the that band - I was coming down with a flu that night that turned into pneumonia - 42 days of living hell! I left early that night since I could barely function by the second set. Bill sat in for the rest of that night and has had the chair for almost two years now! I never got my "farewell tour" with the band since it took me quite a long time to get my energy back up after the basic recovery. And by then Bill was going full speed so there was no point in me coming back for only a gig or two. That said, I'll be subbing with them on a big gig this coming June when Bill is away. Looking forward to it!

Sorry to hear about your bout with pneumonia, @DirtDog. I'm certain you're going to do great when you sub for them in June - how fun!

BTW, I ordered the Chauvet projector earlier this week, and it's scheduled to be delivered today. I'm going to test it with the stock gobos before ordering our own. My bandmates are in multiple groups, so the plan is to share it between 3 of the groups, with each band having a custom gobo made. If for some reason this unit does not suit our needs, I'll order a more powerful unit.