Light Dimmer Box

[PNS128]

hi. my band has a very rudimentary lights system comprised of various lights plugging into 2 switch centers. simple cut the power its off, flip the switch its on. i know there are ways to get them to go to, say, the kick drum. is this one of them?? http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Elation-Par-Dim-DMX-Dimmer-Pack?sku=801599

if i connected it to a light we wanted to go with the kick (we'd attatch a mic to the XLR in), would it work?? or am i reading something wrong

bit of a confusing question, any response is welcomed
Thanks,
Ryan

 

[jtc_hunter]

To me, that looks like it only works one can. $39 is alot to spend per can.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELATION-PROFFESSIONAL-T4-4-CHANNEL-CHASE-CONTROLLER-NIB_W0QQitemZ290282409833QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item290282409833&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

For $49 you can control 4 channels with this one. I run 4 lights on ea. side, 1 from ea. side , to a power strip, then to one of the 4 inputs on this unit. There is a cheap foot controller, that you can use for manually switching to 8 different fixed patterns or 8 different chase patterns, that you can set to chase your beat.

 

[PNS128]

the elation product looks wonderful, with one exception. im kind of skeptical about the built in mic (and lack of an xlr in). if we wanted it to go to the beat of the kick, i don't know how well that would pick it up...
Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Never_grew_up]

Put the pack on the floor in front of the kick& use some black (no orange home depot stuff!) extension cords to reach the fixtures. Then it should pick up the kick just fine.
Or you could step up a notch to the T16:
http://www.elationlighting.com/Prod...tegory=Controllers Distributed By American DJ

Then you could have foot control as well.

 

[IanStephenson]

Before investing money in dimmers and lights, I'd seriously consider where you want to go in the future. For the cost of a few dimmer packs you can get started with DMX controlled LED lights. I'd look at replacing the existing light with an LED par - more flexable, smaller and lighter, never needs new bulbs and DOESN'T GET HOT. You can get lights with a sound controlled mode as well as DMX, and then add a desk latter.

I bought a dimmer pack to control some of our old lights as part of our newer LED based system, but after a couple of months I realised I couldn't be bothered carrying the extra weight, and the money/loading/setup effort was better spent on LED lights. The weight of 1 dimmer pack and 1 old PAR would equal about 8 LED pars, each of which can each do full colour mixing, so looks like 3 old lights (though not as bright).

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

You got me there for a while as I was 100% sure that I answered your question not too long ago, and now it's gone?? There eems to be 2 threads.

Anyway, this is the answer to the other thread:

Quote:

"Hi, Ryan.

Nope, that XLR is for DMX control, You'd want a stand-alone light bar or something like that for the function you had in mind.

Something like (240V):

Invalid Link Removed

For some odd reason I couldn't find anything similar in the MF site???"

Never seen a switch box or a controller bar with XLR mic level in, those are always DMX connectors. The mic/trigger in is usually located in the light console.

If You're just starting out with lights, I'd strongly recommend a long, hard look at the LED systems, like IanStephenson above suggested.

Regards
Sam