Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

[Big Hoss]

Anyone have any advice for adding light bars to the tops of cheap 15" mains on a budget?

We've got a pair of Harbinger V2115 15" mains, and typically are working with not a lot of space. I used a board with a J bolt through it to clamp to the handle of the speakers, but that wasn't flexible enough. I really want a secure way to bolt a mount to the top handle of the speaker, and put a bar up there that I can turn and aim where I want the lights to go...

 

[gumtown]

Anyone have any advice for adding light bars to the tops of cheap 15" mains on a budget?

We've got a pair of Harbinger V2115 15" mains, and typically are working with not a lot of space. I used a board with a J bolt through it to clamp to the handle of the speakers, but that wasn't flexible enough. I really want a secure way to bolt a mount to the top handle of the speaker, and put a bar up there that I can turn and aim where I want the lights to go...

I have toyed with the idea of recessed speaker pole mounts on the top side of the cabinets, and mounting a lighting bar above the speakers on a very short pole.

 

[Big Hoss]

I have toyed with the idea of recessed speaker pole mounts on the top side of the cabinets, and mounting a lighting bar above the speakers on a very short pole.
View attachment 3930652

It's tempting. I think I would be concerned about tear out of the plastic housing. That is kind of why I wanted to go with a clamp rig.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I will see if I have some pics but you can use the flying mounts to attach clamps that hold light bars.

 

[Big Hoss]

I think I found my solution. Looks like Stagg makes something that I can use to make it work!
Stagg T-Bar Lighting Extension For Speaker Stand | Music & Arts

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Thats a better option then what I do, looks much more adjustable.

 

[tdogg]

I dont remember who brought it up, but i saw a question in here about what cases to use for lighting. My rig is very budget friendly and i want to keep it in minimal pack space, so i built my own road case. a sheet of 1/4" ply (doubling up behind the latches, and 3/4 on the ends), PL premium glue, duratex, and a few hours later..... pics here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/eAk2KC33rrPsSn4h8

worked out really well and it only weighs about 80 pounds loaded. definitely a 2 man carry but its 4 feet long so that was a given. I used Penn Elcom "lift off" hinges so it comes apart when you open it. needs another coat of duratex and some velcro straps to hold the stands in the top, but other than that im done.

 

[Thunder Lizard]

Having been a FOH guy for most of my career, and tasked in bands with running sound and lights as well as playing bass and singing lead (not all the time lead)... I have always looked for the simplest most effective lights I can have. LED's have brought insane flexibility to having just a few "cans" on stage and not being stuck with one look all night. Recently I've started considering "the light show that doesn't look like one"... instead of truss and stands and exposed light fixtures, something more.. subtle. Lighting that is part of the "set" even? I don't know what it looks like yet, but I do have one suggestion... for $60 I got a pair of these [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and now they'll travel with me. Should I find us in a spot with no/insufficient lighting, at least I can throw these up at the front and run them off of a cell phone or iPad as they're Bluetooth. They're brighter than I expected, nice colour, weigh next to nothing and they're only 5" x 4" by less than 3" deep. Forgive my mess I'm building some cases and rehabbing from a work injury but here's what they look like in my rehearsal space. Remember, this is under $100, under a pound, and I'm getting about 350 lux at my microphone which is about 8' from the nearest light. Back where my table is (drumland) the intensity reduces to 120 lux, but it's still sufficient to see what's going on. They're VERY WIDE.... no focus is required, just point them "thataway".

 

[delta7fred]

Having been a FOH guy for most of my career, and tasked in bands with running sound and lights as well as playing bass and singing lead (not all the time lead)... I have always looked for the simplest most effective lights I can have. LED's have brought insane flexibility to having just a few "cans" on stage and not being stuck with one look all night. Recently I've started considering "the light show that doesn't look like one"... instead of truss and stands and exposed light fixtures, something more.. subtle. Lighting that is part of the "set" even? I don't know what it looks like yet, but I do have one suggestion... for $60 I got a pair of these [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and now they'll travel with me. Should I find us in a spot with no/insufficient lighting, at least I can throw these up at the front and run them off of a cell phone or iPad as they're Bluetooth. They're brighter than I expected, nice colour, weigh next to nothing and they're only 5" x 4" by less than 3" deep. Forgive my mess I'm building some cases and rehabbing from a work injury but here's what they look like in my rehearsal space. Remember, this is under $100, under a pound, and I'm getting about 350 lux at my microphone which is about 8' from the nearest light. Back where my table is (drumland) the intensity reduces to 120 lux, but it's still sufficient to see what's going on. They're VERY WIDE.... no focus is required, just point them "thataway".
View attachment 4147127

To light his his covered deck a buddy of mine has just purchased 4 of these from Ebay at about $26 for 2.

2pcs 36 LED Stage Lights RGB Par Can Flat DMX512 DJ Disco Bar Uplighter Lighting

They can be set to DMX, sound to light, auto colour change, or static colours with a little remote control but I suspect that the ones you linked would suit his purpose far better (as his wife could control them from her phone).

They are supposed to be 76w (but that might be advertising watts), he says they are far too bright for his deck. I haven't seen them yet but a couple of his friends (a club owner and a DJ) have both bought a load to replace their old filament bulb lights.

Once I get to see them, we are in yet another lockdown here, as long as they live up to his description I will be buying some for our band (if we ever get back to regular gigging of course).

 

[amper]

I’m a big fan of the Chauvet DJ SlimPAR64 RGBA units. At a local venue where we produce an annual youth rock festival, for which I serve as lighting director, the small stage has four SlimPAR64 RGBAs and three Hex units that sit on the floor behind the band and wash the rear wall. It’s a simple system, but it works pretty well. Unfortunately, we don’t have a great controller, so everything has to be done in real-time by throwing faders. Somehow, I manage to make it work.

 

[gumtown]

Here is my band stage setup with wireless DMX lights, lasers, video projection, and usually at least two smoke machines.

 

[musicman7722]

Here is my band stage setup with wireless DMX lights, lasers, video projection, and usually at least two smoke machines.

Smoky

 

[DirtDog]

Here is my band stage setup with wireless DMX lights, lasers, video projection, and usually at least two smoke machines.

You need the Ritter BBQ bass for a setup like that!

 

[RimShot44]

Unsure if this is the best place to post/ask this question:

I've used 2 Odyssey LTP2-T-Bars that have lasted me 9+ years of gigging. I finally had a plastic piece crack and was wondering if there are any ideas for a solution? I've heard that Odyssey customer service is awful and won't help out with replacment parts.

Odyssey MT-0042 Tri-leg support arm, black for LTP2 (Clearance)

In the above link, I need to replace part: MT-0036, the lower tension connector. It cracked and I cannot sercure the bottom pole. Thanks in advance!

 

[EdO.]

Unsure if this is the best place to post/ask this question:

I've used 2 Odyssey LTP2-T-Bars that have lasted me 9+ years of gigging. I finally had a plastic piece crack and was wondering if there are any ideas for a solution? I've heard that Odyssey customer service is awful and won't help out with replacment parts.

Odyssey MT-0042 Tri-leg support arm, black for LTP2 (Clearance)

In the above link, I need to replace part: MT-0036, the lower tension connector. It cracked and I cannot sercure the bottom pole. Thanks in advance!

If there are no drilled holes through that section and no pin to put through it, lowest common denominator would be to drill holes through at regular intervals (every 12 - 16"?) and get a smooth 1/4" pin or even a bolt to go through and hold it up. Most of my stands came pre drilled and pin provided attached to the tensioning knob. Some are set up to be able to pin both extension sections, some for just the upper most section.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I have 4 LED Par Cans and a couple of Chauvet colorpalletes. I also run the PA and really that's all I really care to fool with. Brightness and being seen aren't really a problem, but I can't find a combination of colors that I like. What are you using and how do you mix your colors so that the band doesn't like ill?

I once played with a drummer that worked for a big production company. Moving programmable lighting is pretty interesting imo. But it depends on the band. Some bands just like minimal white lighting and the show is more so their movement and performance onstage.

I opened for Nonpoint a couple years ago and they had an interesting setup onstage. Because they all run direct and use in ears they had no cabs onstage but they had these boxes that where actually their own additional lighting setup. You can seen them here behind my rig they were maybe the size of a 115 or 410 cab.

This is what they looked like from a distance fully lit up.

Probably overkill for a 200 capacity bar gig but a scaled down version might be cool.

 

[Mike7300]

Hi - In a 5 person rock band that’s starting to play indoor and outdoor gigs and looking for lighting. I am in the band and will need bring and control lighting myself. I don’t want to have to upgrade so would like to get the best stuff to start with. I would like to use the DXM software eventually as well. Suggestions?

 

[Jason Stock]

I can't help with DMX software, but for controlling, I use a Behringer FCB1010 foot controller. I then program all my scenes to to my ADJ DMX box and assign them to the various foot switches. This took a long time but is worth it when done. I now run all the lights and just change scenes as needed. I know others have used the FCB1010 with DMX software.

 

[Mike7300]

What do you use for lighting? I think that’s where I need to start.

 

[Jason Stock]

Well I wanted Chauvet Par56 slims but I had just moved into a new studio and purchased a lot get it set up so had to go cheaper. I was replacing a bunch of old skool DMX lights that I had been using for years.

Our set up now is a On Stage light stand with 10' truss bar across the back (had previously)
I then ordered ADJ DMX operator, the foot controller mentioned above and we had front lighting mounts from before.

For lights I went cheap on Amazon and ordered 10 MFL Led Parlight 7x10w Quad RGBW. We run 8 across the back and 2 on the front aimed at the drummer. They are a cheap version of the chavet and I spent the money to get the power cords to daisy chain them. The I also ordered a Megapower TN 4 pcs 4 pack. These are small lights that still use the dip switches, but work really well across the back and we use them for "blinders" or "pop effects" as we programed the colours. They are cheap but I will replace them if they break with something better. I also have 4 GBGS Par uplight LED RGBW 8 ch/ Once again, cheap plastic, but I run them up front, two a side and they come down on myself and the LG. All of this works really well for my main three piece band and when the shows get going again I know I can use it for a larger group also.

One item I did buy was a Donner 4 pc DMC512DFI that plugs in (not the battery one) wireless DMX as I had to plug power to the lights already, it was just one more mall plug. These have been a great time saver as I run the send from the DMX operator and then one receiver to the first light in the back and one to each of the first lights on the front on each side. No long cable runs and these work great.

I run all of this from my foot controller. When I first got it I set it all up in my studio, practiced, programmed, practiced some more and have it all set up that the 10 buttons have a function and different banks for different songs. Did several shows with it and it works great.

Personally, I would have liked to have bought higher end stuff, but budget at the time. Once we get playing shows again, I will upgrade if anything breaks. It should be noted. I take care of the lights very carefully as I always have and I have a road case we specially built compartments for to store everything when moving. I own the lights and PA system and my LG is a very long term dear friend who always looks after the stuff with me. Many parties, weddings, bars and outdoor shows this rig has been used at and very very few problems if you take care of your gear.