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Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

#481
I keep lots of 4 or 5 things on a bar permanent, chained up with DMX and the last fitted has a Wireless DMX transceiver.
We use 8 lighting bars, with about 26 LED PAR Cans, 8 halogen blinders, 2 UV LED lamps, 8 lazers, usually 1 video projector, but sometimes 3 projectors for large stages,
all lights connected to a laptop computer via Wireless DMX and to a foot scene & video controller.
I posted quite a few pages back on more specific details of the setup, which has been going very well for some years now.
Easy to setup, just plop the lighting bars around the stage and daisy-chain them to the power... done.. quick and easy.

 
#482
Thanks I’ll take a look at it! So your saying I don’t necessarily need a wireless usb stick for each light? I can just chain them up up with dmx cables and then use a usb in the last light and that will make them all work wireless even though they have wires?
 
#483
I am not familiar with DMX USB, but in theory and if it sends wireless DMX, exactly what you suggest should work.
I have all my DMX addresses set for all my lights and then send from my ADJ DMX controller from a wireless DMX to 3 DMX receivers (one at the back, one stage left, one stage right for front lights) and then connect DMX out with cables to each light. Works great and never a problem. No long cable runs needed anymore
 
#484
Cool I decided to go with 4Bar quad since it’s portable and that’s gonna be key for me. Just figuring out if I want to do those for both front and back lights as well, and then what else to get for the eye candy stuff.
 
#485
The wireless DMX I use are cheap barebones modules fron eBay which I have fitted inside the lights, and powered from the lights internal 5 volt power supply, with just the small antenna drilled through the back.
Wired to the back of the xlr dmx sockets, easy to chain to the other lights on the same bar.
Also one in the smoke machine with a bare module dmx controlled relay.
 
#486
I use Donner wireless DMX. Mostly off the back of a Chauvet Obey clone. Early on I discovered that too many receivers could lead to spotty performance. Sluggish and sometimes glitchy and sometimes 'on ignore mode'. I cut back to 1 on each of 2 trees for fron corners and 2 on my rear truss on 1 'lan'. Another hardware controller (Elation) and another 4 on a separate effects 'lan' has been reliable for us.
 
#487
I found Chauvet 4 bars limiting, I had a pair early on. They simply did not put down enough light and the effects got repetitive and old quickly.

I have 24 of these.
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+ Very bright, great color mixing, I can get about any color I want using the Robe dmx chart
- Plastic housing. You need to treat them gently. I've had to make a few repairs over the years (5 or so) when the metal screw inserts pulled. through. Takes about 30 min to disassemble, reinforce, reglue and then let it dry. So far other than that, they have given me yeoman's service.

Mine are arranged 4 to the bar, prewired on each of 4 Ultimate support bars. 2 front and 2 rear or side. The rest are typically mounted on rear triangle truss. Sometimes the 2 rear bars will be mounted on the rear truss so I don't have to re-wire.

Controlled by the Chauvet Obey clone mentioned above. It will do 20 scenes in 2 banks of 10 - I only use the first bank. I have a few chases setup but they get used infrequently.

Between my lighting partner and I we have a myriad of effects stuff. Freedom stocks, movers, haze, motion drape, etc... I let him run with all that so he can go with a different look per show.

If I'm doing it from stage, I keep it simple. Stage wash and a couple effects, if...
 
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#489
I gotta say, finally got around to playing with the Chauvet 4Bar USBs I just got, and they do make them very well. The cases are awesome. Having a problem making them work in 15-channel mode, but that's just because I'm in a hurry. Will suss it out later. Gigging them today.
 
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#492
Mike7300 said:
Let me know how they turn out, for portability reasons I think those will be easiest for me even if they may be a little more limiting than getting individual lights
Click to expand...
Each light in a unitized fixture like a 4-Bar i.e. can be programmed individually in DMX mode using a multi channel controller like an Obey 40 or similar, something with 16 channel capabilities. Understand that not all lights, fixtures etc operate on that many channels which is kinda confusing until you dig into it enough to finally make sense. Set each fixture to whatever highest channel it has, that's how many channels you have to work with. Each fixture will have instructions on which channel controls what function. Play with it until it makes sense, once it does you're in business. A bit of a learning curve but it's not rocket science.
 
#495
I've considered getting a Behringer FCB 1010 midi pedal to run into the Obey 40 for use as a foot switch . Haven't yet due to the time suck rabbit hole I fear having to go down to learn how to program it. Probably will eventually. Program the Obey 40 first, then program the foot switch to run the Obey 40. Nice once done but would take some spare time to learn that I just can't spare at this time.
 
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#496
EdO. said:
I've considered getting a Behringer FCB 1010 midi pedal to run into the Obey 40 for use as a foot switch . Haven't yet due to the time suck rabbit hole I fear having to go down to learn how to program it. Probably will eventually. Program the Obey 40 first, then program the foot switch to run the Obey 40. Nice once done but would take some spare time to learn that I just can't spate at this time.
Click to expand...
I was in that same boat and ended up going the dmxis/showbuddy rout. Once you get all your light scenes set it's just drag and drop onto a timeline with your track. Super easy.
 
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#499
Mike7300 said:
What’s the best way to get a click track working? I haven’t used click track at all, I understand what it is but not sure how to get started with it.
Click to expand...

How to Use a Click Track to Maximize Live Performance

How To Set Up a Click and Backing Tracks For Your Show

What I do is create a click/backing track first and save as a wave file. Then use that wave file and overlay the song onto it and save that separately. The important part is making sure the number of bits is the exactly the same for both. I then use that second track with the music on it in show buddy to set all the light changes. Once done swap out to the track with just the click/backing track in show buddy. Now your click/backing track not only keeps you centered it automatically sets off all your light cues.
Hope this helps.
 

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