New improved lighting rig (video content)

[wheresgrant3]

So this past weekend we played the biggest gig we've ever played. 700 radio listeners at a radio station event in a small civic center auditorium (capacity 1500). The event was open to the public. Our old rig was just a bunch of LED colorsplash cans. About a month ago we priced out and purchased a few more items....

Am DJ Dura Truss
2- Am DJ Fusion FX #3 bars
1- AM DJ Fusion FX #2 bar
2 LED Rope strobe

We had
4- Color Splash 200B's
1- Chauvet Wave III LED strobe
2- Colorsplash 196

We then bought a few strobes and spot lights for blinders. The result was ... well a great start. Short of epic, but certainly an improvement over what we had.


A good friend of the band programmed the lights with a Chauvet Obey 40 controller and for the first time ever this band had a light show. Total amount spent so far is probably about $2200.

I've got some video here: 1st Set Opener

We're looking to ad more... possibly 3 more color strips for the truss, and 2 Intimidators. Any suggestion would be helpful.

[Johnny Lightboy]

looks good...

[twostone]

Front lighting for the performers would help and a pair decent moving lights depending on budget would definitely improve.
Maybe some tri pearls decent and dancing laser beams is always a fave

I'm surprised the more experienced folks here didn't recommend a software controller. I never had decent pre-program with the obey to synchronize with my music.

Just remember to pre-wire when ever possible also cases are a must have some fixtures a bit fragile esp. moving lights.

What you got looks pretty decent, beats nothing at all.

[wheresgrant3]

Originally Posted by twostone

Front lighting for the performers would help and a pair decent moving lights depending on budget would definitely improve.
Maybe some tri pearls decent and dancing laser beams is always a fave

I'm surprised the more experienced folks here didn't recommend a software controller. I never had decent pre-program with the obey to synchronize with my music.

Just remember to pre-wire when ever possible also cases are a must have some fixtures a bit fragile esp. moving lights.

What you got looks pretty decent, beats nothing at all.

We thought about using software controllers but many were priced $500-1000. The Obey was a good starter controller. I think we'd like to move toward an Elation Magic down the road.

Good call on the front lighting. Currently we use two pair of LED Colorsplash. The venue this video was taken at was a Civic Auditorium. Most gigs are much smaller in size ie: bars, nightclubs. Still I'll take any advice on front or backlighting.

I should also mention that the lighting was controlled by an semi-experienced lighting tech. He added on the strobes for effect. We stole him from a local nightclub he was running sound and lights for. It's worth it to throw him a $100 every show to run lights, help with sound and just be an overall stage manager. We still pull down $200-$250 per man throwing him the extra money.

[soundlight]

Given what you've done so far (excellent by the way, so glad to see one of my rigs in action!), I'd say add 4 ADJ X-Scan LED Plus fixtures to your back truss first. Your show really lends itself to high energy kinds of effects, and I think that the X-Scan Plus fixtures would really deliver on this.

I would also say that upgrading to the Elation Magic 260 controller would be a very good idea and would allow a lot more scene and pattern storage, and would definitely be easier to use during the show. Your lighting guy would be happy for sure.

And for backlight LED fixtures, I'd go with some Chauvet LED Rain56 or Rain64 fixtures.

This is of course a large jump, and can't really happen all at once, but it would be a great place to be. 4 to 6 of the LED rains, 4 scanners, new controller.

[wheresgrant3]

Originally Posted by soundlight

Given what you've done so far (excellent by the way, so glad to see one of my rigs in action!), I'd say add 4 ADJ X-Scan LED Plus fixtures to your back truss first. Your show really lends itself to high energy kinds of effects, and I think that the X-Scan Plus fixtures would really deliver on this.

I would also say that upgrading to the Elation Magic 260 controller would be a very good idea and would allow a lot more scene and pattern storage, and would definitely be easier to use during the show. Your lighting guy would be happy for sure.

And for backlight LED fixtures, I'd go with some Chauvet LED Rain56 or Rain64 fixtures.

This is of course a large jump, and can't really happen all at once, but it would be a great place to be. 4 to 6 of the LED rains, 4 scanners, new controller.

Yup! You get the credit for pushing me in this direction. I have to say those Fusion FX Bars from AMDJ pack alot of fx's for the price. I like the ideas of the LED Rain. Our plan to add a little each month.