Lights under 1k

[LelandCrooks]

Basic system under 1k. Preferably LED's. To cover bands and DJ's.

Can it be done, and if so, what do you suggest. I know, spend 2k probably.
But all answers appreciated.

[James R]

http://cheaplights.com/

[bzb]

Don't go cheaplights.

Does $1k include stands/t-bars/truss, or you have this covered already? Good trussing will eat up that budget.

And along those lines, do you want trussing over the band/DJ, or just two T-bars in the corners, or just a single T-bar?

It can be done, but it totally depends on what effect you're going for. For example, at over half of my gigs I use:

Global Truss ST90 crank stand and T-bar: $150
1 Chauvet ColorStrip: $180
1 Martin EFX 600: $500
DMX junk: $150
4 LED uplight cans on DIY stands: $300

So I'm a little over your budget, but you don't have to get the uplighting. And you certainly don't need the Martin EFX - I just really like the effects it produces and I've programmed some pretty good DMX shows with it.

There's a couple LED scanners that are out now that I really like, they're about $200 each for Chinese knockoffs. I think the ADJ ones (which the verdict is still out on) are around $250.

[LelandCrooks]

I do have the advantage I can buy it all wholesale. I just don't know diddly about it.

Not looking for effects. Just general lighting for the stage for a band.

T bars in the corners, perhaps some up lighting. The budget is not a hard number.

[James R]

He said a simple setup, there's a 4 pack with stand and floor controller for around 400.00 or you can go ebay as i did got 12 Par 64 leds, Mydmx software to run them and then I bought 2 sets of DJ truss with 13 foot stands for a little over 1300.00

Don't go cheaplights.

Does $1k include stands/t-bars/truss, or you have this covered already? Good trussing will eat up that budget.

And along those lines, do you want trussing over the band/DJ, or just two T-bars in the corners, or just a single T-bar?

It can be done, but it totally depends on what effect you're going for. For example, at over half of my gigs I use:

Global Truss ST90 crank stand and T-bar: $150
1 Chauvet ColorStrip: $180
1 Martin EFX 600: $500
DMX junk: $150
4 LED uplight cans on DIY stands: $300

So I'm a little over your budget, but you don't have to get the uplighting. And you certainly don't need the Martin EFX - I just really like the effects it produces and I've programmed some pretty good DMX shows with it.

There's a couple LED scanners that are out now that I really like, they're about $200 each for Chinese knockoffs. I think the ADJ ones (which the verdict is still out on) are around $250.

[Dan30]

Hey Leland. Do you see Speaker Hardware carrying lighting equipment in the future?

[J_Dunavin]

I think two of these would be a real inexpensive set up, but i have not actually seen one. So i don't know how bright they actually go.

[bzb]

He said a simple setup, there's a 4 pack with stand and floor controller for around 400.00 or you can go ebay as i did got 12 Par 64 leds, Mydmx software to run them and then I bought 2 sets of DJ truss with 13 foot stands for a little over 1300.00

*shrug* my suggestion is simple to me.

Personally, I think a bunch of par cans looks only slightly better than no lights at all. But to each their own. I love the Martin EFX because it's a cool "dance" light, super bright, has a lot of interesting, unique gobos, and can even emulate the classic mirror ball. One or two good effects lights can get people dancing.

I'd still go with strip lighting over the par cans. Pars give you a little more flexibility, but the strips are more than bright enough and are even easier to setup. One strip on each T-bar, or maybe even rig them up to point at the band from behind the DRs on the ends of the stage...

[TimeWarp]

Since Dan30 alrady voiced a very good question......Should Leland become a
Chauvet dealer?
Martin?
Elation?
X-Laser? (oooooo-aaaaaahhhhhhhh)
Other?

Let help Leland make more money and help ourselves get better deals....ain't that right Leland?

[subharmonic]

Personally I would look into the ADJ Megabar 50 RC. I am not sure the range on the remote since I never messed with the IR version but this would give you control from a distance and good light bars (for the money). You can usually get by with mic cable instead of DMX, chain them together and you have a potent easy to setup system. I put diffusers in my Chauvet ministrips and my friends Megabar. Slightly dimmer but much wider all for $3 at home depot.

A couple T stands from Odessey and you are good to go. Add in a micro gobo from ADJ or a min Lazer FX (just got mine, awesome little laser but the remote sucks) and you have a full package. Heck if you get 5+ lights you can start uplighting on the side, EZ money in that.

[LiefStevens]

I just built a nice dmx system. I am using 2 mini colorstrips, 6 pucks, 2 Kinta x and a Obey 40 controller. I highly recommend Blizzard pucks http://www.blizzardlighting.com and mini colorstrips for pars and washes. I got the pucks for $100 a piece off ebay and musicians friend has the mini color strips on sale. The pucks are very well made and I love that they don't take up much pack space. I'm using the Kintas on the dance floor and the are cool but they don't have a lot of dmx control (2 channel). First gig with the new lights will be on the 4th

[ontime1269]

I was also looking for lights about a month ago. I only wanted to spend $600 at the time for something basic to get me through a wedding I worked. I ended up buying these two fixtures. Only used once so far. I really like the system. Bang for the buck, it is very nice. The 4-Bar comes with its own tripod and the 4-Play fits on the tripod with the 4-Bar. The 4-Bar also comes with a small controller. This system is very, very portable and very quick to set-up. I think I might need to add one more light to go with these though.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-CVT-4PLAY-LIST
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-CVT-4BAR-LIST

Videos on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi0ZSrlg ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4shD6Q8w ... re=related

[tcorder]

Bought 2 of these for my band a few weeks ago and they are seriously good. http://prolight.co.uk/item/eqled63/. Light in weight, easy and quick to set up and control with the foot controller. All you need comes in good cases and bags. They can be controlled by a dmx controller if you've got someone to control them for you. Cost 730 UK pounds for the lot. Well worth a look. Certainly bright enough for most stages.

[LelandCrooks]

Thanks for all the replies. It appears that a par type light is preferred over the strip lights. Is there a reason?

[netwerks]

The pucks are very well made and I love that they don't take up much pack space.

THose pucks are pretty badass for the $$.