Lights under 1k

[LiefStevens]

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

I like having both. The pars tend to have a narrower beam. Nice for aiming at different people. The strip lights are more of a wash.

[bzb]

Same. The Par cans I own are used for uplighting or pin spotting. The strips are mounted up high for the wash lighting.

[mattaudio]

I have some of both... works well. The LED strips can work well sideways on speaker stands to wash the front of the stage, along with a couple of up-light LED pars in the front.

Has anyone found a good way to mount LED lights on top of BFM speakers?

Also why no love for CheapLights? I got some of the LED Par 38s from them and they seemed the same as the Chauvet ones I had.

[bzb]

Could easily rig up something that can be mounted to the top of the cabs. I built a bunch of stands for my uplights with just a bolt coming up through the center (same idea as any quick C-clamp).

No love for cheaplights because of their ridiculous shipping charges. You can get a far better deal off ebay for the same exact Chinese stuff.

[Dantreige]

Here is what I have used.

At the very right of the pic you can see one of two Chauvet 4-Bars. These are about $400, come with there own stands, case, and a foot controler. It's about a two minute set up. They are linkable to other sets. You just run a xlr cable from unit to unit. I highly recomend these as your starting point. If you get into DMX controlled stuff later, these will still be useful. http://www.chauvetlighting.com/4-bar.html

The other lights we have here are out of you budget, but I'll tell you about them anyways. Two are American DJ Tri-Phases, the two others are ADJ Starball led's. The triphase spins out multi colored lights and the starballs white only. ADJ does have a tri colored starball now. The ADJ lights are controlled with a UC3 controller. ADJ also has a four channel wireless UC3 controler now.

I also have two Chauvet Colorstrips. I've never used them, but I did lend them out to a friend who needed something for a DJ gig. He said they were more then enough too light the dance floor. He ran them in sound activated mode. You can get a foot controller for these as well. $250ish for the colorstrips.


Hope that helps a bit.

[James R]

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

You can put the light where you want it to be rather than just a flood of color, they're just like typical par cans.
One band I work with bring the back lighting consisting of 2 AMDJ pro spot gobos' a 3 watt laser 2 big barrel lights 2 bar lights.
I like the bar lights but , they're either on in a broad area or off, where the par can style can still give you spots etc.

[LelandCrooks]

As far as me being a dealer, my newbieness will prevent that. If I don't know, understand and/or use the stuff, I ain't going to sell it. Nothing worse than having a customer ask questions about a product you're selling and you don't know squat about it.

I have a much better idea now. I also figured the budget was too small. Isn't it always.

[LEVLHED]

I'm a big fan of the Colorstrips! Super compact for how much light they throw. I use two full size and two Mini's on a 6ft T-Bar. I've also got two Mini's to light up my DJ facade.
Regarding the diffuser someone picked up for them, what exactly is it called? I painted the glass on my two facade lights white which works OK to diffuse a bit and dim them, I'd like to get proper diffusion on some up on my stand though. What exactly is the product used called?

I've also got Blizzard RGBA Pucks for uplighting now. I've never used them for dance floor/stage lighting but they'd obviously be great for the PAR can effect.

[Dan30]

As far as me being a dealer, my newbieness will prevent that. If I don't know, understand and/or use the stuff, I ain't going to sell it. Nothing worse than having a customer ask questions about a product you're selling and you don't know squat about it.

I have a much better idea now. I also figured the budget was too small. Isn't it always.

I can understand that. I give the guys at Guitar Center crap all the time because all they do is talk out of their ass.

[nastyford77]

Leland, I use several led lights, and they are cheap. ADJ lx10. RBG led with a moveable mirror, works well, very bright. I have two of those. Last time I checked they are around 80 bucks.

[jswingchun]

I'm a big fan of the Colorstrips! Super compact for how much light they throw. I use two full size and two Mini's on a 6ft T-Bar.

Would a rig like that, two full size and two mini colorstrips be enough to light a rock band on a typical small bar stage? Run the big ones for front lighting and the small ones for back lighting or something like that?

[LEVLHED]

Yes I think it'd be pretty cool. Could even be too much light in the front! But you can always temper that by how you point them. I often shoot the big ones more along the ceiling and point the small ones right at the dance floor.
I don't remember if there was much of a price break between one full size vs. two mini's? You might think about using 4 minis on the front vs 2 full size just so you can spread them out even more and also maybe only use 2 or 3 when appropriate?

[bzb]

As far as me being a dealer, my newbieness will prevent that. If I don't know, understand and/or use the stuff, I ain't going to sell it. Nothing worse than having a customer ask questions about a product you're selling and you don't know squat about it.

I have a much better idea now. I also figured the budget was too small. Isn't it always.

Even if you spent the time to get some expertise, I wouldn't suggest getting into it anyway... not right now.

It's almost like the computer industry about 5-10 years ago. LED technology is changing so rapidly right now, whatever you get now will be quickly obsolete. And loads cheaper in just a few months. The Par cans I bought less than 2 years ago sell for half the price brand new now, and with bigger diodes.

[Steve Regier]

Leland, are you wanting a basic color wash or moving effects? For color wash I use 1200 lumen colored Cree LED PAR 38 medium base bulbs in standard short canns. I add white LED PAR 38s for spots. I plug them into a standard DMX control box connected to a Behringer Eurolight mixer. For moving effects I use a four color laser...about $300 on eBay. I put the PARs on a double Tbar and on home made mini bars on the hats on my tops. Total cost is way under 2K. To be effective the LED PARs must be at least 900 lumens. If you or anyone else is interested I will post links to my sources.

[LelandCrooks]

I know what lumens are, but have no frame of reference as to scale. Bigger is brighter I'm sure. But are there specific levels to look for?