Band Lights Recomendations

not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
We're looking to replace our aging iColor 4 lights (big old hot things) with something new, cool and LED.

We're a pub/function band, so I'm thinking a pair of these party bar things, ideally with a foot controller so we can do more than just have them set to "sound to light".

There seems to be loads out there that look very similar, so after some real world recommendations and experiences.

Thanks.
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Comments

  • poopotpoopot Frets: 9098
    Following!...
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8592
    How much are you prepared to spend?
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
    Roland said:
    How much are you prepared to spend?
    Good question, a couple of hundred at most I would think. 

    Not sure yet if it'll be a solo purchase of a shared one with the rest of the band.
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  • ESBlondeESBlonde Frets: 3576
    I got a pair of these from Thomann a while back and got a padded gig bag for them too.
    https://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_bar_2408_rgb_dmx_30.htm
    They are easy to set up and can just go into random chase mode or whatever, you can link them so one is control and one a slave etc. or add a controller (we haven't bothered but I do have a nice one if I need to use it.
    I also have a white rope light that slips in the bag, these are a simple portable minimalist setup. Bass player has a few cheap chinzy 'disco' bedroom lights he likes to plop about the stage but the simple set is more than adequate. It is also popular and spent last weekend at my cousins wedding/disco, at christmas they helped light up the office for the festivities etc. very safe and portable, but a padded bag is recommended.



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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8592
    We use three types of light. Cheap Thomann spot lights which are bolted to the fly mounts on our PA speakers. Two Stairville LED panels on the floor around the drum kit, and a pole mounted KAM partybar on either side of the playing area. The KAMs and Stairvilles are DMX linked.

    Originally we used sound-to-light, but it doesn’t really align with the music. Even with a feed from the kick drum mic processing delays mean that lights flash after the event. Nowadays we use DMXIS on a cheap Windows tablet. This allows us to change colourways to suit the song, and pulse or flash lights using tap tempo. This last feature is particularly useful. I tap in the tempo as we count in the song. The lights around his kit then keep our drummer on tempo.

    You can see what it looks like here:

    https://m.facebook.com/urbanlegendsbanduk/media/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • David5150David5150 Frets: 118

    Lights really add to the atmosphere of a gig and we've gone a bit nuts over the years with 2 t bars of lasers and spinning stuff - but the main focus should be to light the stage area and the band

    We have a ADJ partybar thing on each side of the stage, then a load of the stairville LED bars and par cans to illuminate the stage from the bottom up, as well as shine off the drumkit.

    All controlled with the ADJ footswitch that lets us chose colour or programme. Agree with other posters that sound to light looks a bit naff



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  • hotpickupshotpickups Frets: 1813
    We have a party bar and it's great. However, the manual is absolutely crap and I can't work out how to program 3 or 4 patterns or even a one colour wash wikthout having to cycle though 39 or so settings stored on there. So I just leave it on sound to light 
    Link to my trading feedback:  http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/59452/
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  • John_PJohn_P Frets: 2744
    Im just about to upgrade my lights - I’m pretty settled on a pair of the equinox gigabar but I’d be interested to hear of other suggestions.  

    https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/equinox_giga_bar_cob_system/

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  • FezFez Frets: 499
    We have some American DJ LED pars 3 different types I think. Most are set to fade between colours one just white and one sound to light. Lights even basic ones do make a big difference to the atmosphere.
    Don't touch that dial.
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  • vizviz Frets: 10647
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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  • maltingsaudiomaltingsaudio Frets: 3098
    www.maltingsaudio.co.uk
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  • HAL9000HAL9000 Frets: 9553
    This obviously...

    https://goo.gl/images/8DG1Ye
    I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
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  • not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
    HAL9000 said:
    Ha ha. I was there for that. A bit OTT for some of the places we play. 

    Thanks for the info to all that had posted.
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