Lighting for small gigs

roundthebend

I might invest in some compact and low cost lights, if such a thing exists and is worthwhile.

Lets say it's for pub gigs for 4/5 piece bands. Just some lights to add ambience, and be easy to set up.

What's the right things to be looking at? What's the smart entry point in terms of budget?

kennedydream1980

When I played in a band we had 4 of these or something very similar, they might have been a different brand, but looked the same. We had 2 on each side clamped to the PA speaker stands. No faffing on with extra light stands. 

https://www.simplysoundandlighting.co.uk/eurolite-tl-3-rgb-uv-led-wedge-triangle-truss-uplighter-dmx-dj-disco-lighting

Stratavarious

We have a couple of multi light bars, a few uplighters and a spinning thing

Ones like these go on the speakers stands https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Eurolite-LED-BAR-6-QCL-RGBA-Light-Bar/37TE

Got various modes and are plenty bright and colourful.

roundthebend

Stratavarious said:

We have a couple of multi light bars, a few uplighters and a spinning thing

Ones like these go on the speakers stands https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Eurolite-LED-BAR-6-QCL-RGBA-Light-Bar/37TE

Got various modes and are plenty bright and colourful.

Those look like terrific value. Would one or two of those be enough to get started? I like the idea of sound-to-light function, do you use that? I need to learn more about DMX maybe. Or maybe not

Stratavarious

roundthebend said:

Stratavarious said:

We have a couple of multi light bars, a few uplighters and a spinning thing

Ones like these go on the speakers stands https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Eurolite-LED-BAR-6-QCL-RGBA-Light-Bar/37TE

Got various modes and are plenty bright and colourful.

Those look like terrific value. Would one or two of those be enough to get started? I like the idea of sound-to-light function, do you use that? I need to learn more about DMX maybe. Or maybe not

We have them as a pair on opposite sides and on a slow cycle.   

One across the front with a couple of uplighters for the back and perhaps something that moves would be fine. 

We have some that look like this around floor https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165242456784?hash=item267937cad0:g:wp8AAOSwf75hwDuJ

Roland

Last week @paulmapp8306 showed me an Equinox Spectrapix. We were impressed with its brightness and the range of inbuilt programmes. You can lay it on the floor as an uplighter, hang it from a pole, or stand it on its end. One either side of the playing area, triggered by the inbuilt microphone, would work wonders. They retail for about £75 each.

Fez

We have 6 American th led par cans which are great as you can plonk them anywhere as uplighters or hang them on a bar. I really like the look of those euro lite bars might get one for us. The main thing is to have some lights nothing says amateurs like a band with no lights.

stratman3142

When I was gigging, the band had four of these: Stairville LED Flood Panel 150 40° RGB

Link below

https://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_flood_panel_150_40.htm

Roland

stratman3142 said:

When I was gigging, the band had four of these: Stairville LED Flood Panel 

We have two of these on the floor to light the back wall and ceiling, and two KAM bars on stages to light the band. Then there are two cheap incandescent PAR cans on top of the speakers, crossing the front of the stage to make the singer stand out. 

If I were starting again I would get the two PAR cans, because everyone needs to see the singer, and the guitarist when he/she steps forward for a solo. Then I’d get several Equinox Spectrapix, maybe two on the floor and two on stands, linked as master/slaves with XLR cables, so that they flash and change colour in a coordinated fashion.

bobeffect

What's the general consensus on fixed colour or built-in profiles use? Also is anyone using a DMX controller? We use 4 ADJ LED PARs to quite good effect dmx'd together... 2 as drums and backdrop uplighters and two towards the front of the stage. I do feel the vocalist & stage front illumination should be pointing downwards as it's quite difficult to position them so they don't blind the when shining from the floor upwards.

Roland

@bobeffect For stage front the best lighting is across the front of the stage, positioned slightly above the singer, pointed at his/her chest so that she/he isn’t blinded. I find that top of each PA speaker is an ideal location for the PAR can, using the suspension points. If the ceiling is really low then I put the PAR can on the side if the speaker.

The problem with built in lighting sequences is that they don’t coordinate with the music unless they use sound-to-light, and then sound-to-light is always behind the beat. If you use sound-to-light then link the lights together, with one as master and the rest as slaves. 

For DMX control I use the, now obsolete, DMXIS software running on a Windows tablet. I have five colourways, each with three lighting patterns: static, pulse, and flash. My AxeFX sends midi commands to change colourway whenever I change a guitar preset or scene. It also sends midi tempo. I’ve then got a separate push-to-make pedal on my board which cycles between static, pulse and flash.

bobeffect

@Roland was hoping I would get some words of wisdom from you cheers. Our Yamaha DMX tops have suspension points so that's a great tip thank you. I use a Helix so can put out some MIDI commands on a patch or snapshot basis. Is there such a thing as a MIDI to DMX interface?

Roland

bobeffect said:

Is there such a thing as a MIDI to DMX interface?

DMXIS does it. Hopefully someone else will have experience of alternatives.