Karaoke Forums

Did you mean to say you have two lighting trees, one on each side of the stage, or does this mean you have four trees?

I am experimenting with a setup of two trees, downstage, one each side of the singer. Each tree has two of the OPTI RGB LED fixtures from Elation
( http://www.elationlighting.com/ProductD ... 20Lighting )

Two of the fixtures are set to white and focussed on the singer, the other two are to be focussed on the back of the stage to create the changing colour-wash effect.

Do you think this will be sufficient or should I do as you have and focus all four fixtures on the back and get a separate white "Spot" to focus on the singer?

Sorry, that was a typo on my part. I have two trees, one tree on each side. Each tree has a total of 5 lamps on them (4 with colored gels, one no-color). The four colored are pointed at locations behind the singer (with fog it looks really awesome but without it provides a color wash on the wall) and the no-colors are pointed at the singer's area.

For your setup I think you'd be fine doing 2 whites and two color changers focused as you described. Obviously the more lights you have providing color wash, the more vivid of a wash you'll get, but that depends largely on the size of the area you're trying to light. I'd say try it with just the four lamps first and if you find you want more visible color behind then maybe add the additional no-color "spots" (or specials to use the industry term) later.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

You've hit on the two biggest issues with LED lighting. Beam angle (or dispersion) and brightness are a real challenge especially with cheaper fixtures. I've heard estimates of anywhere from 3:1 to 6:1 ratios of how many LED Par's you need to achieve the same illumination of a single incandescent Par can of the same size.

The beam dispersion is 100% a design issue. The higher end LED's create beams that very closely mimic those of an incandescent can. However the cheaper ones like the Chauvet here are good for nothing more than providing a broad wash (i.e. they don't look nearly as cool in fog).

For Karaoke where all you really need is a good color wash anyway, I think the Chauvet 4Bar would work fine as long as it's coupled with some type of no-color special setup that separately illuminates the performer. As far as applicability for a full-out light show, I agree there is none.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks for that Tony. Also your reply to Jeffsw6 confirms my decision to go with the more expensive Elation fixtures rather than the Chauvets.

I am also running a Wizard Extreme as a centrepiece behind the singer which hopefully will provide a compliment to the wash!

I've used fog for years off and on.. depending on the venue. The thing to remember is that a little fog goes a long way.

I just position the fogger on the floor and 'pointed' in the same direction as the lights I want to highlight.

I've in the past built a 'fog cooler'.. cools the fog down and lets it hang mostly on the floor, which I think is great for a dance floor.

I've never used expensive fog machines.. just whatever Chavuet fogger I happen to run across at a pawn shop or used music store. I've yet to pay more than $50 for one, and i've yet to have one die on me. I just make sure I get one with the wired remote so I can control the fog level based on the activity in the bar at the time.

I just get bored with fog sometimes.. machine ends up just sitting.. somebody comes along and wants to borrow it and I never see it again. No big deal.. I just go down and buy another one for $50 when the urge to fog strikes me again.

My current light setup is the easiest and all around best so far.. the cumulative of my 10+ years of trial and error.

1 stand with 6 par lights and two mushrooms.

4 par lights across the top of the bar, then the remaining two par lights on the outside bottom, with the two mushroom lights in the center.

Both mushrooms and one of the par lights are plugged directly into a power strip. The mushrooms are set to move with the beat of the music, and the single 'always on' par light (usually a blue light) used to illuminate the 'stage'.

The remaining 5 par lights are plugged into a simple light controller that runs through a series of patterns along with the beat of the music.

I position the lights so the mushrooms are aimed at the dance floor area, just in front of the singer, the blue flood is aimed as close to the front of the singer as possible, and the remaining par lights are aimed based on the venue.. bounced off ceilings, corners, etc.

I like to position the stand slightly to the front side of the singer to avoid the excessive back lighting 'shadow figure' phenomenon dude mentioned earlier.

In several venues i'm fortunate enough to be able to position my light tree right behind the singers lyric screen, which is in my opinion, it's optimal position.

That's my .02 cents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wcg3JcQRuw

Start a bit before 3 min. in.

Nasty people.
I have to buy it.
You can tell by his understanding of the blue diode
He should be selling hot dogs.