Karaoke Forums

I am starting to do some research into a better lighting setup for my use at karaoke jobs, DJing, and for live sound. I really lack the vocabulary needed to have an intelligent discussion about it! The specs for DMX controllers are all beyond my current understanding, and I only recently learned that I do not need a fader for every channel in order to program my lights to do what I want.

If any of you guys have suggestions for me, or links to good reading material, or book ideas, please let me know. I want to spend about $2000 on a good light setup and I am taking a few weeks to learn before I make my purchases. Doing a good job lighting my stages for live sound is the most important thing to me, but it will also let me improve my karaoke shows and throw some more light on the dance floor at DJ gigs.

Right now I am thinking:
* 3 - 4 LED RGB fixtures on each of two T-bar trees, stage right/left usually
* DMX controller with foot-switch to advance chases or set tempo if possible
* controller with flash memory slot would be nice for backing it up; can you also do this with MIDI ports, and if so, how do you download the backups?

I'm told ColorKey fixtures are a superb value in my price range. They offer two pretty cheap fixtures with dramatically different specifications. I do not understand which one is better for me.
* ColorKey StagePar 64 : 1 watt $239
+ 52 1w LEDs, 4200 "lux" output
* ColorKey StagePar 64 : 10mm $139
+ 183 .06w LEDs, 400 "lux" output

Is there any reason, other than cost, I would want the cheaper unit? It seems like the $239 model is substantially brighter, and would better allow me to light the stage or dance floor in brighter rooms.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I think ease of setup is the biggie for karaoke lights. I would pay hundreds
for something that just wheeled right in and set up with a few flips and one plug-in.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

That is important to me also. I think I will leave the PAR cans attached to a T-bar so I can just setup the tripod pole, put the T part on it, and raise it to appropriate height. Then all it needs is a power and dmx cable. Shouldn't add more than a few minutes to my load-in / load-out time.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I have that, but I think of durability. I have a van which can hold the lights -- I can hang them from the wall of the van quite easily. But it seems so flimsy that I wonder how long it would last....

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I am planning to build a trunk to keep the lights safe while they are in my trailer. I have one of these trunks for my snakes and cables: http://www.audiopile.net/products/Cases ... heet.shtml but it was almost $400 after shipping. I think I can build one that, while it will not be as nice, will be okay for keeping lights safe, and will be the dimensions I want for the lights on the T-bars.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I just dove into lights recently. I picked up the Chauvet 4BAR which is their LED, full color (RGB), four light T-Stand setup.

Now these probably wont apply to Jeff who wants something more substantial, but for if you are a small mobile guy thinking about getting into lights I cant recommend them enough.

They are expensive compared to standard cans...around $379 but to me the positives below far outweigh the cost.

1 - They only use 40 watts TOTAL which in the bars I play was a MAJOR factor. Four PAR cans with standard bulbs would be 400-600 watts.

2 - They are BRIGHT. Now I had read tons of reviews about LED lights in general and everyone talked about how they just didn't stand up to standard cans in terms of brightness. Now, if you are U2 on stage I can absolutely agree. But for me lighting a small area in a bar they work awesome. If you point them directly at the singer, they are much too bright even, so I mainly bounce a few lights off the white ceiling & walls for a wash effect. Nothing but compliments.

3 - They came with a stand (which has it's own bag) and a very nice plush lined case for the lights themselves. Very easy to assemble. Put the t-bar on the stand, plug em in, raise em up.

4 - They are DMX capable if I ever want to get a controller in the future, but honestly these do everything I need out of the box so I don't see that happening.

For me...just adding a little pizzaz to a small bar they are fantastic. If you have a full blown stage setup you would probably want something more industrial.

Attached: Not a very good picture, but you get the idea. Lots of color, which is what I wanted.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=817159

I think the technology is getting better and cheaper. I have an LED disco ball that totally sucks, it was a waste of money. I wish I never bought it. That is why I am trying to be really careful with my LED fixture purchase. It seems that good LED cans may be pretty affordable now though.

I am trying to buy only from a vendor with a good return policy in case I don't like what I get the first time around.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I have LED's ..but tbh they look better with a smoke machine...as do my lasers.. some venues won't let me use the smoke though..so i mix the leds and lasers with traditional Halogen on the stands....I gave up on DMX tho and just have them on Sound to Light. I have the Acme Miracled(great light), American DJ Mystic LED (Ok)...and Ame lightsplash(Not as good)