Uriahdemon

Hi, thanks for your reply.

 

I have your manual but it is understanding the terms used for the naming of the channels (some quite obvious) but the others are a struggle. Its the 0-255 values I am missing and what does what within each channel for them.

 

Yes, all desk and visualiser fixture profiles are up to date. I did not think there would be an issue but there certainly is. The control from capture only allows horizontal and vertical panning in the white light.

 

Thanks for firing up Capture to see what it does and please let me know if you get a better simulation than I do.

 

Rgds Mac

If you enter the name of your laser into Google, the first link will take you to a download of the manual. There you will find much useful information about your laser, including a breakdown of the DMX chart.

 

As for the visualiser element of your question, presumably you're using the most up to date version and library your license allows? I've never looked at the simulation of lasers in capture but I don't see why it shouldn't respond as in real life. If you control it directly from capture does it respond properly? I'll fire up capture and see how it behaves.

Hi,

 

I have a Laserworld CS1000RGB MK II. Alongside this I am working with a Zero88 FLX and the visualiser is Capture.

 

As when using previous lighting control software and visualisers I cant seem to get an accurate simulation of the lasers output on the visualiser i.e. pan, tilt, colour, rotation etc.

 

When trying to adjust the fixture itself with a feed from the desk I cannot seem to get the control needed to adjust the various attributes of the laser. The manual is basically stating the various DMX channel attributes but one I dont really understand what they mean and two the DMX channel information is not broken down into what happens on the various 0 - 255 values. I have contacted Laserworld to ask for this but not had the reply I had hoped for.

 

Can anyone help with visualiser question and also the control of a laser question namely what the channel identifiers actually mean.

 

Some are quite obvious but it seems that for example colour selection on CH11 is not working as something seems to be overriding it (in live scenario as visualiser only has a constant white output)

 

Rgds Mac

 

 

 

Channel Value Function

1 0 - 255 Mode selection

2 0 - 255 Pattern selection

3 0 - 255 Circular Movement

4 0 - 255 Y Rotation

5 0 - 255 X Rotation

6 0 - 255 Horizontal movement

7 0 - 255 Vertical movement

8 0 - 255 Manual Zoom

9 0 - 255 Pattern Buildup

10 0 - 255 Dot Effect with Strobe

11 0 - 255 Color Seletion

Thanks Kerry,

 

I absolutely get that and we are just looking at things and getting good feedback such as this which will all be factored in. The clip you refer to was for what we are currently doing and understand there will have to be truss and positioning adjustments made for the video to have a chance. It is not intended to use it constantly only now and then at certain points.

 

Scaling of the production will be key in ensuring we dont take on to much for not much happening of value.

 

Rgds

 

Mac

You can't just use projection as an "add-on", your whole approach to lighting the band has to change from that shown in vidclips on the other topic. I know nothing about the tech aspects but from a visual PoV you first need to lose most of your haze/smoke or nobody will see it. Most front lighting has to go and the rig behind the band altered to allow viewing of the "back wall screen). The image is not itself passive but is a light source which changes the whole feel of your current stage image and you will be reliant on side lighting to prevent washing out the video.

 

Unless you have oodles of time and proper large rehearsal facilities to play with it all I would seriously suggest hiring in a specialist then learning from their knowledge, expertise and ideas. At the scale you currently occupy the stages look too shallow and ambient light too high for projection to work well but the main thing is that trying to do LX, FX and projection simultaneously is a big ask for experienced guys and you say you are a newbie. You are asking a lot of yourself. Our doing live bands in a rave setting was inordinately simpler yet we had a team of 4 doing LX, effects lighting, Solar type projection and film and video.

 

Thanks Mac.Calder, lots of good info there.

 

As per my last reply we are just scoping the possibles and encountering the not possibles. This type of feedback is invaluable to ensure we start off at the right level and not set expectations too high.

 

The venues we currently play rule out the use of LCD displays given the power requirements but we would like eventually to move on to them.

 

Rgds Mac

There is a reason that projection is not used that much on stage in the concert world - and when it is, it is usually used for orchestrated "stunts" and not as a backdrop - projection was basically skipped for LED walls... The reason is that 99% of lighting fixtures out there will overpower a projected image pretty quickly.

 

When doing on-stage projection for corporate events, generally we would put a fairly big gap between the back of stage and the screen - because even a simple bit of stage wash will completely wash out most projectors - by giving ourselves space we could light the talent and not spill too much onto the screen. In that sort of scenario, it works (ish). Forgive me for saying this - but I can't imagine your budget would stretch to the high brightness projectors that you generally need to do backdrop projection for a band. 3,000-6,000 lumens probably won't cut it.

 

However this is not me saying don't do video... I do not want to discourage creativity in the slightest... instead I will suggest that you look at LCD displays - you can get them relatively cheap, and you can get truss brackets for mounting them to trusses. You can (relatively cheaply) create a really interesting backdrop of various sized LCD's placed 'randomly' in space - or even just 2 or 3 displays placed portrait - and do some really cool media effects utilising the negative space between the monitors. I am pretty sure even qlab can handle that sort of display mapping. Or look at datapath or similar.

Thanks Andy,Good info there.

The plan is for us to use a media server over Artnet. I currently use Artnet with the FLX For a tracking back up on a laptop. So all that should help with the lag issue as there will be some distance between output source and the projector on occasions.

The point you make about a special fixture file for the triggering of the video is really interesting and I need to see if I can get more info on that.

We will have to buy the license for Resolume to get rid of the watermark but it will be the Avenue software as opposed to Arena.

Regards Mac

1573232013[/url]' post='578202']

Hey,

 

We use Resolume Arena, and it's great for this sort of thing. It will need a beefy laptop to run. I use the HDMI output of my laptop into a screen/projector. If the run is more than 20m or so, then reliability is likely to become an issue with HDMI over this distance, so I would then be looking to use a HDMI to SDI adaptors. Be aware that this will almost certainly start adding some lag into the system. Resolume Arena accepts Artnet from a lighting desk to control it, but you'll need to make a custom fixture profile, so that you can pick and choose what elements you need control over.

 

I'm not familiar with the Zero88 FLX desks, but the website seems to suggest these will output Artnet quite happily. I can't help much with the projector and screen side of things, as I mainly do stuff on LED walls. The softwares free to download and use, it just has an annoying watermark that appears.

 

Regards,

 

Thanks I will have a look at that.

Rgds Mac

 

1573244787[/url]' post='578213']

You could do it in qlab. Depends how much you want to do.

Hi, I do the lighting for a band and we are looking at introducing some video on a screen at the rear of the stage.

 

Initial thoughts and designs are based around simple video being triggered at song start and changed between songs.

 

OK, so I have been informed the video will come from elsewhere, but I will trigger/control it via my lighting desk (Zero88 FLX with wings) via a Media Server running the software. This will go to a short throw projector set up on the lighting truss and to a screen of course.

 

So within that for someone who has never done this there are a multitude of questions. If you dont mind I will come straight out with them:

 

• What is the config of the kit I will need to get together to make this happen. I mean what and how it is linked... media server, cabling, software on media server etc ( I have had a look at Resolume Ave.... will that do...??)
• What projector and screen surface do you recommend. I was thinking of something that is not rectangle but a little more artistic looking that we could fit up between some trussing set up for it
• How on earth are video scenes triggered from a lighting console
• With all this what is the easiest touring set up for producing the video but also for rigging

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rgds Mac

Thanks....

Genesis were the first band to use moving/automated lights.

 

I'd start by looking though videos of the band in concert and try find looks and ideas from there that you can imitate. Even if you don't have the kit on hand to faithfully replicate it, having the general feel and ambience can help a lot.

 

Thanks Kerry, I am entirely aware my role is to perhaps enhance the show a little. It is actually a Hazer (Chauvet Hurricane) but I have changed that now for a Smoke Factory Tour.

The band seem happy enough and no punters have mentioned the lights which is in my book a huge compliment, the lights are illuminating the band and are not themselves the focus of attention.

 

Genesis were major shareholders in Varilite having been instigators and part of the development of them. You are not going to replicate their shows especially as they were selling $5M worth of tickets for one-night gigs back then. You can however steal ideas as Stuart suggests.

 

I like the single-colour wash effects but would choose hazers rather than smokers and would encourage you to play more with things to personalise and create your own style. The final tip is not to diminish yourself, plenty out there to do that for you. Be proud of the show but remember, nobody ever bought a ticket to a Patrick Woodroffe show even when he was pointing lights at Genesis themselves.

 

Thanks, I am all for 'Less is More' I must admit to being at a huge production last year which really disappointed me namely there were loads of lampy toys and they were on all the time....... it was too much.

It seems fine to me. It didn't detract from the music you could see everything, maybe it was a bit too blue for me but in general I thought it did and you did a good job. Keep it this simple. I can't speak for the music - Genesis never did anything for me.

 

Simple isn't fashionable of course but you need to remember there are some of us old enough to recall the introduction of what used back in the day to be called 'light shows' when I think too often they were used to detract attention from the compulsory drum solo* and endless noodling by mediocre lead guitarists sadly influenced by Cream amongst others. (Anybody out there who can still listen to sides 3&4 of Wheels of Fire in one sitting without terminal boredom setting in? I can't sadly.)

 

Personally the increasing use of lighting in concerts in the seventies and eighties put me off rather - as a punter - if I'd been the other side of the curtain though rather think I might have displayed a different attitude.

 

*Years ago in one of the music papers there was a cartoon of a drummer starting up while the rest of the band left the stage - as they always did - but were picked up by limo and went for weeks holiday in the med returning to find him still crashing away. Trust me so often it felt like that! It's like double bass solos in jazz unless you are Cleveland Eaton

 

Thanks Paul, I have tank traps/plates and other Global Truss parts and we are looking at how this can be done better. I too think the tripod sat centre is a pretty ugly piece of kit.

I wonder how a ground package will work because you have an awful lot of stuff on the floor? maybe you could consider some tank trap plates with some small size truss of various heights with some useful stuff on them. Simple to cart around and erect? Gets the lights to a point in space where they can point up, out or down? I'm thinking of some where you have the stands, and then maybe some others gradually going lower or higher to give a nice look to the stage when the lights are off. Maybe you could even uplight the truss verticals from the ground, that would be another nice trick.

Hi Folks,

 

I am reasonably new to this lampy stuff but working with a cracking GENESIS tribute who seem to be OK with what I am providing.

 

Mostly the venues are small and I take along a ground package which you can see in the video. There is very little chance (at this stage) of venues we play to having more fixtures for me to hook in to so this is it for now.

 

I am just wondering what you more experienced folks would consider changing/amending/updating in fixtures/programming etc. The desk is a Zero88 FLX on which I have two wings..... all comments much appreciated..... proud but not so proud of the outcomes as yet.

 

 

Rgds

 

Mac

south Wales.....

 

Thanks for the info. I have had a quick look and it seems it is going to be difficult to get these in the UK. Where did you get yours please....??

Really?

I bought ours through my friendly neighbourhood Stage LX rep.

 

Where are you based?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the info. I have had a quick look and it seems it is going to be difficult to get these in the UK. Where did you get yours please....??

Further to my post replying to your other topic, when it became clear that we're not going to get spares any longer for the Staggs we have I looked at a number of options.

And whilst not a COB fixture, we've now replaced the majority of those older lanterns with Chauvet EVE P-130 - looking very good since we added to the grid over the summer. And they come with magnetic lenses that clip nicely on the business end to give either 25 or 45 degree beams.

Thanks, some good info there . !!

I had to do a similar operation on our stock of (also budget) Stagg KingPARs.

a) the main reason, I think, for the failures was they tended to overheat. And that overheating was down to a poor ventilation system which just sucked in all the dust & crap that gets generated during the life of a stage with several full builds a year.

b) the replacement COB chips are no longer available. I had the very last 11 chips that my Stagg dealer could find ANYWHERE, as they've moved on to something different now and don't manufacture back-catalogue spares. Something to definitely bear in mind when buying cheaper.

c) replacing those chips wasn't difficult per se but was fiddly - it involved getting into the front of the lantern and soldering at a steep angle due to the case being in the way. Didn't appear to be an easy way to get the whole kaboodle out of the case so just ran with it.

 

 

 

 

Hi Kevin, it always goes the way of half of the lamps so 3 go first and then others will follow in a batch i.e. the remaining 3 perhaps days or weeks later. And it is always the green element, no other colour at all fails....... just green.

I have had LED PARs fail on a colour channel due to the LED string driver chip failing rather than the chips themselves. Are all green LEDs out or just some of them (former could be the driver chip, latter the chip itself).

 

Kevin

Hi,

 

I have another post running regarding the repair of COB LED PAR's. Just in case I cannot get a viable fix together I was wondering if anyone could please recommend a good but affordable LED PAR replacement.....??

Thanks for the info. Yip very much so a budget fixture but good performance (when it works). I have no knowledge of how to check the output and/or wattage but I do know these are bright and that is what I like about them.

 

I would be more than happy to cannibalise one or two for the greater good but don't know what parts I need to replace. Although these are 6 bulbs the normal routine when they fail is for 3 to all go at the same time and the other 3 will follow in days/weeks. So although whatever part sits behind those 3 bulbs that is causing the green chip to fail may be replaced from another unit they will go eventually. So I was hoping to get a repair job done and replace whatever it is that needs replacing with some better ones so the lights will last longer.

You'll first need to find the make and model of the original COB LED. Given that your fixture is at the budget end of the spectrum, the manufacturer most likely used an off-the-shelf LED. However the LED market changes quickly, so you may find that the LED you need is no longer available. Your best bet is to cannibalise one of your fixtures and harvest its working LEDs.

 

Something I did notice in the fixtures manual is that it somehow manages to produce 180 Watts of output while consuming only 20 Watts of mains power. One or both of those numbers might be wrong! :D

Hi Gerry,

 

thanks for that but I am looking to do a self repair not only for cost reasons but also to learn a bit about this type of thing if possible.

How about contacting AVSL, the suppliers/manufactures?

Contact them at https://www.avsl.com/about/contact

Cheers

Gerry

Hi, I have a number of QTX PL-COB6 LED PAR's. A few of them are now starting to exhibit the same issue and that is the Green chip is failing. Is there any way I can cost effectively fix this i.e. get a replacement part (and what part would that be) and fit them to the unit. The fixtures themselves are reasonably cheap but very bright and I would like to extend the life of them if possible.

 

Any help or pointers much appreciated please.

Thanks xllx, that could very well be the one.

It looked as if it had a long horizontal type bulb....

 

Could well be a GLP JDC1

 

Hugely popular at the moment for concert tours.

Thanks P5 is the shape but did not pick up all the LED's from my viewing position. It looked as if it had a long horizontal type bulb.... I may be wrong though and thanks for your input.

Something from the Palco range perhaps? P5 or Q7 perhaps?

 

No mate, they were on the ground and on the other side of the stage from my view. But I am guessing and by the effect they were at least each side. Thanks for your help !!

 

I don't know, but I've found this picture on twitter. Is this the rectangular unit you're referring to, next to the CS4?

 

https://pbs.twimg.co...&name=4096x4096

 

(Via this tweet: https://twitter.com/...789181392732161)

 

Thanks... as per my reply to Jon they were on the ground.

If yes then they look like one of the high density LED strobe type fixtures such as the SGM Q7 Jon suggested above or the older X5. There are numerous alternatives from other manufacturers.

Hi, I went to a gig the other night (Midge Ure) and a fixture was being used which I would really like to identify and get a few. I could not get near the stage or the lampy hence sketchy description. It was rectangular in shape approx 30cm wide and 15cm high. Flat screen surface, and was used for RGBWUV washes but could also strobe. Any thoughts welcome please......?

 

Thanks both, I will have a look at them !!

Hi,

 

Can anyone please recommend a good reliable hazer. It will be mostly for use in medium to small indoor venues. I currently have a couple of Chauvet Hurricanes however the haze/fan outputs are not as adjustable as I would like i.e. a small amount of haze constantly for the evening. It seems it is all or nothing so results in me having to keep switching on and off. Any ideas much appreciated.

 

Rgds Mac

Replied

I've evidently got quite a lot of hens teeth then...

 

Uriahdemon - PM sent.

 

Mark

 

Thanks Journeyman, some good food for thought there !!

we replaced all the lamps in our stock of sunstrips with the showtec led replacement 18 months ago after experimenting with a few cheaper alternatives - none of which gave a satisfactory look or dimming curve.

Yes, the showtec replacements are expensive but they give a very near replacement in terms of look ( a few LD's that REALLY were sceptical about led version never noticed the swap until I pointed it out) but the vastly lower power consumption and reduction in maintenance ( not just lamp replacement but also the lack of triac replacement) and the reduction in having to manage the risk of people having to swap dead lamps out at hight is well worth it in my mind.

 

Indeed, the sunstrips go out more than they used to now that they pull less power, are more reliable etc etc, so are earning more money too.

Hi All, a few questions from you so far..........

I could replace with 50W Halogen however I cannot find 75W or 50W halogen. As Alistair mentions ...... rare as hens teeth.

Replacement to LED was to get over the halogen lamps firstly blowing and secondly their availability as per above.

Looking to replace 75W halogens with LED but not pay the silly prices Showtec are after i.e. £20 for one.

Thanks all

Hi Mark, looking to replace 75w halogens with LED's thanks.

Are you looking for LED replacements for the LED version or looking to replace the 75w halogen ones with LED equivalents?

Hi, I am starting to get the dreaded breakdowns on the original GU10 bulbs for the Sunstrip. I purchased general dimmable LED replacements but unfortunately at zero intensity they stay constantly on at a very low output. So something incompatible there and was wondering if anyone has any ideas please. I am looking for an alternative solution as opposed to spending money on Showtecs own replacements which are £20 each......??