Help - Budget DMX Dimmer Packs

[fcpatechies]

Hi

 

I have a problem at the moment and I have been trying to work it out for the last few of weeks but I'm not getting anywhere and I feel like my head is about to explode :blink: .

 

So my problem is that I need to buy some dimmer packs for a upcoming show which is happening in a couple of months time in a church and I have a very low budget. I will be using 16 parcans (300W each) which would be needed to be controlled individually via DMX and a desk and the only power source is 13A sockets.

 

My question is: What should I buy and where from?

 

I've done some research and have found a couple which might be ok.

Firstly TRANSCENSION Performer Series (http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productd...jsp?sku=DP29083)

and secondly Showtec Multidim MKII (http://www.thomann.de/gb/showtec_multidim_dmx_uk_vers.htm).

 

They both look similar so if I was going to buy one of the above which would you recommend?

 

Thanks for your help in advance

 

fcpa

[rossmck]

They're the same unit I think ... so in this case I'd go with the cheaper one :blink:

 

I've actually been quite impressed with Showtec's smaller dimmers, just wish they made them with 15A outlets like the Alphapack range.

[Will Perkins]

I've got one of the trancession dimmers, which I think has an excellent dimmer curve for the price point. Now I'm sure it's the same as the Showtec multi dim, although I've heard a few bad reviews on them. Swings and roundabouts really.

 

Showtec also do a nice rack mounted version of the multi dim which might be worth a looky, although your best bet might be to hire a couple of alphapacks, or even a betapack etc?

[back_ache]

We exclusively use the Showtec Multidim MKII in our theatre and have found them to be a perfectly good basic dimmer, the only modification we make is to change the incoming cabling to 16amp and a ceeform. Two small problems, there can be filament buzz (but this is to be expected on low-cost units), the other thing is with the new unit with the blue leds they can go full-load for a moment when they startup, so in your situation it is best to do a staggered start and keep a strict eye on your total load.

 

The other dimmer looks to be identical I don't whether its a re-badge or a copy-cat, but unless you find out otherwise I would assume it has the same issues.

[david.elsbury]

Why must you buy and why can't you hire?

[boatman]

If you want to buy really cheap, there's the Soundlab units from CPC. If you are fortunate to have a University connection (student or staff) you can save 20% by going to Onecall for the same product.

 

Note that these Soundlab dimmer packs have pins 2 & 3 swapped compared to most 3-pin DMX connectors, so you might also need some polarity changers.

[powersolve]

If you want to buy really cheap, there's the Soundlab units from CPC. If you are fortunate to have a University connection (student or staff) you can save 20% by going to Onecall for the same product.

 

Note that these Soundlab dimmer packs have pins 2 & 3 swapped compared to most 3-pin DMX connectors, so you might also need some polarity changers.

... they also have a really awful dimmer curve, IME. The multidims are a lot better, although not ideal.

 

The old thread here has more about the Multidim's curve.

[overhyped]

Having got one of these 'Eurolite DPX405's (same thing, different box):

 

Yep, the dimming curve isn't that good - everything happens right in the middle range, the bottom and top ends are quite flat!

It's been abused by student TV (dropped many times) for 1 year, and lived with me for two, and hasn't needed any work on it at all :blink:

 

But I do wonder about it sometimes:

All the firing angle timing happens on an Atmega(168 I think) chip, so why hasn't the programmer of said chip taken an extra 5 minutes to 'code out' the s-curve and make things a bit more linear? The Atmega will have plenty of space & time to either calculate or use a lookup table!

[osal]

If you want to buy really cheap, there's the Soundlab units from CPC. If you are fortunate to have a University connection (student or staff) you can save 20% by going to Onecall for the same product.

 

Note that these Soundlab dimmer packs have pins 2 & 3 swapped compared to most 3-pin DMX connectors, so you might also need some polarity changers.

 

I have a few of these. I brought them when I was younger about 7 years ago now. All still working well. Ok the curve great but if all you are doing is flashy par cans then its more than adequate.

[paulears]

I went to that page and noticed the price difference, but as the site didn't mention anything about the uni connection, I thought I'd see if it let me sign up. It recognised my CPC username so I picked another, found some items I was going to buy from CPC and started smiling, thinking I'd got away with it - only on sticking something in the basket did the warning pop up saying if you're not an affiliated uni - clear off!

 

Oh well, I tried.

[boatman]

... they also have a really awful dimmer curve, IME. The multidims are a lot better, although not ideal.

 

The same question comes up here over and over again, but "Cheap" and "Good" are adjectives which are extremely rarely found to describe the same product. You get what you pay for.

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

I went to that page and noticed the price difference, but as the site didn't mention anything about the uni connection, I thought I'd see if it let me sign up. It recognised my CPC username so I picked another, found some items I was going to buy from CPC and started smiling, thinking I'd got away with it - only on sticking something in the basket did the warning pop up saying if you're not an affiliated uni - clear off!

 

Oh well, I tried.

 

Yes, I tried the same route to test it but also failed. It would be rather good if other educational establishments or charitable organisations could get similar deals wouldn't it.

[srslight]

What's risetime of these units? 60-80?

[RoyJ]

;) Hi there,as we are in a simular position to you .My advice would ne dont touch the sound lab dimmers with a bargpole,I bought five and I've only got the three still working.The transcention performer of which we have two,absolutely brilliant.A collegue of mine says the multi dim 1 from shoetec are very good but the mark 2 aren't.If I were you it would be transcension performer series every time.Regards Roy,head of technicals for a christian theatre company.

[adamski1010]

I have a bunch of the Showtec Multidim (Mk1 and Mk2) and they are great wee units for the price. Perfect for wee pub gigs or events where localised dimming is preferable to having proper dimmer racks. You can mount them up on a truss or bar and forget about them.

Not too bad for £80 (or whatever they cost now.) Only problem is the IEC outs. Just make sure you make plenty of IEC to 16a or 15a jumps.

 

Cheers

-a