Strobe with "Blind" function

[timtheenchanteruk]

in around 3 weeks we are putting on the annual school production, the powers that be wont allow pyros, for no reason other than they dont want to let us, and I am looking at alternatives to a flash for enterances.

 

My idea (nicked from a suggestion on here) is a box and plunger, fill with smoke, plunger it out to give a fast puff out of smoke, couple this with a stobe "blind" from behind, to give required effect.

 

so does anyone know of brands/models that have this feature, will be hiring, but are running out of time (still not finished the set build)

 

thanks

[Wol]

Doesn't a theatrical flash just have a single "normal" flash of light, therefore your required effect would just be a single flash, along with the puff of smoke, rather than a strobe in blinder mode?

 

When I've seen it done in the past, the plume of smoke is downlit with the relevant colour (clear / light pink for the good, and green for the bad if you're doing panto), the actual initial explosive flash is fairly minimal in the whole effect I'd say.

[dmoffat]

If you are looking for a strobe with such a function then you can put a Martin Atomic on 3 channel mode, thus controlling Rate, Intensity and Duration. With duration at full, you get a fairly blinder, just make sure you have enough power for them.

[ianknight]

Doesn't a theatrical flash just have a single "normal" flash of light, therefore your required effect would just be a single flash, along with the puff of smoke, rather than a strobe in blinder mode?

 

When I've seen it done in the past, the plume of smoke is downlit with the relevant colour (clear / light pink for the good, and green for the bad if you're doing panto), the actual initial explosive flash is fairly minimal in the whole effect I'd say.

 

But sadly, as the OP stated - the powers that be won't allow pyro...

[GKW]

The Atomic with a remote also provides a blinder button - I believe Stage LX hire out both.

 

GKWide

[Robin Pratt]

+1 for the Martin Atomic, BUT BEWARE, if you are going to run one from a 13amp socket and use the blinder function, you'll need to switch it to low power mode, they are very hungry beasts when at full intensity and high duration.

[timtheenchanteruk]

cheers, I can probably free up a 16A supply if Im clever with patching, will probably try the low power mode first to see if it gives the desired effect. (the martin site says 15A typical draw at high power)

 

I agree with Wol that the flash in a flash (if you know what I mean) is fairly minimal, but its the report along with the flash and smoke that give the full effect, so I was thinking of the puff of smoke from the plunger box with a longer incredibly bright "flash" maybe only a 1/2 second would work ok. but I also want the flash to be on, then off, rather than the "fade in/fade out" you get with true blinders.

 

Ill have a word with white light, we are getting some other stuff from them (like their nice new snow machine)

 

For referance the musical is Scrooge.

[willdart666]

Depending on the size of your venue, you might find its worth using low power mode anyway. I used to hire a few for night club events and found the Atomic to be somewhat overpowering when in full power mode. Of course you can just limit it on the desk and then raise it if needs be.

 

Also, from my experience of using small pyro on stage, I find it best not to refer to it as pyro when talking to those of a less technical nature. I don't mean be patronising but sometimes people can think this: Link, when you're actually only wanting this: Link.

 

If they do change their mind, perhaps suggest this: Link.

[timtheenchanteruk]

I did try to change minds, Im no stranger to pyros, been using them for long enough, even prepared a R/A and took this along with the video from the Le-maitre website and data sheet to show them what I was intending, but minds were made up...

 

PS those confetti carts are too loud for our place....Ill stick with my CO2 cannons!

[smalljoshua]

I'm currently doing the "simulated" pyro thing on Babes in the Wood. I'm using a vertical fog machine, LED Par 64 and a sound effect, all triggered simultaneously. It works surprisingly well, without the need for a really bright flash.

 

Josh

[dbuckley]

I have a low cost 1500W strobe that doesn't do blinding, but when it draws power, which it does for a short period of time, it draws 82A...

 

Works fine on a standard New Zealand 10A socket protected by a 20A breaker :)