LED sequence control system

[peza2010]

I would essentially be the programmer. I would also be the operator, though it would be ideal if the band(drummer) could have something like a MIDI selector, and select the program without having someone operating it.

 

Does your drummer use a click track (a metronome playing in his ear/monitor) when playing live? This could help a lot with the automation/use of the drummer to control the lighting live? This could also completely remove the human element from the triggering of cues because the "click track" can be created to do this automatically.

 

Another option would be another member of the band could trigger a midi cue with a footpedal - however I would suggest rather than splitting this song by song, split it part by part for each individual song which would help keeping the cues (acceptably) in time.

[musht]

Thing to remember is that diffused LED spheres will cast a gentle light and create an effect in themselves, they won`t illuminate the band particularly well.

 

Pulsar Chromasphere`s were a great product back in the day but the seperate PSU thing was a pain.

 

American DJ made a 12" DMX sphere , can only find there 6" IR controlled one now. Due to patent restrictions U.S. market is a bit thinner.

 

Try looking at Wiedamark, American DJ, Chauvet and Elation or google for DMX LED sphere, ball or cubes.

 

DMX LED sphere operates like DMX LED Par Can, power at line voltage plugs in, DMX line comes from controller and in and out to next can in daisy chain.

 

Number of cheaper controllers mainly aimed at disco market conrolling LED cans would reduce equipment list to controller, pile of DMX leads, some mains extensions and splitters, and the spheres themselves.

 

Moving things like fragile balls, budget for some sort of cases...

[Sho Bud]

I'm not trying to have the light be perfectly synced to the music. That would be very ambitious. The LEDs would

just be changing for ambience so that the lights are not displaying the same pattern/color the entire show.

 

I think I can figure out the software, I'll have time to mess with it before the lights will be used for shows.

 

What is MA NSP? Is it a console setup like this:

http://www.malightin...ntrol.html?&L=0

 

I will be the one setting everything up and repairing things when they break. I could also be the one operating it, but

I want the option of having something like a MIDI controller with switches(each switch triggering a different light sequence).

[peza2010]

I'm not trying to have the light be perfectly synced to the music. That would be very ambitious. The LEDs would

just be changing for ambience so that the lights are not displaying the same pattern/color the entire show.

 

Well in that case (if you wouldn't be too worried about the midi control) I would just use chamsys magic q with a USB dongle, programme a load of sequences in (or get someone else to do it) and put them in a cue stack with random times between the cues.

[Sho Bud]

Well in that case (if you wouldn't be too worried about the midi control) I would just use chamsys magic q with a USB dongle, programme a load of sequences in (or get someone else to do it) and put them in a cue stack with random times between the cues.

 

I'd like to stay away from consoles. I need something in a smaller package. I've been looking into these: http://www.lanbox.com/

 

Not sure if this can do what I want though.

[peza2010]

Well in that case (if you wouldn't be too worried about the midi control) I would just use chamsys magic q with a USB dongle, programme a load of sequences in (or get someone else to do it) and put them in a cue stack with random times between the cues.

 

I'd like to stay away from consoles. I need something in a smaller package. I've been looking into these: http://www.lanbox.com/

 

Not sure if this can do what I want though.

what I suggested is not a console system... It is computer based software just like the LAN box ( having used both I prefer chamsys - 10 quid for a "trial dongle" but will be plenty for what you want to do. However I would suggest buying the 60 quid dongle for the sake of th fact that Is still very cheap and gives the company what they deserve)

[Sho Bud]

what I suggested is not a console system... It is computer

based software just like the LAN box ( having used both I prefer chamsys - 10 quid for a "trial dongle" but will be plenty for what

you want to do. However I would suggest buying the 60 quid dongle for the sake of th fact that Is still very cheap and

gives the company what they deserve)

 

 

Oh, I went to the site...got the impression that it was a console.

 

Did you see the the video I posted? Do you know of any LED products out there that I would be able to build

into clusters(like in the video), while still being able to map out lighting sequences(like the sequence in the video) with Magic Q.

 

The only product that I have found are two dimensional grids of LEDs(http://www.chroma-q....eb/overview.asp). Could I buy those

grids and build whatever shape I desire, and still be able to map out the shape?

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

Thanks!

[peza2010]

I don't know about the specific product you are asking about so I will let others answers questions about that.

But the chamsys dongle in essence is a full lighting console in pc format (it is not as easy to programme as the dull consoles in my opinion, but it is do able)

 

Basically what you want to end up with Is a number of led fixtures (the golfballs as you mention) which have there own individual DMX address, which allows them to be programmed individually to do what you want. It's probably worth hiring someone to programme them how you want them to be then try will essentially run themselves. Pm myself or other members of the forum for a price on a days programming if you wish.

[Sho Bud]

Basically what you want to end up with Is a number of led fixtures (the golfballs as you mention) which have there own individual DMX address, which allows them to be programmed individually to do what you want. It's probably worth hiring someone to programme them how you want them to be then try will essentially run themselves. Pm myself or other members of the forum for a price on a days programming if you wish.

 

Do you know of any product similar to the one I mentioned that has an individual DMX address for each LED?

 

Yes, it's looking like I will need to hire someone to do the programming.

 

Thanks for your help!

[Wol]

Do you know of any product similar to the one I mentioned that has an individual DMX address for each LED?

 

There are thousands of fixtures out there which have an individual DMX address per RGB head. The chromaweb LED video screen you posted is ideal for hanging and making an LED video wall (have a google search and find some of the videos that are out there of it). It'll help you make a video wall, but glowing spheres - nope.

 

How big do you want these spheres to be? Are we looking at 5cm? 15cm? 30cm? 50cm? The ping pong ball project you originally linked us to probably just uses an LED stuck in the bottom. If you want anything bigger to be visible on stage, one LED stuck in the bottom of a large sphere just isn't going to work. The beam will be too narrow and you'll just get one splodge of light the opposite side. Trying to mount enough other LED fixtures inside balls yourself will probably still lead to more cabling fuss, and still splodgy lights.

 

Until we know what sort of scale you're going for, its hard for us to really recommend anything useful.

 

People have already recommended a few different RGB spheres already in this thread. None of them as far as I know have an inbuilt ability to mount together into shapes like pyramids etc... This will be something you have to sort out when rigging or setting them up. Possibly making some form of frame for them to mount onto. If you have a look on the Pulsarlight website theres a few photos showing various different things they've done with the chromaspheres/cubes. Do any of these get close to what you want?

[Sho Bud]

How big do you want these spheres to be?

I like the size of the ping pong balls, and like the way they diffuse the LEDs. I will probably end up going with this method.

 

Until we know what sort of scale you're going for, its hard for us to really recommend anything useful.

I also like the scale of what's in the video. maybe 5 or 6 groups of LEDs, with each group having maybe 20 LEDs.

 

If you have a look on the Pulsarlight website theres a few photos showing various different things they've done with the chromaspheres/cubes. Do any of these get close to what you want?

I'm not seeing any Chromasphere displays that show what I want. If I did use them, I want them to be in tight groups, kind of like the way the ping pong balls are in the video. The spheres might be a little too large for what I want, but the 150mm could work. I contacted Pulsar. Thankfully they have a local rep in Los Angeles that will hopefully be contacting me shortly.

 

Do you know of any LED fixtures that will work for the ping pong ball method?

 

Thanks.

[son of lx dad]

Sho Bud have you considered scale?

 

What I mean is, if you have a small pyramid of pingpong balls on the floor of a stage in a club, how will anyone beyond the front row actually see them? I mean if you stand next to a pile of pingpong balls they wouldn't even come past your shin.

 

The audience is usually in front of the band so building a pyramid or 3D sculpture that lights up on all sides and faces would be a waste, as about two thirds would never be seen.

 

You also need to consider the other lighting in a club or venue, which I would expect to be on and pointing at the stage. Will what ever product you chose to use be bright enough to have impact over the other stage lighting. The video you keep referring us to, is shot in the dark and is on camera, which is completely different to how something looks in real life.

 

I only make these points as something for you to consider and test out before you spend someones hard earned cash on a product which may not do the job you need it to.

[Sho Bud]

Sho Bud have you considered scale?

 

What I mean is, if you have a small pyramid of pingpong balls on the floor of a stage in a club, how will

anyone beyond the front row actually see them? I mean if you stand next to a pile of pingpong balls they

wouldn't even come past your shin.

I have. They will not only be on the floor, but placed on top of amps and other stuff.

 

The audience is usually in front of the band so building a pyramid or 3D sculpture that lights up on all sides

and faces would be a waste, as about two thirds would never be seen.

The structure ping pong ball structure in the video was only for example. I would construct something with audience

perspective in mind. I wouldn't want to waste my time building something that won't be seen.

 

You also need to consider the other lighting in a club or venue, which I would expect to be on and pointing at the

stage. Will what ever product you chose to use be bright enough to have impact over the other stage lighting. The video

you keep referring us to, is shot in the dark and is on camera, which is completely different to how something looks in real life.

I've thought of this also. I just need to find LEDs that are bright. The requested lighting in the venue's are usually very dim, but it

would still be best to get bright LEDs.

 

I only make these points as something for you to consider and test out before you spend someones hard earned cash on

a product which may not do the job you need it to.

That would not be good. Thanks!

[Sho Bud]

I will post pictures and video if I am successful with this project.

 

Thanks for all the help!

[musht]

About scale, in "Stop Making Sense" the Talking Heads movie, David Byrne at one point uses a very oversize suit, because a stage director explained to hime everything looks smaller on stage and needs exaggerating.

 

Other scale warning is the Spinal Tap Stonehenge scene....