What Lights To Buy?

[Owen 0]

Hi there. :welcome: This is my first post so please be kind :scared: After looking through other posts I am now totaly confused to what the best lights are and what what are their effects to a room. I have been DJ'ing for about 2 years on and off and have been borrowing a friends lights. I am now looking to get my own. I have a budget of about £150 to start me off and then will add to the setup as time goes bye. I am not sure what light/s to go for first to give a impact. I have a gig in 2 weeks. Any help or advise would be apricated. Thanks.

[TonyB 0]

£150 isn't going to go very far. What type of gigs are you doing? To make best use of your money, there will be a difference depending on if you are mainly doing teenage parties or older parties (e.g. 40th's). Younger parties will probably want something a bit more active and flashy whereas older parties you could get away with something more subtle like a few LED PAR cans.

[biggav 0]

Acme Impossibled or Miracled.

 

I bought my miracled for £110 including delivery. Fantastic centre piece on its own or you can link more than one together or use with a DMX controller later on.

 

there are various video's on youtube.

 

I also bought 2 X american DJ starball's which were £35 each and create a fantastic disco ball effect (but with much brighter and crisper stars around the room.

 

all of the new LED lights create really good beams when used with smoke.

[Owen 0]

Thanks for the reply. My next gig is for a scholl leaving disco with the ages rangeing between 6 and 9 and in about 4 weeks a nursary bbq with 5 year olds to start then into a full disco with mixed age ranges up to about 40. I was looking at the Acme Impossibled but was not sure how effective it would be on its own. The american DJ starball's look like they will liven the place up. Can they be controled along with the Impossibled with a Acme CA 8 Hand Lighting Controller? Will probley go full DMX at a later date.

 

biggav can you point me in the direction of where you got your american DJ starball's from as I can only find them at about £50?

 

Sorry about all the questions...

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Don't forget the excellent Soundlab Vastos for £25 each. Get 3 of these and say 2 of the starballs mentioned above and you have 5 lighting effects within your budget.

Edited June 21, 2009 by Norfolk DJ

[Owen 0]

Well that will give me something to think about. decisions decisions............... I might have to try and up my budget.

[fester 0]

I'd also recommend the Acme Impossibled but you'd only end up with one effect - not exactly a thrilling lightshow.

On such a small budget i'd definitely have to second what NorfolkDJ said.

That will give you enough lighting to get you started and then you can start replacing them with more expensive effects.

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

Even when you expand your lightshow later on, the vastos and starballs will still be used used to either supplement to large lightshow or to be utilised for a small/medium show - £150 very well spent imo

[Paul The Party DJ 0]

The ADJ Revo3 gives you loads of bang for your buck.

BUT it's just gives you a red/blue/green combination.

I use mine in many different ways - sometimes down onto the floor - sometimes on the ceiling. If you have a goal post bar you can switch it around during the gig.

Cheers

Paul The Party DJ

[biggav 0]

I got the starballs from Zelma sound and light on ebay... they are now upto £50 by the look of things due to crazy inflation!!! there is a DMX version available for around £70... though if you were spending that, it would be worth spending a little more and getting the sunray Tri LED version which are unbelievable.

 

As for the miracled, I was blown away by it from the word go. i set it up in the living room, just switched it on and let it do its own thing on sound to light with MTV up loud and it was fantastic. The kids went mad for it!!!!

I then took it to the social club at the fire station i used to work at and again just plugged it in and let it go.. i put a tune on my phone against the mic and it amazed us all for about 35mins as it really fills the room up. In smoke, it's unbelievable!!! I used it last night in the biggest hall in town and it gets moving colour on the floor, walls and ceiling and is really bright at any distance.

 

This pick is shows the starballs and miracled.... you can just make out the vasto too.... i don't bother with it anymore!!!!

 

 

Edited June 21, 2009 by biggav

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

id recommend the Acme Supernova pack

 

4 Heads which rotate, 2 colour 2 white

pack includes a great bag, 3 DMX leads, a Hand Controller, 4 G Clamps and nuts and bolts

all for £155 with shipping

 

i have 2 sets lol, love them!

 

http://www.saveltd.co.uk/acme-super-nova-p...g-155-130-p.asp

[Owen 0]

Thank you for all your replys. There is lots to choose from which probably isn't a bad thing other wise everybodys set would look the same. I like the look and effect of the acme ImpossiLED. Not sure. I will make my decision over the next few days. I will let you know. Thanks again

[flash911 0]

id recommend the Acme Supernova pack

 

4 Heads which rotate, 2 colour 2 white

pack includes a great bag, 3 DMX leads, a Hand Controller, 4 G Clamps and nuts and bolts

all for £155 with shipping

 

i have 2 sets lol, love them!

 

http://www.saveltd.co.uk/acme-super-nova-p...g-155-130-p.asp

 

I bought a set also , but no to impressed by them :ads: .

Good set of lights for the money :dukesy: , but dont do much :zzz: .

HMMMMMMMMM am I just being picky

[bluejools 0]

i would agree - the supernova has its place in small venues - but is instantly swamped by even a single "major" light like the impossibled.

[Owen 0]

I bought a acme ImpossiLED in the end. Just finished a gig and was very inpressed with the light display..............BUT cant be used on its own! ;thumbdown: I had 8 ( 4 each side ) PAR lights and the impossiLED and I did not think it any where near enough of a good light show. I was not expecting the impossible ( no pun intended) :ads: but need to add to it. Any thoughts.......? Prob got a budget of about £100.

[fester 0]

Do you have a local DJ shop you could visit?

Lighting always seems to be a very personal choice and what I love you might hate.

My local supplier is always more than happy to turn out the lights and give you a demo. Definitely much better than trying to make a choice by watching dodgy youtube clips :)

[gadget 0]

Are there any decent sound + lighting shops in the Bolton/Preston/Manchester area?

[Robster 0]

Are there any decent sound + lighting shops in the Bolton/Preston/Manchester area?

 

let me know if you find any!

[gadget 0]

let me know if you find any!

 

Didn't there used to be a sound control in Manchester (before they went belly up?). Wasn't it on Oxford Road? Hmmn..

[Dream Catchers 0]

Didn't there used to be a sound control in Manchester (before they went belly up?). Wasn't it on Oxford Road? Hmmn..

I used to go to Roger Squires on Deansgate in Manchester in the 70s and 80s, that is long gone now.

In Bolton I've always used HW Audio on St Georges Roads.

There was another shop in Bella Street, Daubhill, Bolton called PSL (Premier Sound and Light), that too has disappeared.

 

Jim

[Harford Hop 0]

id recommend the Acme Supernova pack

 

4 Heads which rotate, 2 colour 2 white

pack includes a great bag, 3 DMX leads, a Hand Controller, 4 G Clamps and nuts and bolts

all for £155 with shipping

 

i have 2 sets lol, love them!

 

http://www.saveltd.co.uk/acme-super-nova-p...g-155-130-p.asp

Hi how much control do you have over this set can you speed up and slow them down ?

Cheers !

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

you get a mini controller which has three buttons

 

one is blackout

two is Strobe

Three is Slow mode

 

also one thing they dont put in the manual is, if you put Dipswitch ten down on Heads 2 and 4, they will do opposites when you press the Strobe button