Truss or Two T-Bars

[Digital discos 0]

At the minute I have a skytec trilite truss- as here

 

 

http://sparksdiscos.co.uk/images/newrig.JPG

 

 

Very cheaply I could make these stands in too tbars as I have some old tbars lying around.

 

So would it:

 

A: Be Best To Sell The Trilite and Use Two T-Bars? Any particular configuration

 

B: Sell The TBARs, and use the truss all the time.

 

C: Keep them both and use them on different occasions (but why?)

 

 

Before anyone comments on the front of the rig - that was pretty much a one off. I have now bought a smart black cloth.

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

the truss is better looking than T bars

 

i only use T bars when i cant fit the trussing into a venue

[High Fidelity 0]

Keep both.

 

I use T Bars for flexibilty where space is limited, but still prefer the appearance of trussed lighting.

[cj_65 0]

Yep - keep them both - no question. Last Christmas I came a cross

a really difficult venue - on a stage with a low ceiling - no room for the

trilite but you could angle two T bars.

 

Cheers,

Chris.

[RobbieD 0]

Option C) Keep both.

 

But if you really feel the need to sell something (or even just want to carry less gear) I would say keep the T bars.

 

Truss can look great, but always needs a fixed amount of space to use. Two T bars are much more flexable. You can space them wide appart on a big stage, or have them amost touching each side of your console in a small space.

 

Nowadays I only take two T bars out with me.

[Paul Forsyth 0]

I go with the majority who say - keep em both - This is the one time it's gotta be worth holding on.

 

You never know when you might need them, but when you do they're there.

 

Vinnie

[Gary 0]

If you've got the storage (and transport) space, keep 'em both.

 

As said above, sooner or later you'll either get a booking for a huge show, where you want to be able to hang as much lighting as possible, or a venue thats too tight a fit for one type of overhead rig, or the other.

 

Incidently, the trussing shown in the picture above, isnt actual Tri-lite. Tri-lite was a trussing system made (i think) by Optikinetics, which used 3 sizable poles set into triangular shape, meaning that when it was looked at "end-on" you'd see either a "A" shape, or a "V" shape, depending on which way up you had it.

 

eg:

 

-O

O O

 

or

 

O O

-O

 

Optikinetics also released a two pole version, called Ladder-light.

 

The only reason I mention this is that if, in the future, you order clamps or adaptors etc for your trussing, and advise that the bits are to fit "tri-lite" you could end up with the wrong stuff.

 

I think that Tri-lite has almost become a slanged generic term for "any overhead trussing", a bit like "Hoover" did for vacuum cleaners - even vacuum cleaners not made by Hoover. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

Edited June 3, 2005 by Gary

[MadGutts 0]

Gary is right,

 

Trilite is made by optikinetics:

Link to trussing

 

The Twin 50mm bar is Ladder, the 3 tube is Truss and there is also Quad.

 

I use Truss for my big rig and Mobile Nightclub, But i use T bars for places where the trussing will not fit.

 

So keep both, The T bars don't really take up much room anyway! And for the bigger shows, the T bars just get lost and your lights look clustered... But with the truss you can move the lighting so the whole show looks ballenced and so then doesn't look clustered.

 

Incidently, when i do have to use 2x T Bars, i stand the tripods as close as i can behind me, so the lights look a bit more spread out...

 

At the end of the day, it depends on the type of show you do... For childrens discos, you dont need trussing, but for the larger weddings, hotels etc, you would need something more substancial.

[Elite 0]

I agree with the majority who use trussing - I think it looks far more impressive than T-bars. These can be useful in limited spaces.

 

Ian

[Digital discos 0]

QUOTE

As said above, sooner or later you'll either get a booking for a huge show, where you want to be able to hang as much lighting as possible, or a venue thats too tight a fit for one type of overhead rig, or the other. Incidently, the trussing shown in the picture above, isnt actual Tri-lite. Tri-lite was a trussing system made (i think) by Optikinetics, which used 3 sizable poles set into triangular shape, meaning that when it was looked at "end-on" you'd see either a "A" shape, or a "V" shape, depending on which way up you had it. eg: -O O O or O O -O Optikinetics also released a two pole version, called Ladder-light. The only reason I mention this is that if, in the future, you order clamps or adaptors etc for your trussing, and advise that the bits are to fit "tri-lite" you could end up with the wrong stuff. I think that Tri-lite has almost become a slanged generic term for "any overhead trussing", a bit like "Hoover" did for vacuum cleaners - even vacuum cleaners not made by Hoover. biggrin.gif This post has been edited by Gary on Jun 3 2005, 01:16 PM

 

 

 

Gary as you can see the stuff isn't made by optinetics but it has 3 poles as you describe.

 

For example this - http://www.citydj.co.uk/Product_Details.asp?ProdID=104

[DJGAVT 0]

Truss! I often use one 1.5 metre length of truss as a t bar in small gigs.

[YourBigEvent 0]

Gary is correct, I'm off to do the hoovering with my Dyson, then have a Oohhhhh moment with PG Tips (or something like that !)

[nrgize 0]

Digital, Does your truss detach in the middle, and can you get a standard clamp on it ???

 

Thanks,

 

Nathan

[Digital discos 0]

Yep and Yep.

 

 

 

 

I use 33-37mm clamps, always have - I presume there standard?

[Danno13 0]

Standard is 50mm i think... but 35mm ones are just as easy to get hold of really.. about £3 each from direct distribution.

[John Kidd 0]

Another advantage to Trussing instead of T bars, is that it can really cut down on cables and time.

[Award Entertainment 0]

Whichever option you choose, I'd be tempted to fabricate a bracket to mount your two small HK speakers on the lighting tripods, thereby eliminating the speaker stands and a lot of visual clutter. There'd be no loss of audio quality and a quicker setup and pack down probably too.