LED lighting how good is it for Djs

   

Has any tried the newish led lighting that increasingly available on the MOBILE DISCO market how do they compare to other club and disco lights and what lights do you prefer ?

Pro's:
- Low energy use
- Very long lifetime
- LED lighting doesn't become very warm
- With the par's you can create all colours

Con's:
- light output of, let's say, a par56 is less then with a normal discharge blub..
- You get more of a 'beam' with conventional lights
- Not a really 'warm' light, the LED's

I think led lighting is great for mobile dj's; lot's of possibilities, low power consumption, and long lifetime of LED's

But in club's it's still the conventional light, because of the better light, the fact you can change the bulb's and the bigger scale. (big led light's aren't that avalible yet)

LED lighting emits less light than traditional bulbs, they do have a much longer life span and are more resist to bumps and transportation than traditional bulbs. LED's also develop a lot less heat while lit.

A PAR56 or PAR64 made from LEDs does not give the same light than a regular one.

For spot lights LED's are at this moment not a good replacement.

For decorative lighting LED is perfect. You can make it in every color you would like without changing the filter sheets.

Probably like many Djs the light has tended to take a bit of a back seat in my set  and  perhaps i have neglected my studies slightly. What are good lights for shows I welcome any hints  

For a base i should get 8x par 56 on a dimbar.. Then some nice effect's like a mushroom or something.. A strobe might be good too to buy. If you want any more i should advice a pair of scans, not very heavy and bulky but gives you some programmable movement. Then a laser is really cool! But you'll need some smoke to see the beam's better, so you get a smoke machine. Then you really have a great show.

You can do it with less ofcoarse, but in my opinion this is good, not too big to carry around, but gives you a lot of different things.

have you checked out any moving heads tizo they do  laser ones now as well. par cans on a dimmer is something i  have not really thought about as i thought maybe they are better for bands but i will consider now  thanks Mushrooms are not my personal favourites however and I think I might avoid them,but  a strobe is a classic  and I carry one already  smoke is sorted as well.  I was just looking for that something special something unforgetable I was considering a blue laser has any onr had experience with them.. Programable scanners is great idea though now then which ones are best 

I sure have checked out moving heads, they are some great things, totally love them. But the good ones take a lot of place and are very heavy so are'nt that suitable for a small drive in, if you have some kind of van they woold be good! The par's are just for some basic lighting to have something that can do a simple pattern like from left to right on the beat.
I do hate those mushrooms too, I think they're a bit cheap looking, for an effect like that i'd rather buy some cool led effect, just for the center/ceiling.
A laser is really cool, but remember it's not suitable for any place! Anyway I do think it's the most special effect you can get nowadays but the blue lasers are starting about €2000. Therefor i'd rather buy a good quality RGY laser.. Check out the ones from laserworld in Switserland www.laserworld.com 
For 250-300 euro's you have a great scanner. The Martin SCX500 is the best that priceclass I think

cheers

If you know how to operate Moving Heads, they're quite fun. If you don't, you should buy regular effects like derby's, mushrooms and after a while buy some scanners to expand your capabilities and show. I know pro's who can operate a much nicer show with regular effects than unexperienced people with moving heads.

Some fantasic hints there and cheers for the link Tizio I did check out the site, and a big up to Nvie as well for the infrared tip I never knew that and will make sure i remember it. I am still holding fast with the mushrooms and the derbys though it is just that to me they look well cheesy. I f you want a cool LED effect has any of you tried the Acme  Miracled?  I purchased two recently we have them DMX together ,with smoke and they look sweet.  If a member had the 2,000 Euros+ for a better laser though would they spend it, or still stick to the more budget  lines of lasers for less?

 This might sound a litle stupid but what is a drive in, we in the UK have no such  culture I think. Maybe I am missing out on something good

Those effect's you've bought look sweet, especially when you got 2! About the lasers, it all depends how and where you wanna you them. [ drive in show = mobile dj, like putting your gear and stuff in a car, go to a location or someone's house, packing out and do  a show there and take your gear back home again].

So if you want to youse your laser for your drive in show, depending of the size of your show, you don't need a veryvery powerfull laser, beacause you do a couple of hundred people max. (or else you'll need a truck to move the rest of your gear around). You probably don't need an ILDA controlled version too, it's just to give a cool effect so no specially designed patterns for a special event (the software for it cost a lot too starting at €1000 or something). A DMX laser will do then. The blue laser is realy cool though but people don't really care that much if you have a RGY or RGB laser, they think the effect is cool anyway!
Blue (and often white) gives it an extra touch, but if I'd buy an RGB laser in stead of an RGY one I'd do it or myself and not for my audience.

there you go! and if you want to talk a bit more about these things feel free to add me on messenger: youll have a pm with that.

you hit the nail on the head saying blue gives it that extra touch but  is it worth that extra money? I guess when you do drive ins people pay you to do them? So is it those little added touches they remember when thinking of booking you? I advertise and rely on word of mouth in what is a very competive buisness. It is very important to me to be as good if not better than the competition. While maintaining healthy profits.

Do you drive in just for fun though? I f you do I understand that buying a laser for yourself and not your audience but  i feel if its for profit then slightly it might be better to show  of as much as possible to impress your audience and increase  bookings we are showman after all.

I accept all the info about IDLA and software as my shows are not that big really  so you  are right not neccessary  but I have ambition  that soon they will be, Why buy new has two green dmx laser scanners on  sale I am tempted to buy any thoughts on those?

   Also I have a derby effect light that if any one is willing to pay postage for i will send them free of charge, I hope all the electrics are the same but you will need to check as i am unsure. I am  glad to be rid of the ugly over bright  lump of metal to be honest. I picked it up free myself along with other stufff so happy to donate it to the dj community.