Need to buy Uplighting setup

Looking to know what other people are using. Lets compare Price and ease of use as well as coverage.

I'm looking a few options:

#1 - 8 PAR 64's $50 --- $400

#2 - 8 Weidemark LED Par's approx $130 --- $1040

#3 - 8 Chauvet Color palette $160 --- $1280

#4 - 12 AD LED Color Burst $60 --- $720

#5 - 8 Chauvet Colorsplash 200B - $120 --- $960

#6 - Elation Octo Pod - $900


Ok #1 is the least expensive. Will any other of my picks be as effective ( Comparison in the amount of light) and Justify the cost. If I choose LED what would be the least ammount of a particualr fixture I should use?

Cam - do you think you need par 64's for uplighting?

Perhaps a Chauvet LED colorsplash ($70) will do the trick....

Cam - do you think you need par 64's for uplighting?

Perhaps a Chauvet LED colorsplash ($70) will do the trick....

http://www.djchat.com/boards/showthread.php?t=81537

While I thank you for the info. I don't know if the mods will be happy linking to another site.

That guy had 6 lights.Chauvet Rain 56 I'm going to try 6 to start I found the same light for $90 each. and steel basplates for $10 each. Everthing together tax and Shipping will set me at around $700 to start.

I am really glad that this big lighting wedding is not til October I have a ton of purchases, then a ton of programming.


If that is my final decision I will sell my uplighting package for $150 and offer extra pars at $25 each. It will pay for itself quickly.

While I thank you for the info. I don't know if the mods will be happy linking to another site.



That's what makes this site different.......(I hope)

Cam,

My vote is for white Par 38s. I beleive MBT makes them and can be found for about $20/fixture.

Jamie

I'd stick with LED's......You could be putting the fixtures near drapery or other fabrics......hot bulb meets sheer drapery fabric = trouble

They've been uplighting venues with incandescent lighting since the invention of electricity. All of a sudden LED's are invented, and now incandescent lighting is a fire hazzard.:sprolleyes:

I'm just jealous cause' I want a dozen Rain 56's!

That's what makes this site different.......(I hope)

Don't be so sure.

I have 4 Par 38s that I use when I do uplighting, but only because I can't afford some nice LEDs for my main setup let alone uplighting. I must say they work fine, although I'd like to have a bit more light, a par 46 or 56 would probably be enough if your going incandescent.

The only concern with the traditional par would be heat. These may be on for long periods of time; the fixtures are paced near walls and possibly fabrics...a hot can and sheer drapery fabric may not play well together.....

That's where LED would excel...........

They've been uplighting venues with incandescent lighting since the invention of electricity. All of a sudden LED's are invented, and now incandescent lighting is a fire hazzard.:sprolleyes:

I'm just jealous cause' I want a dozen Rain 56's!

Harry - it's just one thing less to worry about.....20 years ago we didn't have smoke detectors.....

just put a waste can ....light some kindling for the real uplighting

...with a DJ who reads the boards. Choices are up to the individual, but cost has to be a consideration. A par 38 can and light can be had for thirty bucks, while a LED par 64 can cost as much as $200. Heat is an important issue as well as ability to change color mid-show.

Of course, the RIGHT way to go is with the DMX LED par cans, but not all can afford that. At a minimum, I'd suggest a ColorSplash JR. which can be purchased for about $50 each (if you know where). Then you can start your up lighting business with some class and color changing ability, and add to it later on. BUT, you gotta know how to program... I know someone who can teach you in one afternoon!

I also have a secret for constructing bases if anyone is interested. I might start making them and sell them to members if anyone is considering it. They are simple and easy to make and hide your cords.

"I also have a secret for constructing bases if anyone is interested. I might start making them and sell them to members if anyone is considering it. They are simple and easy to make and hide your cords."

That sounds familiar. ;)

There are other considerations that come into play when deciding on which fixture to go with.

Beam spread. Pick a fixture with a narrow beam spread. This will allow you to do streaks up the wall. If a wash is required there is plenty of difusion media that will allow you to adjust the beam spread.

Par 38's run around $ 20.00 and the bulb for them around $ 3.00. These bulbs generally have a life span of 1 to 2 thousand hours, using 2000 hours, you'll need at a minimum twenty five replacement bulbs compared to the minimum life of an LED fixture. That's $ 75.00 or so.

Par 38's can get 8 gel cuts from a standard gel sheet, gel runs around $ 6.00 a sheet so having a selection of color to choose from can add up quickly. Changing color during an event would be tacky at best.

Having the ability to dim or control Par 38's would add an entire new level of expense.

Lastly even lamped at 150w, Par 38's can quickly eat up available power.

LED's make sense on so many levels IMHO.

What's the secret!!!

Here is the Link to some floor bases. You can find them on ebay for about $12 each.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IPS-FP-06-3-4Pack-6-Par-Can-Steel-Floor-Plate-Base-NEW_W0QQitemZ370025666123QQihZ024QQcategoryZ29945Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My question to everyone is ...

Do you really think 4-12 fixtures is enough to up light a room?

For me I think 16-20 is more realistic for a square room and really you should have 25-30 in your inventory.

I just don't understand what you will try to accomplish with 4-8 lights.

Jamie

Harry, what some guys do is to frame the bottom of a parcan plywood base with 1x2 so they have an empty space underneath to hide the extra cord.

There, the cat is out of the bag now. Or is the cord out of the bag... Out of the box? Under the box? Beneath the box???????

Harry, what some guys do is to frame the bottom of a parcan plywood base with 1x2 so they have an empty space underneath to hide the extra cord.

There, the cat is out of the bag now. Or is the cord out of the bag... Out of the box? Under the box? Beneath the box???????

Great Idea TY for sharing.

Jamie as far as what can be accomplished with 6 lights??

Off topic Chris Beeler said Hi

I think it looks pretty sweet.

http://www.djchat.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=13152&d=1203897901

Steve,
That also DOUBLES the amount of space now used to store and transport them.

I'd prefer to leave my cords loosley on the floor for the guests to trip over. It is soooo funny.

(I'm kidding).

i have both the ADJ LED par 64's and the Chauvet rain56's.. I prefer the rains.. Cheaper too

Jamie Simpson: 16-20 - What are you landing an airplane? or does the venue not have any lights? Thats alot of lights....

Who's got the best price for the Rain 56's? I'm inclined to "charge" 10 of them right now.

What's that honey? You are filing divorce papers? Yes, I know I promised to stop spending. But, the guys on the dj board are making it too tempting!

I found the post that I posted about making fixture bases. That's why it sounded familiar.

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:43 am

"Ok, I'll give up one of my old tricks.

I build my own bases usually out of 1 x 8 pine cut in squares. The squares are then mounted on 1 x 2 turned on edge. Three sides are covered solid with the fourth side having a one inch spade at each end.

What this creates is a 2.5" tall box 7.5" square that has an inch and a half of empty space underneath it.... the perfect place to coil and hide excess cable.

Of course the bases are painted black."

Cam,

I think that looks very good, but what is it accenting? Personally I think the fixtures are too spread out.

Here is a pic of 8 fixtures just behind the head table.

http://lh4.google.com/houserockersdj/R87Klc7gIjI/AAAAAAAAAVU/pKG52JGxJXk/s288/lighting.jpg

Here's a video of how you light a room if you are using LEDs

YouTube - Event Lighting

I guess my point is when a client asks you for up lighting they are probably thinking more about the room then just the wall behind the dj.

Jamie,
That looks awesome. A video is a MUCh better showing of the lighting that can be achieved. Nice job!

But, now I'm really confused.

1. I thought you had all regular PAR's?

2. How did you run DMX cable to the lights in the middle of the room?

I understand the point of lighting behind the dj. I thinking more of using the fixtures on each side of the room or behind the head table as you illistrated I just used a picture to demo the effect.

Harry,

Not my pictures. Don't know

Since this whole up lighting thing took off and the gazzilion posts about them. I referrence back to the posts from the "other boards" all the time.

Jamie