I Need Some Wash Lights

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DJ Bobcat

DJ Extraordinerror
Nov 8, 2014
9,290
14,262
Oklahoma City
I'm upgrading my dance light setup and I need some wash lights. When I bought my first dance lights, more than two years ago, I bought a bunch of effect lights, but didn't buy any wash lights. I keep it from being too crazy by switching lights off and on using different combinations of lights, but without wash lights, my light show is kind of a hot mess. I'm still using Sound Active mode, but plan to switch to my MyDMX 2.0 and control software on my computer. DMX control was too much for me to handle when I first started DJing, but I think I'm ready to make the switch. However, I don't use lights for many of my events; more than half of my gigs are corporate/office events where the music is more for ambiance than for dancing.

I'm looking for suggestions... I have no idea what my budget is... $500 seems like a good ceiling. I have no idea how many wash lights I should get, but 4 would seem like a good number when combining them with some of my effect lights. I don't need to light anything as large as a gymnasium and my gigs never exceed 250 people (usually 100-200). I've been looking at systems like the Chauvet Mini 4Bar, or ADJ Jelly Par Profile.

I look forward to your suggestions.


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I like the full size 4Bars .. I have 2 . an original 4Bar and a 4bar Tri (bought off someone to replace another original 4Bar that got broken). I use them off my DMX controller for wash .. I have scenes set for various colors that I manually go through.

I actually prefer the older 4Bar, since it isn't as bright for smaller environments .. and on sound active, it has some neat patterns it uses for the 10mm diodes.
 
I like the full size 4Bars .. I have 2 . an original 4Bar and a 4bar Tri (bought off someone to replace another original 4Bar that got broken). I use them off my DMX controller for wash .. I have scenes set for various colors that I manually go through.

I actually prefer the older 4Bar, since it isn't as bright for smaller environments .. and on sound active, it has some neat patterns it uses for the 10mm diodes.

Do you frequently use both bars at the same time, and do you have effect lights as well? How large of an area/number of dancers will that cover? It seems like a lot of light![emoji4]

I've only been using one light tree most of the time. I can mount lights on top of my speakers (as has been discussed in another recent thread), but don't plan to use a truss. Ease of setup is REALLY important as is compact size (the minivan is already packed pretty tightly[emoji1]). Having cases included would also be good.


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Do you frequently use both bars at the same time, and do you have effect lights as well? How large of an area/number of dancers will that cover? It seems like a lot of light![emoji4]

I've only been using one light tree most of the time. I can mount lights on top of my speakers (as has been discussed in another recent thread), but don't plan to use a truss. Ease of setup is REALLY important as is compact size (the minivan is already packed pretty tightly[emoji1]). Having cases included would also be good.


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For the small events I do, I usually only bring one. For the larger 100+ ones, I usually have both .. the older one on sound active and the 4Bar Tri set for wash.
 
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For the small events I do, I usually only bring one. For the larger 100+ ones, I usually have both .. the older one on sound active and the 4Bar Tri set for wash.

You didn't mention whether you use effect lights with your wash lights too? I have a couple of Mini Kintas, but my other lights are non-DMX, so I won't be using them after I remove the Eliminator ET PRO-8 from my setup.


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You didn't mention whether you use effect lights with your wash lights too? I have a couple of Mini Kintas, but my other lights are non-DMX, so I won't be using them after I remove the Eliminator ET PRO-8 from my setup.


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I got rid of my Revo 4. I have been bringing a pair of Inno Pocket Scans and a Pair of Blizzard Flurrys (small movers). I stopped bringing my laser.

I also bring a UV Bar for certain events and have a few uplights if desired (I don't charge for them - 4 Blizzard pucks and 1 Chauvet Freedom Par).

I broke one of the Scanners last time I used it, so in need of replacing it).
 
I got rid of my Revo 4. I have been bringing a pair of Inno Pocket Scans and a Pair of Blizzard Flurrys (small movers). I stopped bringing my laser.

I also bring a UV Bar for certain events and have a few uplights if desired (I don't charge for them - 4 Blizzard pucks and 1 Chauvet Freedom Par).

WOW!!!... That must be a helluva light show![emoji3] Not sure I want to go that big just yet. What do you think of the 4Bar Flex? I could mount two Mini Kintas on top and aim them slightly to each side. That would cover most dance floors I think.


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I've used a 4Bar (terrible build quality), a Blizzard Weather System (too bright and a footswitch that provides zero useful functionality), and I currently use an ADJ Dotz T-Par. The T-Par is by far the best of the three, with great color mixing, the ability to flood a gym with light, removable lenses that allow you to use them as more of a spot-type fixture, and the ability to attach two other lighting effects to the top and control them (on/off) from the T-Par's remote.

I usually use it standalone for weddings, and with two Swarm Wash FX's at school events.
 
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WOW!!!... That must be a helluva light show![emoji3] Not sure I want to go that big just yet. What do you think of the 4Bar Flex? I could mount two Mini Kintas on top and aim them slightly to each side. That would cover most dance floors I think.


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No .. for most events it's just a 4Bar in the back, 2 scanners mounted on the sub poles and the movers either on the subs (in front of the poles) or mounted on the same Ultimate light stand as the 4Bar.
 
I've used a 4Bar (terrible build quality), a Blizzard Weather System (too bright and a footswitch that provides zero useful functionality), and I currently use an ADJ Dotz T-Par. The T-Par is by far the best of the three, with great color mixing, the ability to flood a gym with light, removable lenses that allow you to use them as more of a spot-type fixture, and the ability to attach two other lighting effects to the top and control them (on/off) from the T-Par's remote.

I usually use it standalone for weddings, and with two Swarm Wash FX's at school events.
The build quality seemed to be OK (though I lost one when a guest accidentally hit a light stand that was being set up and knocked it over. The footswitch on the 4Bar isn't bad .. I use it when I run sound active.

I won't bother with the Swarms or similar units as I will not aim lasers at people .. just my policy.
 
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I always like the Chauvet Colorstrips.
I have a full size one, and a Mini.
I like that you can go with a static color, or use it in sound active mode.
 
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I won't bother with the Swarms or similar units as I will not aim lasers at people .. just my policy.

I agree with you on the lasers... I don't have any and probably won't... but the DO look pretty cool.[emoji1]

The foot switch is another thing I'm unsure about. If I'm running DMX, would I ever need it, other than maybe the blackout switch?


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I've used a 4Bar (terrible build quality), a Blizzard Weather System (too bright and a footswitch that provides zero useful functionality), and I currently use an ADJ Dotz T-Par. The T-Par is by far the best of the three, with great color mixing, the ability to flood a gym with light, removable lenses that allow you to use them as more of a spot-type fixture, and the ability to attach two other lighting effects to the top and control them (on/off) from the T-Par's remote.

I usually use it standalone for weddings, and with two Swarm Wash FX's at school events.

So you're using just one ADJ Dotz T-Par (four pars) with two Swarms on top? What kind of coverage does that give you?

The ADJ Dotz T-Par looks like a pretty good option. $399 (maybe less with discount) gets you everything you need.[emoji4]


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I agree with you on the lasers... I don't have any and probably won't... but the DO look pretty cool.[emoji1]

The foot switch is another thing I'm unsure about. If I'm running DMX, would I ever need it, other than maybe the blackout switch?


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With DMX, no .. I think it blocks out DMX if it's plugged in, but you can step through programs, blackout and turn on sound active with it.
 
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I will agree with Brendan that if you are looking for lots of light, the Dotz are better than the 4Bar Tri (or its current versions).
 
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I always like the Chauvet Colorstrips.
I have a full size one, and a Mini.
I like that you can go with a static color, or use it in sound active mode.

The color strips look cool. I had thought at one time about mounting one (vertically) on each sub pole, but then decided it might be too gaudy.[emoji1]... especially with my frenetic effect lights.[emoji1]


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Are the Dotz fully dimmable?


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In 9 and 18-channel modes (other modes you can set the R,G,B values to mimic "dimming").

It does have a nice feature that there are 2 additional AC outlets on the bar that are DMX switchable on/off.
 
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