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Benny Smyth
21-05-2017, 09:01 PM
Another thing I saw at BPM and thought to myself "I'm havin' that!"

Actually, that's not true. At first, I thought it looked absolute crap. Then I was given a chance to programme it and I started to get a feel for what it can do. As a result, I bought 4 of them to replace my moving head wash effects.

9 RGB+UV LEDs around the outside which you can individually control across three zones, 21 strobe LEDs and a central COB LED. The fixture is ridiculously bright, and I think is a great combination of a wash and effect light, and when programmed right, it's actually quite pretty to look at.

Not bad for less than £140 each. :approve:

rth_discos
21-05-2017, 09:58 PM
Have you got a video of them DMX'd?

I think they're a really cool light. I don't have any use for them personally as I'm happy with my current light set up, but a bank of those controlled properly gives you quite a wide range of effects, and can provide some nice effects around the booth on the light itself. Difficult to describe but almost like how the old lightboxes used to look. Most lights these days don't provide any "look" when you look at the light itself.

Am I making any sense trying to explain myself lol?!!!

If I were to have a second "basic, small compact system", these would be on the shopping list.

Benny Smyth
21-05-2017, 11:37 PM
Have you got a video of them DMX'd?

Well this weekend I've set it all up in the back garden to get some programming done (I did have a better plan than that, but couldn't find an available room big enough in such a short time).

http://i64.tinypic.com/2q8u1vs.jpg

Last night was a short session as I was freezing my nads off, so I did a follow up session today but the glorious sunshine didn't help! Long/short of it is that my programming is done, and hopefully it'll just need a bit of refinement which I can do the next time I'm working. Will try and get a video done soon though.

Nakatomi
21-05-2017, 11:39 PM
I've been lamenting Chauvet's discontinuation of the WashFX for a while now & was hoping to see something suitable to replace it. Can't think how I missed this at BPM mind..

Anyway I think 2 of these would do me fine - I'm planning on doing away with my Equinox gigabar wash soon - it's just far too much most of the time & it spends most of its life dimmed to DMX 127 or so.

A good vid showing the FXpar 9 BTW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC4M68u24sQ

- - - Updated - - -

I've been lamenting Chauvet's discontinuation of the WashFX for a while now & was hoping to see something suitable to replace it. Can't think how I missed this at BPM mind..

Anyway I think 2 of these would do me fine - I'm planning on doing away with my Equinox gigabar wash soon - it's just far too much most of the time & it spends most of its life dimmed to DMX 127 or so.

A good vid showing the FXpar 9 BTW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC4M68u24sQ

Imagine
22-05-2017, 01:31 AM
Well this weekend I've set it all up in the back garden to get some programming done (I did have a better plan than that, but couldn't find an available room big enough in such a short time).

http://i64.tinypic.com/2q8u1vs.jpg

Last night was a short session as I was freezing my nads off, so I did a follow up session today but the glorious sunshine didn't help! Long/short of it is that my programming is done, and hopefully it'll just need a bit of refinement which I can do the next time I'm working. Will try and get a video done soon though.


OOohhh...initial response to Gavin's "it's like an old fashioned light box" comment resulted in Pinot Grigio being spattered on the laptop screen from this end (sorry...two very different technologies...take it from me whilst trying to convert my Retro Roadshow to LED and the customer comments I've received).

But....seeing these mounted on trusses......somebody pass the tissues please :o

I've got a collection of 1m and 2m truss podiums which rarely go out these days (because every Sid in the area has saved up his pocket money and got a set from FleaBay). I'm now seriously tempted with these.

Not looked at the specs (yet) - how controllable are they? i.e. can you do a first dance on static colours? Are they bright enough to fill a hall which will hold say 200 people?

rth_discos
22-05-2017, 07:58 AM
OOohhh...initial response to Gavin's "it's like an old fashioned light box" comment resulted in Pinot Grigio being spattered on the laptop screen from this end

I know - it was the best analogy I could find. Obviously they aren't the light boxes (I'm just old enough to have had 4 of them in the very first disco), but I can't think of any lights around at the moment that show movement on the light itself :)

On another note, these are also worth considering for the same style effect: https://www.chauvetdj.com/products/fxpar-3/

If anything - the 3 gives more options with the smaller LEDs for "movement" programming. Although slightly less bright from the main LEDs (3 x 8w rather than 9 x 4w).

Benny Smyth
22-05-2017, 10:42 AM
Not looked at the specs (yet) - how controllable are they? i.e. can you do a first dance on static colours? Are they bright enough to fill a hall which will hold say 200 people?

The video that Justin put up is a good indicator of how well they can light up a room. I don't see any reason why a couple of these wouldn't brighten a room easily. I've actually created a scene for the sole purpose of being stage blinders, so they are really bright.

As for how controllable they are, the short answer is very if you are using DMX. You can DMX using 3, 6, 9 or 23 channels with the latter offering you lots of flexibility on controlling the outer three zones, SMD LEDs and the COB LED - all of which can be controlled independently.

rth_discos
22-05-2017, 11:47 AM
In terms of control, my frustration with the Wash FX was the lack of "fade" when trying to dim the lights - they flashed well, but didn't do nice fades.

Can you do nice slow colour wash fades on this unit?

Benny Smyth
22-05-2017, 11:55 AM
Can you do nice slow colour wash fades on this unit?

Yes. It's actually very good at that. I created a scene yesterday that I've wanted to do for so long, but my moving head washes restricted me.

Nakatomi
22-05-2017, 06:19 PM
In terms of control, my frustration with the Wash FX was the lack of "fade" when trying to dim the lights - they flashed well, but didn't do nice fades.

Can you do nice slow colour wash fades on this unit?

I run a nice slow fading rainbow chase on my WashFX without any problems (in the maximum channels DMX mode). I've seen what the WashFX does in S2L & it ain't pretty. A few people I've spoke to about them have said they were great, but so so limited & I'd tend to agree with them. If the FX Par 9 is similar enough in brightness these will be my next lighting purchase.

rth_discos
22-05-2017, 07:49 PM
I run a nice slow fading rainbow chase on my WashFX without any problems (in the maximum channels DMX mode). I've seen what the WashFX does in S2L & it ain't pretty. A few people I've spoke to about them have said they were great, but so so limited & I'd tend to agree with them. If the FX Par 9 is similar enough in brightness these will be my next lighting purchase.

Would love to see a video of that - I was never able to achieve the fade I wanted and always ran it in DMX... it seemed the fade curve was a bit strange, where it'd barely dim as you pulled down the from 255 down to about 50 - and then it'd very quickly disappear after that. So was hard to achieve a smooth fade in Freestyler - was always a bit "sharp".

Nakatomi
22-05-2017, 09:05 PM
Would love to see a video of that - I was never able to achieve the fade I wanted and always ran it in DMX... it seemed the fade curve was a bit strange, where it'd barely dim as you pulled down the from 255 down to about 50 - and then it'd very quickly disappear after that. So was hard to achieve a smooth fade in Freestyler - was always a bit "sharp".

Ah well I dunno if you've noticed with yours, but mine really doesn't like being videoed.. it flickers like hell on all the cameras I have at my disposal

Benny Smyth
27-05-2017, 02:11 PM
Yes. It's actually very good at that. I created a scene yesterday that I've wanted to do for so long, but my moving head washes restricted me.

I sort of take this back. When it fades from colour to colour, it is as smooth as a baby's backside.

From blackout into a full beam, it is a little bit jittery. Maybe I noticed it more after staring at it for ages, but it is there. Mrs. Benny didn't notice it and still couldn't after I pointed it out.

Benny Smyth
18-06-2017, 02:22 AM
Finally got into a function room what I could a quick video of the FX Par 9s in action before the gusts arrive.

Here's a quick little light show. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXQxfgdyFc&feature=youtu.be)

There was also a question of how smoothly they transfer from one colour to another, so I recorded this to show that (https://youtu.be/3v3wbpQH4gQ).

Disclaimer: Crap videos.

DJ Jules
18-06-2017, 11:04 AM
Finally got into a function room what I could a quick video of the FX Par 9s in action before the gusts arrive.

Here's a quick little light show. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXQxfgdyFc&feature=youtu.be)

There was also a question of how smoothly they transfer from one colour to another, so I recorded this to show that (https://youtu.be/3v3wbpQH4gQ).

Disclaimer: Crap videos.

My concern with these types of wash fixtures is that they're just too damn bright. I've got a bunch of LEDJ 7q5's and I've noticed the same issue when fading from full on to nothing (no visible difference when fading down to about 50 then down to nothing in that last bit). I've got a theory that you can't see the fade because you're looking directly at the lights during testing and they're effectively saturating our vision :D When you look into the room away from the lights the difference is noticeable (as is a change in colour when mixing).

They definitely saturated your camera at points in the vid, I can't imagine what that would be like if I was stood on the dance floor?

Very careful positioning and programming required :D I notice one of the manufacturers have launched a combination Spot, Wash and FX moving head this week (can't remember the name of it now, I'll have to Google to find it)

Nakatomi
19-06-2017, 12:09 AM
Well. Benny that's some very nice programming indeed. I think the FX Pars aren't what's blinding the camera though - that's almost definitely one or more of your movers catching it right in the lens. Probably means the FX Pars are bright enough for a general dancefloor wash - and I've been looking for something to one day replace my gigabar. A couple of these would probably do a fair job for most my gigs

Benny Smyth
19-06-2017, 05:18 PM
Well. Benny that's some very nice programming indeed. I think the FX Pars aren't what's blinding the camera though - that's almost definitely one or more of your movers catching it right in the lens. Probably means the FX Pars are bright enough for a general dancefloor wash - and I've been looking for something to one day replace my gigabar. A couple of these would probably do a fair job for most my gigs

Cheers, Justin. As for probably being bright enough, well...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCjqugNXkAIcUMx.jpg

Four of them washed that room out. I suspect that two would have done the job, to be fair.

Excalibur
19-06-2017, 08:00 PM
My concern with these types of wash fixtures is that they're just too damn bright.
As is mine. At recent dealer nights at Liversedge, almost all lights demoed seemed to be designed to blind as many people as possible, as comprehensively as possible.
I can foresee guests turning up at gig wearing welder's face masks! :eek:




https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCjqugNXkAIcUMx.jpg



Benny, I'm seriously impressed with that piccy. :approve:



I mean, Lon Chaney Jr as your roadie..................................:D

rth_discos
20-06-2017, 10:18 AM
I notice one of the manufacturers have launched a combination Spot, Wash and FX moving head this week (can't remember the name of it now, I'll have to Google to find it)

What be this light?

The last one I saw that achieved this is the excellent Intimidator Trio from Chauvet... will be interesting if there's a competitor to that that's been produced...

Nakatomi
20-06-2017, 11:28 AM
Could be the new thing from Equinox. Saturn, I think they're calling it.

mattydj50
20-06-2017, 01:17 PM
I can foresee guests turning up at gig wearing welder's face masks! :eek:




That would have been beneficial at one wedding I did recently where the local beauty salon would have had to put in some serious overtime on some of the guests there.

DJ Jules
20-06-2017, 10:32 PM
Could be the new thing from Equinox. Saturn, I think they're calling it.

That's the one I saw - however there's not a lot of info on it at the moment and Beamz have something out called the Illusion (alright, not exactly a a quality brand, but it'll give you an idea of the concept).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh9g4aFmj1c

Julian

mark@pegasus
04-08-2017, 02:06 PM
Could be the new thing from Equinox. Saturn, I think they're calling it.

Videos now available for the Saturn Spot (I have just ordered a pair;)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXoEPtNDYwE

mark@pegasus
04-08-2017, 02:08 PM
Oh and taking out my FX PAR9's for the first time tomorrow