Mirror balls?

[yourdj]

I want to have a big (ish) mirror ball, with some good spots. Especially as that is pretty much my logo!

I don't want to rely on goal posts, but to two t bars with four lights on each. i find them more adaptable and transportable.

Is there a way to set up a mirror ball on these? i have only really seen them on goal posts etc.

Was thinking of having it on one goal post and having a spot on the other pointing at it?

Any other options :confused: ?

[wensleydale]

yes- just attach it to one side and balance on the other side like you would with any lights.
alternatively use a tbar stand specifically for the ball and turn the t bar side on so it points at the audience

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

What about having the mirror ball on the goal post like you said and have two T-bars with the spot lights on either side of your rig facing into the mirror ball.

I've seen people who put the mirror ball in the centre of the rig and fix the spot lights to the goal post/stand legs pointing up and the mirror ball. looked quite good.

[Vectis]

I've seen people who put the mirror ball in the centre of the rig

I do that. But rather than spots I use a couple of moving heads positioned away to the sides of the rig to light the ball as these can then be used as regular effects at other times.

[CRAZY K]

I want to have a big (ish) mirror ball, with some good spots. Especially as that is pretty much my logo!

I don't want to rely on goal posts, but to two t bars with four lights on each. i find them more adaptable and transportable.

Is there a way to set up a mirror ball on these? i have only really seen them on goal posts etc.

Was thinking of having it on one goal post and having a spot on the other pointing at it?

Any other options :confused: ?

I think Dave( Dragonfly) will give you a cost effective option:D

Errr thats CHEAP

CRAZY K

[bank]

alternatively use a tbar stand specifically for the ball and turn the t bar side on so it points at the audience

That you proably be your best bet.

I was considering putting one on my rig, slightly off topic, as I have a gantry although is there any way you can hold them upright rather than hanging them? So I could place it in the middle, place two spots on either end of the top bar and hey presto?

[Dragonfly]

That you proably be your best bet.

I was considering putting one on my rig, slightly off topic, as I have a gantry although is there any way you can hold them upright rather than hanging them? So I could place it in the middle, place two spots on either end of the top bar and hey presto?


i thought about this ..... nice idea until you come across a low ceiling.

[spin mobile disco]

I bought a nice stand from maplin last year for this. It has a standard t bar on top and 2 L bar attachments for part way up pole. I had mirror ball on one of the L bars and 2 spots on the t bar pointing on to it. Looks pretty good. Stand cost £39.99 and is made of aluminium so is pretty light to carry.

[PropellerHeadCase]

I've seen a T-Bar set up with an additional (homemade but tidy) thick metal strip which screwed onto the top of the T-Bar and hung the mirror-ball out from the posts.

[Sam]

I use a reasonable sized mirror ball in the middle of the rig sometimes..
I then use the moving heads to focus on the mirror ball when needed. (generally have a scenes set up so i can have the mvoers scrolling through colours)..
By using the movers it means the mirror ball is not always lit... but when the movwers are going through various patterns of movers and 'hit' the ball whilst moving... it looks rather good =)

[Woodyo]

I intend to use a couple of mirror balls this year on my truss. I have a attached a thin metal plated to the base of the motor housing , taking car to leave ventilation holes as per original base . A 10mm nut welded onto it and have attached an o clamp . Have attached a couple of pics . Makes a very secure tidy job.

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Looks good but how strong is that welding? whats the biggest mirror ball you can hang from that?

[yourdj]

I use a reasonable sized mirror ball in the middle of the rig sometimes..
I then use the moving heads to focus on the mirror ball when needed. (generally have a scenes set up so i can have the mvoers scrolling through colours)..
By using the movers it means the mirror ball is not always lit... but when the movwers are going through various patterns of movers and 'hit' the ball whilst moving... it looks rather good =)

Thanks for the replies :)

I was thinking of getting two imoves? are they easy to program so that they can shine on the mirror ball when asked? We have three in a club i promote on thursdays. they are really good! Do they pick up the moving head when rotating or would a pin spot be useful too?

Im definitely going for a smaller, quality instead of quantity approach.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I've used Imoves on a mirrorballs and they are reasonably easy to get on the balls, even with a CA-8 controller.

[Sam]

Thanks for the replies :)

I was thinking of getting two imoves? are they easy to program so that they can shine on the mirror ball when asked? We have three in a club i promote on thursdays. they are really good! Do they pick up the moving head when rotating or would a pin spot be useful too?

Im definitely going for a smaller, quality instead of quantity approach.

As Daz said the IMoves are good for that sort of thing.
I use different moving heads with more functions and stuff but as with all movers it is just a case of programming them.

The CA8 is good for letting them do their own thing (i think) but if you want to set them to certain patterns or make sure that they hit the mirror ball ocassionally.. then something like the ACME Dmx master gives you much more control.. and basically you have 8 different scenes in 32 different banks that you program..

So Scenes 1 - 8 on Bank 1 could be the movers on the mirror balls.. with scn1 being white, scn 2 being yellow etc etc.
To then get this you just select Bank 1 - Scene 1 if you want them to stay on white.
Or you can select bank 1 -> AUTO -> and set the time rate at which the scenes change.

Also pin spots may be an idea if you want the movers doing other stuff too... They can all work together.. for the spots tyou could get a DMX dimmer pack and for say a mirror ball motor you could get a DMX switch pack..
basically everything can be controlled by one press of a button if you have set it all up.


AS for say picking up a mirror while moving around.. it depends if you set it up as plug and play or prgrammed. You can set up the movements so that they go a certain direction.. so they 'sweep' over the mirror ball.

Hope that makes some sort of sense...
Feel free to call my up on msn or something sometime and I can explain it better and answer questions. :)

Sam

[Vectis]

Ow! My Balls....

If you're really careful you can even use a couple of dynamos.

[Corabar Steve]

Eh??

[Vectis]

Eh??

Don't tell me you've never encountered Raul?

Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3FFw_0kwuI and all will become clear!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The CA8 is good for letting them do their own thing (i think) but if you want to set them to certain patterns or make sure that they hit the mirror ball ocassionally.. then something like the ACME Dmx master gives you much more control.. and basically you have 8 different scenes in 32 different banks that you program..



You can use the CA-8 to move the heads manually and when you put it to that setting, they 'remember' where they were, so go back to the position that you set them at - eg: on the ball.

[Corabar Steve]

Don't tell me you've never encountered Raul?

Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3FFw_0kwuI and all will become clear!
Nope only Raul the dolphin.

[Sam]

You can use the CA-8 to move the heads manually and when you put it to that setting, they 'remember' where they were, so go back to the position that you set them at - eg: on the ball.

Ah ok!.
Thats clever :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ah ok!.
Thats clever :)

And easy for DMX dimwits like me. ;) :o

[Sam]

And easy for DMX dimwits like me. ;) :o

:p ;) :p

[yourdj]

Good, i have two of the ca-8, which i use with the scimitars and other lights. Never quite worked out exactly how to use it! Just tend to use the cut out and slow at the moment.

I have used the other controller in a club set up when the band was playing. How do you dj and use the bigger controller at the same time? can it be pre programed to go to certain music etc.

[yourdj]

Just need a filler light (s) at mo i think.

On a budget for now im considering a 2 scimitar, 2 super novas and one spot (pointing at m.ball) on a t bar. also another t bar on opposite side with a mirror ball and two other super novas?

Any other suggestions would be good.

Will upgrade to a moving head in a couple of months.

[alanni1]

For those of you who are currently using mirror balls in your rig, what way are you transporting them? is anyone supplying flight cases or similar which would avoid them being damaged as i'm guessing they would not stand up to much abuse.

Alan
SoundwaveEntertainment (http://www.soundwave-entertainment.co.uk)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

For those of you who are currently using mirror balls in your rig, what way are you transporting them? is anyone supplying flight cases or similar which would avoid them being damaged as i'm guessing they would not stand up to much abuse.

Alan
SoundwaveEntertainment (http://www.soundwave-entertainment.co.uk)

I won't give you the lecture about using the forum search...

http://www.terralec.co.uk/full_flight_and_tour_cases/flight_case_for_30cm_12_mirrorball/22910_p.html

You can also get padded bags, but I'm not sure how much protection they would afford.

[Sam]

For those of you who are currently using mirror balls in your rig, what way are you transporting them? is anyone supplying flight cases or similar which would avoid them being damaged as i'm guessing they would not stand up to much abuse.

Alan
SoundwaveEntertainment (http://www.soundwave-entertainment.co.uk)

or you can get flightcases custom made =)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

or you can get flightcases custom made =)

What would be the point of that? :confused:

I've just given a link to off the shelf ones that are bound to be cheaper.

[Sam]

What would be the point of that? :confused:

I've just given a link to off the shelf ones that are bound to be cheaper.

We are all allowed to suggest things..
And some people prefer to use custom ones.
I'm not saying he should.. just that it is an option.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

We are all allowed to suggest things..


I never said you'e not.

But why would people want to pay through the nose for a flightcase when there are cases ready made for the job at a very reasonable price?

[Woodyo]

I Have found that a drum cases are good for mirror balls , you can get hard cases ones but the cheaper lightweight ones do the job. I bought a couple of Le Blond ones off ebay and there very good for transporting your balls!

[flatliners]

wouldnt say a 12" mirror ball fit in a 12" record case
or is 12" to small