Strobe lights - who uses them?

[OllieJames]

Hi all (for the 1,000,000th time today!),

I've had a fair few 18ths come in for this year and after changing my lighting round a lot, I was wondering who still uses strobes at their gigs. Reason being is that I think they would go down well at 16ths & 18ths.

So, who still uses them? LED? 1500w lamp?

Cheers!

[Charlie Brown]

I use the Acme firecracker - about £85 from DJ kit and really bright.

[DJ James Lake]

Yeah I use a 1500w one for 18th's and is as popular as lasers. I use it very sparingly though, but great effect especially when you can use smoke, then the strobes really work well.

You really need a controller to get the best from them so you can vary the speed, can be used to good effect for building up parts of songs.

yeah I know most lights will strobe, but they are nothing like a real strobe.

[Kernow]

I use a Geni FL3-075B, rated @ 50W but a good effect even in larger venues.
It's about 15 years old but is getting more & more use recently. :)

[Sapphire Disco]

I've got these very versatile and compact.

http://www.djanddiscostuff.com/prodpage.asp?prodid=3184

[OllieJames]

I use the Acme firecracker - about £85 from DJ kit and really bright.

Hi Charlie, I've had a look at that on the web - it looks really good! Do you control yours?


Yeah I use a 1500w one for 18th's and is as popular as lasers. I use it very sparingly though, but great effect especially when you can use smoke, then the strobes really work well.

You really need a controller to get the best from them so you can vary the speed, can be used to good effect for building up parts of songs.

yeah I know most lights will strobe, but they are nothing like a real strobe.

James, fortunately for me I can use smoke/haze most of the time! I think i'll look into a 1500w one, as I can also control it via showxpress.


I use a Geni FL3-075B, rated @ 50W but a good effect even in larger venues.
It's about 15 years old but is getting more & more use recently. :)


I've got these very versatile and compact.

http://www.djanddiscostuff.com/prodpage.asp?prodid=3184

Cheers guys!

Kernow - interesting you say that it's being used more & more. Do you use it just at 18ths?

Diamondgeezer - I saw the video Mike did on those, and I was very impressed.

[Charlie Brown]

Hi Charlie, I've had a look at that on the web - it looks really good! Do you control yours?


Howdy Ollie ;)

Erm, nope - I don't feel the need too. The two knobs on the back of the unit are suffice - it also has an internal mic.

[Cj_The_Dj]

I strobe my ledj 56 cans of the lilmix and dose the job fine.

[A1DL]

I strobe my ledj 56 cans of the lilmix and dose the job fine.

but taking James' point, you cannot compare that effect with a couple of professional 1,500w (or 3,000w) strobes, LED pars in "strobe" mode are just lame in comparison.

tip: avoid running Atomics on gennies unless the set is obscenely over-specced.

[Charlie Brown]

but taking James' point, you cannot compare that effect with a couple of professional 1,500w (or 3,000w) strobes, LED pars in "strobe" mode are just lame in comparison.


:agree:

[Kernow]

Kernow - interesting you say that it's being used more & more. Do you use it just at 18ths?.

Not specifically as I don't do a large number of 18th's.... although I regularly do cadet discos with an age range of 12-18 where it goes down well. I use it more at general parties as an accompaniment to 70's rock etc.
It's also adds amazing atmosphere to the Time Warp (:o ), Thriller & stuff like Sandstorm ;)

[Charlie Brown]

It's also adds amazing atmosphere to the Time Warp (:o ), Thriller & stuff like Sandstorm ;)

I couldn't agree more myself. :beer1:

[rob1963]

I put strobe lights in the same category as smoke machines & bubble machines...more trouble than they're worth, especially in these days where some people will find the slightest excuse to sue your :Censored:

[Gareth]

tip: avoid running Atomics on gennies unless the set is obscenely over-specced.

Sorry to go OP but how do atomics (with atomic colour) from you experience run from a genny on half intensity?

Cheers

[Chris1984]

but taking James' point, you cannot compare that effect with a couple of professional 1,500w (or 3,000w) strobes, LED pars in "strobe" mode are just lame in comparison.

tip: avoid running Atomics on gennies unless the set is obscenely over-specced.

Nail on the head again Tony. I use Atomic strobe for all sorts of things form indoor parties & conferences to large outdoor multimedia displays.
You cant go wrong, they are far brighter and superior to anything led and the effects you can achieve with them are endless.


Sorry to go OP but how do atomics (with atomic colour) from you experience run from a genny on half intensity?

Cheers

The atomic itself can be know to pull anything upto 30a but this is very rare and normally only in America!

You can run them in full power moder on a 16a feed but i wouldnt advise any less than a dedicated 16a per unit.
If running lots of units you will need to bear this in mind when doing power calculations as you will consume alot of power in a very short burst and this will cause issuest if the wrong size gen set is selected.

The Atomic colour is only a scroller which mounts ontoo the front of the strobe light and uses minimal power (not sure what of the top of my head but a couple of amps is about right).

When looking ot buy remember the atomic colour is only a scroller you still need to buy the store to go with it!

[Kernow]

When looking ot buy remember the atomic colour is only a scroller you still need to buy the store to go with it!

Bit Victor Kyam ? :eek: :D


I put strobe lights in the same category as smoke machines & bubble machines...more trouble than they're worth, especially in these days where some people will find the slightest excuse to sue your :Censored:


On what basis ?
Smoke/Fog machines can cause difficulties to those with certain respiratory conditiions.
Bubble machines can leave slippery residue and irritate eyes and other sensitive body parts due to the nature of the fluid.

But...... Strobes ?????........the only real potential problem is that, due to their brightness, looking directly into them may cause a temporary 'blinding' effect as the eye adjusts from intense brightness to background light levels.
The very tiny proportion of people with photosensitive epilepsy, which is much rarer that you might imagine, would be similarly affected by any flashing light source e.g chasing par cans or starcloth. They would certainly be aware of their condition and, as a result extremely unlikely to be in attendance in a disco environment. Other forms of epilepsy would not cause a seizure to be triggered by any form of flash.

Maybe it is better sometimes to err on the side of caution, but without calculated (and assessed !) risk, where's the fun ??

:)