Mirror balls - Which way ?

[Chris]

Was going to get a 30cm mirror ball with 1rpm motor and par36 spot with 4 rotating colours, but, would it be better to get a coloured mirror ball with a clear spot? Anyone used both ways?

[wensleydale]

Clear ball with white spots would be my choice every time.

[chrisj]

Clear ball with white spots would be my choice every time.

I use clear ball with white par36 when mirrorball is needed. Nice to use a pin spot either side for better effect, if possible of course.

[katman]

A clear ball can be any colour you want just with a gel over the spot but if you get a coloured ball you are stuck with it !!!

[yourdj]

Get an TRI led par and control it.

http://images.sc1.netdna-cdn.com/P/Mirror-Balls-LED-TRISPOT-main-image.jpg

Looks like you can ca8 it so nice and easy!
http://www.musik-schmidt.de/images/product_images/popup_images/American-DJ-LED-Trispot_1.jpg

Have you thought of a bigger ball as 30cm is not very large. I got a 50 and it looks lots smaller when in a venue. Upgrading to a 70 soon.

I like my balls.

[Chris]

Thanks all - it's appreciated. May go for a 50cm then. The TRI led pars are not cheap, and the coloured ball and clear spots option might be a viable alternative. Also, given the choice, I think coloured shapes on the walls would be better than just white? What's a ca8 ?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks all - it's appreciated. May go for a 50cm then. The TRI led pars are not cheap, and the coloured ball and clear spots option might be a viable alternative. Also, given the choice, I think coloured shapes on the walls would be better than just white? What's a ca8 ?

A mini controller.

CA-8 (http://www.decks.co.uk/products/lighting/lighting_control/ca8)

[Chris]

A mini controller.

CA-8 (http://www.decks.co.uk/products/lighting/lighting_control/ca8)
Many thanks.

Has anyone here used the coloured mirror balls?

[yourdj]

Many thanks.

Has anyone here used the coloured mirror balls?
Are you talking about the motorized mirror balls or the classic glass effect?

The white effect is the whole point and very handy in a colour walled room (especially dark oak) as its the only light that will work IMO. other than lasers. I personally think colours mirror ball effects are cheesy.

Look at this:
STANWELL HOUSE HOTEL LYMINGTON WEDDING DJ DISCO THE NEW FOREST - YouTube

Maybe I understand this wrong but why would you want to buy a load of colours mirror balls? They are a pain in the butt to transport as they are?

Why not just get a white mirror ball and a decent light for it (two are best at different angles) and perhaps charge it as an optional extra?
Brides love the effect especially at <1RPM. I charge £45 for the 50cm on an ultimax atlas stand and almost almost every wedding books it.

Beware of idiots twirling it and breaking the motor :mad: they know no difference but its bloody annoying!

Best off near you as possible. Honestly one woman was letting her baby touch it after being told off by me and my roadie twice (politely).
It's glass and it may cut, but girls cant resist it!! She was really arrogant so left her too it after that.

[Chris]

I'm not wanting to buy loads of coloured mirror balls, just one, perhaps a 50cm one at that When I asked in an online shop about the usual mirror ball system, with coloured lights, they replied :

Have you thought about going for the colour mirror ball using clear pinspots as this combination suffers no light intensity loss as with the pinspot front filters or rotating colour disc system?

Also, what track was it at the timing of 2.15? Can't place it?

[WWDJ]

Also, what track was it at the timing of 2.15? Can't place it?

Rihanna - We Found Love

[Chris1984]

Have you thought about going for the colour mirror ball using clear pinspots as this combination suffers no light intensity loss as with the pinspot front filters or rotating colour disc system?

Did he then day I just happen to have lots in stock that no one wants to buy? :)

Serious note the coloured balls are generally large fact which will use more light output anyway to produce the same effects as a mall facet ball and the fact the glass is colour means its coated and will absorb the same if not more light than a gel so that theory is also not true.

You want a small fact mirror ball 30 would be fine for most jobs 50 is overkill if rigged of a stand - all h&s aside you won't notice much difference in the effect as your not flying it so the increase in size will just mean your carrying a heaver box that takes up more space.

Bigger balls only active the effect if high which you won't be doing as a mobile disco.

The best think to hit them with isn't pin spots they are for lighting tables - you need either something more punchy like some sort of led beam or a irised or zoomed in mover - you want a nice cold light too to get the best effect - as for colour changing again a moving light is best but led could also be a contender but you will get some slight diffraction of the colours so if it uses rgb to make white it might not be as good.

good mirror ball work isn't a simply effort but for what your doing a 30cm with a good light source is what you need - not a laser!

[Chris]

Rihanna - We Found Love
Many thanks.



Did he then day I just happen to have lots in stock that no one wants to buy? :)

Serious note the coloured balls are generally large fact which will use more light output anyway to produce the same effects as a mall facet ball and the fact the glass is colour means its coated and will absorb the same if not more light than a gel so that theory is also not true.

You want a small fact mirror ball 30 would be fine for most jobs 50 is overkill if rigged of a stand - all h&s aside you won't notice much difference in the effect as your not flying it so the increase in size will just mean your carrying a heaver box that takes up more space.

Bigger balls only active the effect if high which you won't be doing as a mobile disco.

The best think to hit them with isn't pin spots they are for lighting tables - you need either something more punchy like some sort of led beam or a irised or zoomed in mover - you want a nice cold light too to get the best effect - as for colour changing again a moving light is best but led could also be a contender but you will get some slight diffraction of the colours so if it uses rgb to make white it might not be as good.

good mirror ball work isn't a simply effort but for what your doing a 30cm with a good light source is what you need - not a laser!
Thanks, it's to work on the Maplins goalposts in some way, but am having problems trying to visualise how it would all look and where to position the 2 spots to relefct off the ball that would be hanging off the goalposts some how. Theres a swivel post at each end of the goalposts, so maybe they could go on them? Will hopefully get a chance to do a trail run next Saturday, but any other ideas in the meantime are always appreciated.

[Gary]

I'd say the same as others - I'd steer away from the pre-coloured mirror balls... There's something that reminds me of a cross between a cheap Christmas decoration and a seaside amusement arcade that's about to fall into the sea (probably doubling its value upon the splash occurring).

With a neutral mirrorball you can start by shining just a plain white source at it and only add coloured lenses/filters or led colour changers to it IF you want to. However, you cant do the reverse of that eg; get white reflections off of a coloured mirrorball.

By the way... Obviously for more effect from a smaller mirrorball, just point more lights at it :-)