Decisions decisions....

[Imagine]

One of my trusty KAM Power PartyBar WFS units has gone to lighting heaven :(

Although it works in S2L mode, the DMX & Master/Slave side of things seems to have gone down the pan....and that's not good. I tend to use them in pairs in bigger venues so they need to play nicely together.

I ordered a replacement a couple of days ago, and was sent a PartyBar V2 (not the same but will possibly keep it as said Amazon supplier is horrified by his mistake and has offered a very large discount to save the hassle of me returning it). The WFS units are now rarer than hen's teeth it would seem (obviously because KAM are no more).

Soooooo.....looks like I need to invest some pennies in a pair of lighting bars.

I'm preferably looking for:

* Pre-wired bars of 4 par cans with a decent brightness
* Multi function LEDS as opposed to having a mix of RGB to make white (although the effect is the same, I really don't like to see colour mixing whereby you see the red, blue and green LEDS separately)
* 35mm tripod fixing so they can sit atop my Gravity stands
* Most important...a "reasonable" price. Anything up to about £500 for the pair. I could be swayed to spend more for the right fixtures, but they'd have to be good

I'm only looking for wash here, I'm not interested in Swarms, Shards or Hadron type effects. I need total control over the colours.

It's either that...or is there somewhere where I can purchase new PCBs for the WFS?

[Excalibur]

I'm only looking for wash here, I'm not interested in Swarms, Shards or Hadron type effects. I need total control over the colours.


Ahem! Those of us prescient enough to get the 4-in1 Hadrons are enjoying the benefits of Red, Green, Blue, Amber, White and U/V wash, plus Moonflower, Strobe and Laser. Two of these fellas are brighter than my Teutonic Powerbar. Bad news is, they're discontinued, and heading for the hen's teeth category. The 3-in-1 isn't any use whatsoever, but if funds allow, the Chauvet Swarm Wash (https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Chauvet-Swarm-Wash-FX-Lighting-Effect/1KUR?origin=product-ads&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-uzVBRDkARIsALkZAdmA-SSgdRFJRjl6_fiwmHT2kRXlGwymhvxzPuB2Xpzcp87rRYlQlp4 aAmzTEALw_wcB) offers the same features, but the DMX functionality isn't as user friendly, requiring eighteen channels.

These (https://www.djanddiscostuff.com/lighting-c1/band-stage-and-uplighting-c9/led-stage-wash-c86/wash-fx-2-led-wash-light-effect-p4042/s4236?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=chauvet-wash-fx-2-led-wash-light-effect&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-uzVBRDkARIsALkZAdkG2bsoTX9GsLqbq_vXoSjxpGW05scSQFG fny3-8g2dJN7Nn_UG27oaAr1FEALw_wcB) Don't fit all your criteria , but are insanely bright, and have RGBW. They're also cheap.

[rth_discos]

Peter got there before me.

The Wash FX 2 looks great.

I had the original Wash FX and regret selling them.

Immense light output, and from a nice tidy box, rather than a long bar.

RGB, but colour is mixed on the LED, and I remember getting a perfectly good white out of the original Wash FX. The new one comes with UV as well, should that be useful?

Or for something really compact: https://www.djkit.com/chauvet/chauvet-fxpar-9.html

Do you really need 8 x par cans?

Or, here's my curveball suggestion:

I think these are the most under-rather lighting fixture available:

https://www.djkit.com/misc-supplier/stagg-headbanger.html

Great light output. 4 of those (2 either side) will not only give you a lot of wash light, but also the added versatility of being able to move them. So you can point them to the floor, or even to the ceiling. And just £445 for 4 of them.

Plus, moving wash looks amazing.

[DJ Jules]

I take it that you've given up on your bars? It does sound like it's going to be as simple as a cable break in one of the DMX connectors or a connector failure, both of which should be quick and cheap to fix?

[Nakatomi]

Dmx (rs485) transceiver chip probably gone wonky in the kam fixture. Doddle to fix & cheap too. Or even easier, if it's as Jules said & it's just a broken connection on a DMX socket!

Anyway why not consider the gigabar? Now only available in v2 versions but one v1 has been pretty much enough for everything I've ever done wash wise. Even 2 would come in your budget if you can find a deal.

The washfx2 I can't recommend until I see what it's like on camera. They claim it's flicker free but their own specs say the led switching frequency is about 80Hz which won't play well with any camera with a rolling shutter (dslrs etc). The Washfx I have is alright on camera til I dim it, then horizontal bars are visible on any rolling shutter camera - and its LED switching frequency isn't much lower than the washfx2 :(

[mattydj50]

Peter got there before me.

The Wash FX 2 looks great.

I had the original Wash FX and regret selling them.

Immense light output, and from a nice tidy box, rather than a long bar.

RGB, but colour is mixed on the LED, and I remember getting a perfectly good white out of the original Wash FX. The new one comes with UV as well, should that be useful?



I agree. I still have my Wash FX (the original) and, when I got it, it replaced 4 x ADJ Mega Tri Pars and I STILL have to dim it down. I even use the "white" on full blast at the end of the night, should the venue staff be a little tardy in applying the house lights.

I've looked at replacing it with a mark 2 version, but it would need a wholesale reprogram of the DMX as the channel configuration is slightly different, and, basically, I can't be bothered!!!

[mbp]

This guy has one for sale?

https://www.facebook.com/john.stoughton.5?hc_ref=ARSjb9CObS5imXyweLDTPvCgwC 4KiVSgshjE0U7ypL7snAzCY1rbjs8RM77jvHwof-k&fref=nf&post_id=1620240704730519

[Imagine]

OK - thanks for all of the input.

I suspect it's something simple on the WFS, and I've got a chap who knows about electricity to have a poke around this weekend to see what he can find.

Mind you....I'm tempted by those Wash FX things.....that's got me thinking.......

Someone asked earlier on in the thread "why bars"?
I'm still a little bit old school. I actually like to see what appears to be a lot of lights on show as opposed to the Wizard on a Stick look if that makes sense. I know....it's daft because the smaller units can do the same job in a smaller footprint.

Just call me old fashioned (or just old)

[Imagine]

Yippeeee!!!!!

My friend that knows about electricity more complicated than what happens in a light bulb (which is about my limitation) has been round this evening and had a little poke around....and found a dry joint!

Happy days - panic over. It works again :). I'm back to symmetry....

However....I've been looking at the Wash FX2 online tonight as well........hmmmmm........could be some pennies disappearing shortly.

[Nakatomi]

Yippeeee!!!!!

My friend that knows about electricity more complicated than what happens in a light bulb (which is about my limitation) has been round this evening and had a little poke around....and found a dry joint!

Happy days - panic over. It works again :). I'm back to symmetry....

However....I've been looking at the Wash FX2 online tonight as well........hmmmmm........could be some pennies disappearing shortly.

A dry joint, in a KAM unit! Who'da thunk it! :rofl:

I've found LED power connectors burnt out in my KAM gobotracers cos the screw terminals hadn't been tightened up properly. The last one to develop a fault - the connector had desoldered itself from the board!

[Steven]

I've been planning on doing a bit YouTube reviewing of fixtures soon and i might just very well start with the wash fx2.

Used one on Saturday although on DMX it didn't like any of the scenes id made with a RGB matrix shortcut so will have to try again or make individual scenes and add them into chases etc.

Will post a review of them soon, but i will say now they are extremely bright.

My plan for my white setup was going to be paint a cob bar white for the wash but honestly i'm thinking just paint one of these white instead!

[Imagine]

I've just had a brace of the FX2's arrive.....they're INSANELY BRIGHT!

Goodbye par-bars.....you're so ancient!

Looks like I've just joined the lighting on a stick brigade :daft:

[Nakatomi]

Ah but the question remains what are they like when dimmed? The mk1 that I have produces nasty horizontal bars on camera when it's dimmed. Horrible to the point of being almost unusable. If the mk2 is the same it'll ruin photos when dimmed - and yes you might need to dim it sometimes.

[Imagine]

Ah but the question remains what are they like when dimmed? The mk1 that I have produces nasty horizontal bars on camera when it's dimmed. Horrible to the point of being almost unusable. If the mk2 is the same it'll ruin photos when dimmed - and yes you might need to dim it sometimes.

We shall see. TBH, I've NEVER dimmed my existing lighting though so can't see it being too much of an issue

[rth_discos]

We shall see. TBH, I've NEVER dimmed my existing lighting though so can't see it being too much of an issue

You WILL want to dim those Wash FX lights!

I used to run them on about 20% brightness - was more than enough :D

[mattydj50]

You WILL want to dim those Wash FX lights!

I used to run them on about 20% brightness - was more than enough :D

Seconded!

[Nakatomi]

The mk1 is very bright indeed. Some might say too bright for such a small fixture. That's a lot of light coming from a concentrated area.

See how long you can tolerate being at the business end of it!

[DJ Jules]

The mk1 is very bright indeed. Some might say too bright for such a small fixture. That's a lot of light coming from a concentrated area.

See how long you can tolerate being at the business end of it!

From their website : Illuminance: 1,795 lux @ 2 m

That's about the same as my ADJ Ikon Profile projector - and that cuts through pretty much any uplight/venue light/daylight :o

[Excalibur]

I've just had a brace of the FX2's arrive.....they're INSANELY BRIGHT!



That's a surprise! :eek:

Oh wait, no it isn't. See post #2. :whistle::D

[Imagine]

That's a surprise! :eek:

Oh wait, no it isn't. See post #2. :whistle::D

Apart from the fact I told you on the phone yesterday I was going to be getting them ;)

OK - just had a play with a SINGLE unit on S2L (bear in mind I normally run things in pairs). I suddenly understand the brightness bit (my Gawd show 9 is impressive with Darude :) ). I can see an evening of blinding wifey whilst I sit with a glass of something alcoholic and add these into my DMX desk to tame them a little bit.....going to be a lot of fun though :)

So - the entire rig will now fit in the back of a small family hatch it would seem.....and is as powerful if not more so than the much larger rig I've been working with.....it might be time for a bit of a clear out on old stuff now!

The entire light show now then consists of:
2 x Wash FX2
2 X Intimidator 305 barrels

(both of the above will live on a pair of Gravity poles...so no more tripods!)

2 x TriWedges or a batten to uplight the Elite booth
8 x Freedom sticks.

I reckon that will light even the biggest of venues I work in. For smaller venues I'm thinking it's just a single FX2.....time will tell!

WOW! I love technology!

[Benny Smyth]

You WILL want to dim those Wash FX lights!

I've been told the same of my FX Par 9s, but I don't dim them. The full show has four of them and not a single grumble has occurred - in fact, quite a few examples of the opposite.

[rth_discos]

(both of the above will live on a pair of Gravity poles...so no more tripods!)



Out of interest, what's your plan in terms of mounting them at the top of the pole?




I reckon that will light even the biggest of venues I work in. For smaller venues I'm thinking it's just a single FX2.....time will tell!


1 x Wash FX + 2 x 305 barrels on one single pole with a short t-bar to mount the 305s on will manage even the larger venues, so will be a perfectly compact set up for smaller venues.

For anyone interested in the brightness, here's a couple of videos from my old Wash FX 2 (on 20% brightness!)




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


https://youtu.be/DLudKndy9hI

[Imagine]

Out of interest, what's your plan in terms of mounting them at the top of the pole?


Going to bring the poles, the 305s and some brackets home to play this evening.

"Normally" I'd look to use top-hats, but for some reason a 35mm top hat doesn't fit on a 35mm gravity pole (well it does....but it's a :Censored: to get off again), so the past couple of gigs I've used half couplers. There's also the option of using an M8 bolt in the tops of the Gravity poles, but that takes longer to faff around with on the night.

The idea of converting back to a T-Bar though.....hmmmmm.....not sure about that. I prefer the lights to be in front of me (i.e. level with the booth, which the Gravity stands achieve perfectly).

Will have a play tonight and see what I come up with.

[Excalibur]

Apart from the fact I told you on the phone yesterday I was going to be getting them ;)



The entire light show now then consists of:
2 x Wash FX2
2 X Intimidator 305 barrels

(both of the above will live on a pair of Gravity poles...so no more tripods!)


I reckon that will light even the biggest of venues I work in. For smaller venues I'm thinking it's just a single FX2.....time will tell!

WOW! I love technology!
Ahem! In post #2 I pointed out they were insanely bright, which is what I quoted from you, not the fact that they'd arrived. Do keep up at the back, please.

I see you're beginning to follow us trailblazers, even if you aren't using the same kit. My standard rig is now two Hadrons on poles. Two Crossfire XPs join them for larger gigs. Nice when you can carry your entire large lighting rig in at one trip, isn't it? :)

[Imagine]

Ahem! In post #2 I pointed out they were insanely bright, which is what I quoted from you, not the fact that they'd arrived. Do keep up at the back, please.

I try...but you'll have to speak slowly and use small words - I'm only a DJ doncha know ;)



I see you're beginning to follow us trailblazers, even if you aren't using the same kit. My standard rig is now two Hadrons on poles. Two Crossfire XPs join them for larger gigs. Nice when you can carry your entire large lighting rig in at one trip, isn't it? :)

I'm beginning to see the appeal.

OK - been playing tonight and have reprogrammed the entire lightshow (I LOVE Lightkey....it's SOOOOO easy)

I'm liking what I'm seeing. As already mentioned, I've HAD to dim the FX2's to 20% (my retina's are still burning even at that level!). But for a couple of lights on sticks (plus the Intimidators)....I'm well and truly impressed. My ENTIRE lightshow now lives on two poles plus a bar under the booth...how easy can it be?

The whole setup is going in on one Rock-n-Roller now :) (well...maybe one and a half)

Estimated setup time has gone down to around 20 minutes (shhhhh....don't tell the clients!)

Unfortunately, both gigs in April are the Retro kit (which I've spent the day inserting LED lamps into and re-wiring and soldering where needed)...that one takes....ohhhh.....10 minutes to set up once it's in the building :)

[rth_discos]

My ENTIRE lightshow now lives on two poles plus a bar under the booth...how easy can it be?


I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of the set up once you've taken it out :)

[Excalibur]

plus a bar under the booth...how easy can it be?



:doh: