Stick light effect things

[DJ Jules]

I've been using the Chauvet Freedom sticks as part of my show for what feels like forever. I have a Chauvet Wireless DMX transmitter in my flight case so they link and sync with the rest of the light show and I've been pretty happy with how they've performed.

They're now getting a bit battered so I'm considering switching them out for something else or buying a new set. I've replaced 3 or 4 of the handles, 2 caps and a couple of the control PCB's and, if I keep them, I'd need a flight bag, another handle, an end cap and possibly 2 control boards to make them fully servicable again (they work as they are now but there's lots of tatty little niggles, like the displays not showing consistently, that are beginning to annoy me).

I've seen a few people have switched to similar products, but it looks like some people may have had to buy from America to get them or they're using products that wouldn't really tick all the boxes for me.

So.... I'm looking for suggestions - key requirements:
- Battery operated (unless I totally rethink how I use them)
- Light and compact to transport
- Quick to set up
- Some kind of wireless control that will sync with all my other lights
- Reasonably interesting to look at :)
- It would be handy if they could be a bit brighter (there's been a few occasions recently where I think the dance floor could have done with more light)

What is out there? I've looked briefly at the ApeLabs offering and I'm not that convinced. Rhythm lights aren't battery. Equinox Pulse are nasty. Beamz Kratos and BBB243's both look interesting, but are quite expensive.

I'm half tempted to switch to Gravity stands for PA my PA and stick a pair of LED Pixel bars on the poles and another pair on the uprights from the booth, but I'd lose a lot of flexibility with this set up.

What are other people using? Has the Freedom stick style of effect had it's day?

Julian

[Excalibur]

I'm half tempted to switch to Gravity stands for PA my PA and stick a pair of LED Pixel bars on the poles and another pair on the uprights from the booth, but I'd lose a lot of flexibility with this set up.

What are other people using? Has the Freedom stick style of effect had it's day?

Julian

Go on mate, you know it makes sense. :) I stick my Equinox Spectrapix battens on my gravity poles with some slightly modified half clamps, and they're great eye candy. I know not a lot about the others, but are there not battery powered versions of the Spectrapix? Yes there are (https://www.djanddiscostuff.com/equinox-spectrapix-lithium-batten-wireless-dmx-battery-powered-led-bar-bundle-p6356/s6966?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=equinox-spectrapix-lithium-batten-wireless-dmx-battery-powered-led-bar&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7C2BhDkARIsAA_SZKblkjVhtUq1HlfCGunh 22dC99kly4wtQPBV-6Kdxj2ZoqaR9qYZxGwaAi_VEALw_wcB)

I wouldn't look further than those. I've never been the greatest fan of freedom sticks.

[SimonJeez53]

Yeah, I've had similar issues with my Freedom sticks too! They're great when they work, but the maintenance can be a real pain. I've been eyeing up the Beamz Kratos as well, but the price tag is a bit steep. Would love to hear more about your experience with the Equinox Spectrapix battens on the gravity poles - how do you find the flexibility and portability of that setup?

[Steven]

Both lighting 360 titan tubes?

[mattydj50]

Yeah, I've had similar issues with my Freedom sticks too! They're great when they work, but the maintenance can be a real pain. I've been eyeing up the Beamz Kratos as well, but the price tag is a bit steep. Would love to hear more about your experience with the Equinox Spectrapix battens on the gravity poles - how do you find the flexibility and portability of that setup?

Tempting fate, but it the years I have had my Freedom sticks, I've never had a problem. They will do me now until retirement, whenever that might be.

[rth_discos]

Before commenting, I thought I'd check out on of your recent videos to see what your setup looks like, otherwise any response is out of context with the kit you have.

I reckon you could lose the sticks completely from your setup and not lose anything in terms of the look of your disco.

If there's one thing I'd recommend, it's getting a starcloth underneath your white lycra on the booth - not to necessarily use the white LEDs on the cloth (although I still think it looks great), but there's something about that thick cloth underneath that just makes the booth look more luxurious than the white lycra alone.

But for the original question, I'm not sure you need to replace them with anything.

[DJ Jules]

Before commenting, I thought I'd check out on of your recent videos to see what your setup looks like, otherwise any response is out of context with the kit you have.

I reckon you could lose the sticks completely from your setup and not lose anything in terms of the look of your disco.

If there's one thing I'd recommend, it's getting a starcloth underneath your white lycra on the booth - not to necessarily use the white LEDs on the cloth (although I still think it looks great), but there's something about that thick cloth underneath that just makes the booth look more luxurious than the white lycra alone.

But for the original question, I'm not sure you need to replace them with anything.

That's interesting feedback - because it's a heavy cotton white cloth with a secondary lining. It was actually made with a separate lining so I could add LEDs through the cotton at a later date, I've just never felt the need. It's just interesting that it's not possible to tell the difference between plain cotton and lycra.

You're probably right to be honest, I could probably save myself some time/money and just ditch them :)

Julian

[Shaun]

I quite like the look of the BOTH 360 tubes.

Currently using Abstract XLite Pro's. They never look as good on camera as they do in the flesh.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFzA5ZaNxGQ

[Imagine]

I've got two pairs of the things that rarely go out these days. Just too much hassle to put them together and keep an eye in case some muppet decides they're light-sabres. Plus, they've NEVER stood up straight which has always annoyed me. Charging them seems to take forever as well.

Now battens....I've just been pleasantly surprised but what arrived yesterday. Mine are to go full height behind the perspex on the side of my Liteconsole Elite booth (the VBar Paks just weren't cutting the mustard). I've just got these (https://www.simplysoundandlighting.co.uk/products/2x-ibiza-light-1m-led-batten-inc-carry-bag-remote?_pos=1&_sid=dbbf61570&_ss=r) and whilst I'd normally avoid the cheaper brands, these have pleasantly surprised me. The brightness actually adds to the wash lighting as opposed to being just eye candy

[DJ Jules]

I've got two pairs of the things that rarely go out these days. Just too much hassle to put them together and keep an eye in case some muppet decides they're light-sabres. Plus, they've NEVER stood up straight which has always annoyed me. Charging them seems to take forever as well.

Assembly has been getting on my nerves, but then the time saving from having zero cables to attach to them is a reasonable trade off. Charging has never been an issue for me because I'm in the fortunate position to have power in my store so I just plug them in and leave them on charge when they go in.


Now battens....I've just been pleasantly surprised but what arrived yesterday. Mine are to go full height behind the perspex on the side of my Liteconsole Elite booth (the VBar Paks just weren't cutting the mustard). I've just got these (https://www.simplysoundandlighting.co.uk/products/2x-ibiza-light-1m-led-batten-inc-carry-bag-remote?_pos=1&_sid=dbbf61570&_ss=r) and whilst I'd normally avoid the cheaper brands, these have pleasantly surprised me. The brightness actually adds to the wash lighting as opposed to being just eye candy

That's basically what I've been thinking about getting to mount onto single pole Gravity stands under my PA (or possibly inside my existing truss). It's the cables side of things that puts me off - I'd lose flexibility in positioning them.


I quite like the look of the BOTH 360 tubes.

Currently using Abstract XLite Pro's. They never look as good on camera as they do in the flesh.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFzA5ZaNxGQ

I wondered what they'd look like in operation as they're a LOT taller than the Freedom sticks (2m from memory?) Again, the cables/power side of things puts me off them (the 4 bar kit has to be cabled to a controller, and the controller then needs power and DMX).

I noticed that the ApeLabs offering got a review in the latest Promobile mag and actually made them sound quite appealing.

Maybe I'm still looking for the impossible.

Julian

[Excalibur]

That's basically what I've been thinking about getting to mount onto single pole Gravity stands under my PA (or possibly inside my existing truss). It's the cables side of things that puts me off - I'd lose flexibility in positioning them.

Julian

Nooooooooooooooo!

I've had all flavours of those over, under , sideways ,down*! Blinded many a customer. Wayne's idea of cal;ming them down with 12mm perspex might work.

These (https://www.getinthemix.com/equinox-spectrapix-batten.htm?opt=38973&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3bm3BhDJARIsAKnHoVXerabsbqXW44g7wHbU Vm3c3RudEECAxwwmdaRLIICzlHkFGx_FygYaAoGVEALw_wcB) are far and away better, they give some light, but with frosted fronts don't dazzle, and I get compliments about the " eye candy ". You can also get them in white, and/or battery powered. I mount mine on Gravity poles, with butchered half clamps. 90 degree plugs help to hide the cables too.


*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4DdAs0PddQ It's an age thing.

[rth_discos]

So.... I'm looking for suggestions - key requirements:
- Battery operated (unless I totally rethink how I use them)
- Light and compact to transport
- Quick to set up
- Some kind of wireless control that will sync with all my other lights
- Reasonably interesting to look at :)
- It would be handy if they could be a bit brighter (there's been a few occasions recently where I think the dance floor could have done with more light)



Curveball suggestion: https://www.stagegear.co.uk/chauvet-dj-ezbeam-q3-ils-battery-powered-led-fixture-bluetooth

It's battery powered, is ILS and has D-Fi

Adds interesting patterns to the walls behind you, and should add more wash that lights the room up a bit better than the stick things alone can achieve.