Moving heads vs Scanners

[TONYTIGER]

Your thoughts please ,there always seem to be trends in the latest must have equipment for mobile operators over the past years recent examples being led cans, lasers, led curtains,to name but a few. Now we are seeing the move towards moving heads which are becoming much more affordable but are they suitable for disco use compared to scanners ?. My humble thoughts are as follows movers are much harder to rig are very slow in movement cost a lot more than scanners with the same spec on the plus side have a greater movement range. Scanners on the other hand are much faster you get a lot more spec for your money and of course much easier to rig. I myself have quite a few movers in my inventory of gear most of them being wash type which i use for stage and live work but rarely use movers for disco work . The main reason for asking for your thoughts is i am thinking of buying some scanners for a new contract i have the fixtures in question have great specs lamp HMI 575 rotating gobos 3 facet prism 4 facet prism 3d prism 9 facet prism the prisms rotate in both directions and at different speeds also has motorized focus cost £350 i would have to spend at least 3x that amount for a mover with the same specs which would you go for.:confused:

[super-hero]

I have been thinking exactly the same. I was looking at buying some moving heads, but they just seem too big and bulky compared to scans. They are good if you are going to stand them on the floor, but I can't really see any other advantages.

[Dragonfly]

I have found with moving heads that they operate alot slower than scanners , i have recently ditched my scanners in favour of moving heads and now in my opinion have alot better audience friendly light show that helps all ages enjoy the party experience.

i got alot of hands over eyes and oldies leaving early when i used scanners ....

yes if you control them with dmx master or the like the effect can be much better but for the price of moving heads now i much prefer them.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I have been thinking exactly the same. I was looking at buying some moving heads, but they just seem too big and bulky compared to scans

I saw the these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DJ-Moving-head-250w-Disco-Light-Stage-Lighting-200_W0QQitemZ180171111736QQihZ008QQcategoryZ14984Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) at Plasa and have to say I was fairly impressed by them.

They are rebadged as Geni, Showtec (from Terralec), Zoom and several others. The good thing about them is that they are only 6.5Kg each - tiny!

[TONYTIGER]

I have found with moving heads that they operate alot slower than scanners , i have recently ditched my scanners in favour of moving heads and now in my opinion have alot better audience friendly light show that helps all ages enjoy the party experience.

i got alot of hands over eyes and oldies leaving early when i used scanners ....

yes if you control them with dmx master or the like the effect can be much better but for the price of moving heads now i much prefer them.

Did you not have scanners you could dim? the ones im thinking about would have full mechanical dimming just like a mover.

[Dragonfly]

I had dynamos only 100w lamps but still alot of people werent happy .... was more the movement of them and speed that was offensive. but the brightness was an issue.

[funkymike]

I got moving heads and sold the scanners, and why....


because everyone else has moving heads, got to keep up with the Jones:D










But there are still 'dots' but move around more oooo

mike

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I was looking at moving heads the other day but in the end I got a couple of Dynarock barrels to go with my Dynamo scanners and I know what you mean... they are mad!

But that's what I like and I have never had any complaints from my scanners because I use them sparingly. I use nice water effects and also patterns that fill the dancefloor to create the chilled effect and then use the scanners depending on the music, time and crowd I have.

They are good lights, I just think that some common sense is needed when using them, that's all.

[djgordyp]

I had dynamos only 100w lamps but still alot of people werent happy .... was more the movement of them and speed that was offensive. but the brightness was an issue.

I know I'm not the brightest light in the show but....., how can lights be offensive :confused: :confused:

[Arnold_disco]

I know I'm not the brightest light in the show but....., how can lights be offensive :confused: :confused:

Being very bright in peoples eyes:confused:

[Dragonfly]

Being very bright in peoples eyes:confused:

correct .... being too bright to quick in their movement and strobing too often.

[Danno13]

I have a pair of movers on my ever-growing shopping list, but they have to have a prism, so I can ditch the moonflowers and just use these programmed to stay on the dancefloor early on, and then do more exciting stuff later.

[Arnold_disco]

I use 2 Smart scans 2's. Amazing optics and very bright. They have seperate gobo/colour wheel and there only £99.99. There not to bright i wouldn't say.

[DMX Will]

For a DJ? There probably arn't any advantages having heads over scanners.

Movers were first introduced for theatre purposes. They can over every angle, which a scanner simply can't. Also in some of the bigger wash units, you would need an extremely big mirror.

Since then the DJ market has caught up and started using them. For the average DJ, there isn't much advantage to having a head over a scanner other than they look cool (most DJs don't want to light up behind the rig, so scanners are perfect).

With regards to "moving heads are slower", - well obviously the theatrical units were designed to be controlled precisely using DMX. Rather than sound to light...which would be interesting mid-show. It's not the units that are slow or fast, it's the pre-programming of the fixtures, which if you arn't happy with, you should employ DMX, rather than swapping out your rig for lights that supposedly move slower IMO.

[Arnold_disco]

Since then the DJ market has caught up and started using them. For the average DJ, there isn't much advantage to having a head over a scanner other than they look cool (most DJs don't want to light up behind the rig, so scanners are perfect).


I totaly agree. Theres not point in having light behind you:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: .

[sandysounds]

Am I the only one here with both????

I have two dynamo scanners on my goal post and then sit the moving heads on the floor either side of my rig. In a big venue(and thats the only time i use the moving heads cus i need the space) the effect is amazing....and the moving heads tend to be less aggressive in their movement than the scanners.

[CRAZY K]

I was looking at moving heads the other day but in the end I got a couple of Dynarock barrels to go with my Dynamo scanners and I know what you mean... they are mad!

But that's what I like and I have never had any complaints from my scanners because I use them sparingly. I use nice water effects and also patterns that fill the dancefloor to create the chilled effect and then use the scanners depending on the music, time and crowd I have.

They are good lights, I just think that some common sense is needed when using them, that's all.

Very sensible--thats my method--use them at special times during the evening or particular tracks--not ALL night.

You wouldnt have them on during slow numbers--well I wouldnt anyway--

CRAZY K

[pulsemobiledisco]

I've stopped using my dynamos and they will be on DJ bids very soon. My work is mostly weddings and I don't think they are very wedding freindly, the oldies don't like them.

Movers are probably more suitable for weddings, you can do a lot more with them, but they are out of my price range. So i've stuck with good old moonflowers and a pair of icolours, which actulay make a very nice show.

[CRAZY K]

I've stopped using my dynamos and they will be on DJ bids very soon. My work is mostly weddings and I don't think they are very wedding freindly, the oldies don't like them.

Movers are probably more suitable for weddings, you can do a lot more with them, but they are out of my price range. So i've stuck with good old moonflowers and a pair of icolours, which actulay make a very nice show.

The dynamos are ok if you use them sensibly at Weddings--just dont keep blinding people all night.

Also you can either put them on the floor to minimise the dazzle or angle them sharply down from your bar.

I dont think the "oldies" mind if you use some common sense--

I have been a guest at Weddings where the lights are blinding people sitting down at tables trying to chat--:eek:

Now thats plain stupid--

CRAZY K

[Larry B Entertainment]

I've stopped using my dynamos and they will be on DJ bids very soon. My work is mostly weddings and I don't think they are very wedding freindly, the oldies don't like them.

Movers are probably more suitable for weddings, you can do a lot more with them, but they are out of my price range. So i've stuck with good old moonflowers and a pair of icolours, which actulay make a very nice show.

Just DMX the dynamos up and purchase a DMX desk for about 100 quid to control them and program some light shows yourself. Thats what i had to do with my Abstracts, the sheer speed they can move is great but not always suitable for every song and when the strobe on their own it can be quite blinding :eek: No point selling gear just because the sound to light programs are different to what you require, that can easily be sorted with a bit of work to make your own shows.

I looked at movers but decided that they offer no more possibilities for me than scanners.

[Tom]

i would like to own a few moving heads to join my collection of lights. if i get asked for a dance/trance kind of night then the moving heads come out as well as all other fast lights i have.

i also think it looks quite impressive on the rig aswell, well truss really because of the weight.

[pulsemobiledisco]

I have been a guest at Weddings where the lights are blinding people sitting down at tables trying to chat--:eek:

Now thats plain stupid--CRAZY K

Sure is.


Just DMX the dynamos up and purchase a DMX desk for about 100 quid to control them and program some light shows yourself. Thats what i had to do with my Abstracts, the sheer speed they can move is great but not always suitable for every song and when the strobe on their own it can be quite blinding :eek: No point selling gear just because the sound to light programs are different to what you require, that can easily be sorted with a bit of work to make your own shows.

I looked at movers but decided that they offer no more possibilities for me than scanners.

To be honest, I find the dynamo's a pain to setup. There quite fiddly to get the light beams spread out nicely. Most the venues I work in now will not even allow me to use haze yet alone smoke, and I don't think they look very good without smoke.

I've just renewed my whole light show and there's no room left on the rig for them now anyway! I think the new rig is much more suitable for the work I do.