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View Full Version : Bedroom/Mini-Dance-Floor Lighting (Suggestions Request)



FireArmed
08-03-2012, 01:30 PM
Hey all,

I'm moving into a new apartment next month with a huge bedroom, plenty of space for my turntable setup and a mini dance floor, and a great shared space (The first floor is huge and perfect for a dance party for 15-30 people). I'm interested in a small-scale lighting setup for my bedroom/apartment for when we have parties but don't know where to start. I've read the Lighting Guide, but even after that I'm a bit lost. My budget is around $500.

Most importantly I'm looking for a relaxed atmosphere. I DJ for myself a lot when I'm stressed and love to mix tech house, minimal, dubstep, and chill-out. My ideal lighting rig would match the feel of that music, dark, calming, no need for fancy rotating pictures of mushrooms illuminating the floors and walls, no cheesy disco ball. Being a complete novice, however, I don't know where to even begin or focus. (Other than the necessity of wash lights)

Do you have any suggestions? Or are there any of you who, if given $500 in a similar scenario, already have a plan laid out? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

sss18734
08-03-2012, 02:07 PM
Why not do a few cheap up/downlights and an older effect light such as the Martin T-Rex?

DYM
08-03-2012, 04:07 PM
up/downlighting, just master/slave them all.

Synaxis
08-03-2012, 05:23 PM
Ok,

Get four of these: http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?Category=&ItemNumber=2027

That's $100 each x 4 = $400

And one of these: http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=1839&Category=L.E.D.

That should light up your new apartment nicely.

$400 + $100 = $500

Don't forget cables, ect...

FireArmed
08-03-2012, 06:40 PM
For those light washes, do they have "level" adjustments? Like the light switches which aren't 0/1 but rather have a smooth transition between off and on? I feel the washes, at least in my mind, would really lighten the place up. Sure, we don't want to be in total darkness, but I'd like the atmosphere to be particularly dark, especially when used in the bedroom.

DJ Higgumz
08-03-2012, 07:39 PM
what about a ripple effect? really calming!

Synaxis
08-03-2012, 10:07 PM
For those light washes, do they have "level" adjustments? Like the light switches which aren't 0/1 but rather have a smooth transition between off and on? I feel the washes, at least in my mind, would really lighten the place up. Sure, we don't want to be in total darkness, but I'd like the atmosphere to be particularly dark, especially when used in the bedroom.

So you want "wash lights," but you also want a dark atmosphere. That's a bit contradictory.

When the lights change color, they don't first turn off, and turn back on in a new color. They "fade" into the new color. The lights have built in programs, which I'm sure include "fades."

If you want to have compete control over the wash lights, I suggest additionally buying a simple 3 Channel DMX controller, so that you will able to set whatever level you like.

Here is one for around $50: http://www.chauvetlighting.com/obey-3-cl/

You would also need to purchase DMX cables to connect to each wash light.

sss18734
08-03-2012, 11:34 PM
Don't know why I didn't think of it before... but you could get a few of these for mood lighting:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-RGB-Color-Change-LED-Flood-Wash-Waterproof-Light-/261050142841?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc7cd1079#ht_7608wt_1163

They're surprisingly bright and you can get 6 of them for under $200, leaving you plenty of cash for a decent effect light.

FireArmed
08-04-2012, 10:19 AM
So you want "wash lights," but you also want a dark atmosphere. That's a bit contradictory.

When the lights change color, they don't first turn off, and turn back on in a new color. They "fade" into the new color. The lights have built in programs, which I'm sure include "fades."

If you want to have compete control over the wash lights, I suggest additionally buying a simple 3 Channel DMX controller, so that you will able to set whatever level you like.

Here is one for around $50: http://www.chauvetlighting.com/obey-3-cl/

You would also need to purchase DMX cables to connect to each wash light.


Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. Or maybe it's a really obvious answer: How would I control the "intensity" or strength of the lights? Would that be on the DMX controller?

FireArmed
08-04-2012, 10:20 AM
Don't know why I didn't think of it before... but you could get a few of these for mood lighting:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-RGB-Color-Change-LED-Flood-Wash-Waterproof-Light-/261050142841?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc7cd1079#ht_7608wt_1163

They're surprisingly bright and you can get 6 of them for under $200, leaving you plenty of cash for a decent effect light.

Is there a way to consolidate them all to a single remote? Maybe to the DMX controller that Synaxis mentioned?

Synaxis
08-04-2012, 10:40 AM
Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. Or maybe it's a really obvious answer: How would I control the "intensity" or strength of the lights? Would that be on the DMX controller?

No, you were perfectly clear. That controller is what you would want. It will allow you to set all four lights to the exact same color and intensity as you wish.

Have a look at this photo:

http://www.chauvetlighting.com/products/images/obey3CLLG.jpg

The right-most slider is labeled "Master Dimmer," and as the name implies, it allows you to "Dim" the lights.


Is there a way to consolidate them all to a single remote? Maybe to the DMX controller that Synaxis mentioned?

I'm not sure, however, they are NOT DMX compatible, so a DMX controller won't work.

DJzrule
08-04-2012, 12:48 PM
The above controller will only work with specified Chauvet lights because of how their DMX channels are laid out (different than that of the MicroWash RGBW by American DJ). Fortunately for the same price, Chauvet has the same kind of uplight in their inventory too for the same price. Can't remember the name of it offhand.

Synaxis
08-04-2012, 01:24 PM
The above controller will only work with specified Chauvet lights because of how their DMX channels are laid out (different than that of the MicroWash RGBW by American DJ). Fortunately for the same price, Chauvet has the same kind of uplight in their inventory too for the same price. Can't remember the name of it offhand.

The Chauvet Obey 3 will work with ANY 3 channel DMX wash lights in which the channels are Red, Green, and Blue respectively.

Many wash lights have a setting to select your DMX channel mode in order to be used with such a controller. The MicroWash being one of those lights, which has 6 different DMX channel modes. Chauvet also has a similar light, know as the ColorDash Accent. However, being as the Accent still used dip switches, while the Micro wash has an LED Segment display, I figured it would be in the best interests of the Original Poster to go with those, and it would be easier to figure out and configure.

However, thank you, I didn't catch that the fact that the MicroWash also has a WHITE channel, hence RGBW.

In that case, I recommend one of the following:

Blizzard Klimate Control: http://www.blizzardlighting.com/index.php/klimatekontrol

Chauvet Obey 4: http://www.chauvetlighting.com/obey4/

ADJ RGBW4C: http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=2081&MainId=3&Category=DMX_Controllers

sss18734
08-04-2012, 04:46 PM
Is there a way to consolidate them all to a single remote? Maybe to the DMX controller that Synaxis mentioned?

Yes, they all work off the same frequencies, so you can control all of them with a single remote. You have to point the remote at them, though - not a problem if you're just leaving them a certain color. But if you want them to color mix at the same time, you'll have to use multiple remotes, multiple friends, and count down 3...2...1... GO!

lol