LED Panels

[noize_unit]

Hello,

I've been trying to find a way to get some LED Panels (like the ones on stages that look custom built for certain stages) on the cheap and thought of makin one myself so i can transform my spare room into a mini nightclub, and I was wondering if anyone has attempted this or knows anything about this process, i think itd be cool to have it DMX controlled (id want to be able to use my PC to put stuff on it whether assign colors and animations) as well as be able to put videos on it. any advice would be great, i can get LEDs and can solder.

EDIT: Also, if you guys have any recommendations for some cheaper LED lights that would be great, since this is just for my house i dont need anything mind blowing, but i'd like to stick with reputable equipment as in no chinese ebay items (unless they are for some reason amazing), so far i got a couple Chauvet Shadow panels (for blacklights) a couple color rails on either side of the Booth (on the wall behind), as well as a couple color-pallets, a cubix, and a swarm, but i think its missing a good but cost effective laser (multi color pref, but want a diff style laser than say the micro galaxian) and some moving yokes (these are spendy!) maybe not yokes but i need more than wash and some cubix and swarm action

[Synaxis]

Oh gosh, that is going to be a LONG and tedious process!

Do you know anything about electrical engineering or electronics?

What about programming?

This is a much more difficult process that I think you are severely under estimating.

Your going to need to program the micro controllers that drive the LEDs, and your going to need some type of video input which converts the single a from your computer to the micro controller.

You can start here; http://www.nerdkits.com/videos/ledarray2/

Try and see if you can even do that before you go any further.

There aren't really any tutorials on how to accomplish something like this for obvious reasons.

Like I said, I think you need to rethink this.

Maybe buy this instead? http://www.chauvetlighting.com/motiondrape-led.html

Or a bunch of these? http://www.chauvetlighting.com/colorbar-smd.html

[windspeed36]

Oh gosh, that is going to be a LONG and tedious process!

Do you know anything about electrical engineering or electronics?

What about programming?

This is a much more difficult process that I think you are severely under estimating.

Your going to need to program the micro controllers that drive the LEDs, and your going to need some type of video input which converts the single a from your computer to the micro controller.

You can start here; http://www.nerdkits.com/videos/ledarray2/

Try and see if you can even do that before you go any further.

There aren't really any tutorials on how to accomplish something like this for obvious reasons.

Like I said, I think you need to rethink this.

Maybe buy this instead? http://www.chauvetlighting.com/motiondrape-led.html

Or a bunch of these? http://www.chauvetlighting.com/colorbar-smd.html

I'm with you on this - building your own LED pannels would be a real pain and probably more expensive.

[noize_unit]

this is slighty depressing news, i knew it would be very tidious and long task but maybe you guys are right, it will prolly end up being more expensive than just buying chauvet panel or whatever, i guess you just need a buttload of money to be able to project visuals and animations onto a wall without it looking cheesy and lame (ie projector and white screen) maybe i will just stick to getting a few lights and just try and talk myself out of wanting the whole jaw drop awesomeness in my zen room hehe, thanks for the information thus far, and if anyone else knows more or might have a better route post it up would be great! also if you have recomendations for lighting would be great too.

EDIT: Instead of being super cool with an LED panels do u think i should just get a cheapo big tv screeens to use?

[instinct]

this is slighty depressing news, i knew it would be very tidious and long task but maybe you guys are right, it will prolly end up being more expensive than just buying chauvet panel or whatever, i guess you just need a buttload of money to be able to project visuals and animations onto a wall without it looking cheesy and lame (ie projector and white screen) maybe i will just stick to getting a few lights and just try and talk myself out of wanting the whole jaw drop awesomeness in my zen room hehe, thanks for the information thus far, and if anyone else knows more or might have a better route post it up would be great! also if you have recomendations for lighting would be great too.

EDIT: Instead of being super cool with an LED panels do u think i should just get a cheapo big tv screeens to use?

Woah woah woah! Projectors are cheesy.. not if they are done right.. the resolution is going to be SOOO much better than an low cost LED Panel. Plus with Projection Mapping, you can do some things that just blow led screens away in my opinion.

[windspeed36]

For what you were originaly looking for, programmable/projector LED screens sell at around 3-5K per square meter + extra for the controller. As you said, have a look at some LED Pannels and drapes such as the Motion Drape from Chauvet or the ROCKER Pannel from Blizzard - http://www.blizzardlighting.com/inde...er-panel-rgbaw

[noize_unit]

Well, it was driving me crazy that i couldnt find this being produced by a manufacturer but alas i was looking in the wrong area (silly me) found this gem in the chauvet professional lineup

http://www.chauvetlighting.com/mvp-12.html

Search on the eBay and this thing is way pricey but im glad i found it.... on a side note anybody wanna buy my kidneys?

[SummitAudioDJ]

Well, it was driving me crazy that i couldnt find this being produced by a manufacturer but alas i was looking in the wrong area (silly me) found this gem in the chauvet professional lineup

http://www.chauvetlighting.com/mvp-12.html

Search on the eBay and this thing is way pricey but im glad i found it.... on a side note anybody wanna buy my kidneys?

How much? and what's your blood type?

[jpaytonAVP]

You can purchase the MVP12 as a 2pack with road case $6,999 or 6pack with road case $20,499.
In order to drive them, you will need the MVP Driver - $1,699
The software that drives the Driver is free, but windows only does not support any current OS system other than XP/ME/2000.
They just released the PVP7, which is a 7mm pitched version for high res content.

If you're ballin on a budget, check out the VID 100, its a 100mm video drape for low res content.
http://www.chauvetlighting.com/vid-100.html

MVP series is relatively affordable in this area of pro lighting/staging/production.

You may also want to check out the ADJ Flash Panels - Very effective for what they do, but I'm not particularly impressed with the mounting system. It would take a more time than needed and if it's not a permanent install it would be awful to set up and tear down all the time.
http://www.americandj.com/ProductDet...Category=L.E.D.

[Synaxis]

If you're ballin on a budget, check out the VID 100, its a 100mm video drape for low res content.
http://www.chauvetlighting.com/vid-100.html

MVP series is relatively affordable in this area of pro lighting/staging/production.

You may also want to check out the ADJ Flash Panels - Very effective for what they do, but I'm not particularly impressed with the mounting system. It would take a more time than needed and if it's not a permanent install it would be awful to set up and tear down all the time.
http://www.americandj.com/ProductDet...Category=L.E.D.

That Vid 100 looks interesting, as do the Flash Panels.

I think the ADJ Flash Panels might be your best option at this point, price wise. A system of 20 is only $3000, and that would cover a 8' x 8' area.