Ship Simulator

English forum => Small talk => Topic started by: Captain Spencer on October 17, 2010, 23:30:47

Title: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 17, 2010, 23:30:47
Hi guys,

Again, another topic from me about my mobile disco hobbie. Here we have the lighting videos I took when I was programming the DMX lights via my laptop.

For those who might be (remotely) interested here is a run down of the lighting:

1 x Gladiator 1CE Barrel Scanner
2 x 4 Channel DMX Scanners
2 x LED Par 64's


The first video shows the lights without the pars (the big LED spot lights) and the second shows them with the PARS and a longer lighting show.

There is 99 steps programmed into the lighting scene and I also created a slow scene for slow music (not shown in the videos yet).

Your thoughts would be nice to hear, and of course if you have any critism please post them here.

Any comments NOT related to or about the lighting or mobile discos will be removed. You have been warned!

First Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiCjjcztbsU

Second Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQHcws3KIMs

Ohh and before anyone discovers this, yes this was all setup in my bedroom  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 18, 2010, 01:20:46
That is awesome! How much are those things? They look expensive  :P
  The second video with the pars make's it look more complete, but both are fantastic!
 Cool work Spencer  :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 18, 2010, 01:31:06
Thanks Chris!

Well lets see, the PARS are about £60 each delivered (note the £ and not $). The scanners are the cheaper versions and only cost me £40 each (although they were on offer and should have been £100). The barrel scanner was an eBay special and was delivered for £35 :)

I have more kit which is very expensive too :)

Thanks though, the whole show is programmed using a laptop and a USB DMX interface :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 18, 2010, 01:46:29
Cool! So what's the difference between a barrel scanner and a regular scanner?
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 18, 2010, 01:50:59
Well, a regular scanner has a flat mirror which can move on the X and Y axis. A barrel scanner is a barral of mirrors, which can rotate constantly and be rotated 170 degrees.

The centre light is a barrel scanner, the two outer moving lights are flat scanners :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 18, 2010, 02:09:11
Here's a picture of the setup in the light. I know the lighting stands are dodgy, they will be replaced with some trussing when I can afford the hobbie expense!

Ohh and the cables are more tidy when I'm gigging! :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 18, 2010, 02:24:03
That is some cool equiptment there  :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: freeciv on October 18, 2010, 02:32:28
Very impressive set up!
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 18, 2010, 02:33:12
Hehe thanks guys. I also have two other lights which are just sound to light and no DMX. Also, incase anyone is wondering I've posted my sound equipment below too :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 18, 2010, 03:42:14
Those are Sweet! The only sound "stuff" I've done is mixing on a pc, with Virtual DJ.  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 18, 2010, 09:55:17
Hehe, yup I've used all sorts of things in the past but I like my setup as it is. Always expanding my gear though, when funds allow of course! ;D
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: goodles on October 18, 2010, 22:02:39
very nice so can SSR host the xmas party at your house  :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 19, 2010, 00:20:14
Haha well I will be hosting a christmas party I'm sure, but it won't be at my house and it won't be for SSR ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: freeciv on October 19, 2010, 01:12:45
Haha well I will be hosting a christmas party I'm sure, but it won't be at my house and it won't be for SSR ;)
Awww...   :(
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: J3nsen on October 19, 2010, 13:41:35
Hope your hobby will end like this! ;D

Qlimax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stfDEJDhzyU&feature=channel
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 19, 2010, 23:05:40
Haha Jensen, the lighting show is awesome!

I have made my own tunes, rather than mixing other tracks, but I am still a newbie when it comes to making electronic music still :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: J3nsen on October 19, 2010, 23:24:30
I can tell you its more fun to make own music, like FL Studio or Reason.... I had that hobby, but its dead now ;D  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 19, 2010, 23:28:45
I can tell you its more fun to make own music, like FL Studio or Reason.... I had that hobby, but its dead now ;D  :thumbs:

I triedFL Studio, but I was really bad  :doh: Soooo I stopped (good thing I only got the trial)  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: J3nsen on October 19, 2010, 23:30:14
Haha :P With plug-ins like Nexus and other VST will it be better! :) But alot to learn ;)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 20, 2010, 00:01:33
Haha well I have Reason 4, and a few other programs. I won't bother posting my song here, cause' it's not that good and it's unfinished :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 20, 2010, 00:26:13
How about when it's finished  ;D I would love to hear it, cause I know it will be better than what I made ( random piano keys )  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on October 20, 2010, 00:28:59
Well my song probably won't get finished. I know a little about Reason, but it's one of those programs that you will never completely learn :)
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on October 20, 2010, 00:35:53
I understand that, especially for a $600 USD Software  :o
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: cptnchris on November 10, 2010, 02:21:56
Hey Spencer! I was wondering what a cheaper "beginner" lighting thing would be. I have a strobe light somewhere (cheap one) but I can't stand strobe lights, they mess with my head and I get dizzy  :doh: Do you know if there's a way to "block" the lights? Sunglasses or something perhaps......
 Thanks!
Title: Re: Mobile Disco Lighting Videos (DMX)
Post by: Captain Spencer on November 11, 2010, 18:11:33
Hi Chris,

If you don't like strobe lights I suggest you sell the light. Getting sunglasses won't make it better :)

If you want a cheap disco light, go for a LED Moonflower. You can pick these up for about £40 (do the exchange rate of course!) or you could go for something even cheaper.

Also, I bought some new lights the other day. I have another pair of DMX scanners which are better and more importantly lighter than my other scanners.

I'll take some pics and shoot some videos of them soon!