okay my rig is getting bigger and bigger by the day at the moment as my company have started to do bigger and better things....

we have recently upgraded all our lighting but havent botherd to do so with our strobe lighting yet.

i have heard very mixed reviews about what i call 'monster strobes' you know those big powerful 750w to 1500w ones and im wondering what you guys (and ladies of course) think about them??

at the moment we use two 60w strobes through our lighitn controller but they just arnt bright enough IMO

oh yeah i forgot i will be looking your way Chris if theres anything you can do for me stobe wise regarding this post

cheers

Well (Galaxy Promotions take note), I wouldn't waste your money to be honest. Strobes cause more of an annoyance and are an uncomfortable addition for the majority of guests at an average family function.

Unless you are planning a few raves, catering solely to non epileptic kids, or kitting out a nightclub then you are likely to do your business more harm than good.

I have a 1500W linear strobe, and it gets used about once a year......on hire .

IF you do chose to buy one, then i'll be more than happy to quote, however the advice above is that of a DJ and not a salesman and based on experience. You will also need to ensure that you clearly state that strobe lighting may be used - both in your literature and on easily read signs at the entrance and placed throughout the venue. This is an HSE requirement since the last thing that your business needs is a claim from a guest suffering an epileptic fit at your liability!.

But trust me....forget the strobe.

These giga strobes use a lot of power from the mains. So if you buy one run it on a seperate 13 amp mains supply. They are very powerfull. I have a Geni giga strobe. Also it emits a small smell. Im not sure what the smell is but it could be gas from the tube it it defentley not burning smell. Also when the strobe is left on for a long time (not recomended) the tube gets red hot at the ends. My strobe has also got a dimmer pot to dim the light output and a remote plug.

Like I said they are powerfull strobes which take a lot of power from the mains. A short firing of the strobe is better then leaving it flash for a long time.

I must admit they can make stunning effects with lots of haze/smoke

Just managed to find the guidelines set by the HSE regarding public strobe use. This may be of interest to anybody using, or planning to use strobes at functions....

well we offer a package where we bring the night club to you we aim at school parties and 16-21st for the rig im looking at adding the strobe to.

i am aware of the laws regarding strobes its not a problem its only do you with white light though which i found weird (well last time i checked)

we put sings up anyway regardless if we use the stobe anyway to cover our backs cos some of our dmx lights tend to strobe and i would rather us be safe than sorry.....

i find that they are a pain in the @@@ when im at a party and they have a strobe happy lighting tech or something but its only going to be used on the big rig so i would be interested in some prices just to take a look at Chris that would be very helpful


anyone else have any views?

Intelligent lighting strobing is very unlikely to trigger fits, since the sluggish mechanical nature of the shutter means that 7 fps is around the maximum that you can expect - plus the beam tends to be limited to an angle, rather than flooded around the room.

A 750W linear strobe will cost you around £90 - £95
A 1700W Linear Strobe is around £129

These prices are based on a 2 channel DMX controlled linear strobe with manual speed adjustment.

Just like bubble machine, not worth the hassle

Very true Andy!!! I wish i never bought my strobe or buble machine even thought there cheaper ones

Wanna sell them so if anyone is interested then u can pm me if thats ok with chris

Also got some chauvet minimoons that have been used once and if someone wants them all i would do them a decent enough deal as there in my way now

strobes get the thumbs down from me too why not get a laser its the thinking mans strobe

I have two strobes which have'nt been out of the flight case for about 5 years, go for a laser every time! Why have'nt they been out? Because they are more hassle than they are worth and I would'nt sell them on as I would'nt want anybody else to cause grief with them!

Spin

I use strobes at clubs but otherwise agree with the others,too many complaints and it aint worth the hassle-

We do loads of schools and a uni - and dont use strobes - nobody likes em.. teachers, parents and pupils.... many schools will ask you NOT to use them so if you are going down the school route, dont waste your money!

If you still really want one, some DMX lights, along with a controller will have a strobe effect in them, I have them, never used the program though

I too give strobes the thumbs down, I haven't used mine in over 10 years as people always moaned about it ! I reckon it must have been switched on for a total of 3 minutes ever !

Regards to all

Ian Stuart

i have been reading thru this post and am finding it very interesting, i would not really bother with a strobe as all my light rig is DMX so i have programed 3 strobe setting on my pc, slow medium and fast so if i need a quick burst of white light then i press a button, plus if the scans are strobing at least they are moving !!
Just one question i see that you say you need to put up signs if using a strobe, so shouldnt all mobile dj's do this especially if your just using lighting that moves to the sound as a lot of these now adays have a strobe program in them thats you have no control over !!! just a thought.

Thanks for everyone who has added comments, its twisted my mind how i dont know if i want to get them now or not. i think i might do though cos its an extra we can use for the bigger events and stage shows with the bands that hire us, for our equipment. i think i will get one but make sure my lighting tech only uses at certain points and not every other second like some djs i have seen use.

i will run this thread over to him and see what he says now

thanks again all

Shaggy.... believe me, bigger events still dont like em mate! We dont use any strobes on our big rig - we used to have one, but got rid due to the fact that most people dont like em.... plus if you have a big impressive rig anyway, why spoil it with an effect that nobody likes!

Just another (Slightly unrelated) issue regarding liabilities etc.

You may be aware that even the TV companies are showing disclaimers to the extent that "This film contains scenes with strobe lighting which may cause problems for those with photosensitive Epilepsy". This is done following a law suit brought in the U.S. Needless to say the complainant won lots of compensation from the company concerned and the disclaimer was brought in to protect the rest of the TV companies or should I say, their insurers.

Now this was in the U.S granted, but we are rapidly following suit with regard to our compensation culture and soon you'll be able to sue a bus company for lack of ventilation if the person next to you farts! . In other words why put yourself in the frame for future problems, by buying a lighting effect that may even be illegal to use in a few years? and that you don't need because already several people who already own them have told you about the adverse reaction that it causes!. Again this seems to be a case of what D.J wants D.J Gets and too hell with the audience. This simply isn't the industry we are in.

you worry about your roadies? Surely they get paid to put up your rig?.... Martin roboscans.... brilliant!

haha yeah well its not as much the worry just the moaning they do in my ear as the night goes on... does your head in after a while!

Remind them about who pays their wages.....and drop subtle hints about how many letters that you've had from young people wanted to come and work for you.

oh i do mate, they are good really take alot of work sometimes but they do they job ummm kinda!

there should be a roadie training school somewhere anyone want a business op? lol

My 2p's worth, many years ago I spoke to my doctor about the effects of strobes, he told me that the frequencies to be avioded are 7 cycles and multiples there off, +/- 2c/s. (5 to 9 c/s, 12/16 c/s etc.) These are the frequencies that the brain is most active in, and there can be more serious side effects as well. The "military used the process for brain washing, and advertisers used the principle in subliminal adverts. If i remember correctly there was a film, set in the desert and every 28 frames ( 4 x 7) a picture of a glass of coke was inserted, and during the intermission they sold out of coke. This practice is now banned (allegedly).

Just out of interest shaggy, how many roadies do you use and what sort of size rig do they put up?

Going off the subject a little, someone mentioned bubble machines. At a local school I did at christmas they asked me not to use my bubble machine becasue there was a child who had a fobia (hope thats the rite spelling) of bubbles. Apparently he can't be in the same room as one bubble and its a common thing with children.

Chris

WoW! , i've never come across that before. Although my youngest Godson has a very real phobia of Balloons. Taking him to the Trafford Centre in Manchester over Xmas had him running screaming for the horizon at the sight of the Guy making balloon models!!!!

Usually bubble machines have people falling about (like Paula at a party!). I still say that they are dangerous things (The Bubble Machine and NOT Paula ) and not worth the risk.

when you say falling about chris i take it you mean because of the residue left by the bubbles on the floor?.
if so i have heard from a friend of mine that there is a fluid that dries instantly on contact with the floor,dont know of any suppliers do you?

No - I don't know of any manufacturer off hand who supplies this - although it would be interesting to find one for the obvious reason. I'll ask the question and get back to you.

So far the main problem with Bubble Fluid is that in order to create the bubbles relies on a fluid partly made up with the chemicles used in soapy detergent. Which in practice makes it a bit like spilling fairy liquid on the floor.

Shaggy.... are you mad! Ok... I use a roadie or two when we put up the big rig or a 15k plus sound system but..... I tend to work alone.... even with the few bits you listed.... do you really need any roadies... especially as they give you so much grief?

I'm with Karen on this one, why paid someone when all you need to do it get to the gig an hour earlier, I tend to set up either after the night befores gig, at around 2am, or in the morning.

I have been known to use roadie but only occassionally.

Sorry Shaggy but I have to ask....

Are you in business just for the sake of the gear or for the love of entertaining people??. If it is the first one, then there are far easier ways to be involved with Sound & Lighting equipment without the drag of having to be a D.J to do it

It seems to me that playing around with the gear and having a load of mates "Roadie" for you comes priority before being a D.J . I could easily be wrong of course, but just an observation and a gut feeling.

I thought the same Chris, but who am I to talk ?

The main problem with bubble machines is that the flloor can become slippery if too many bubbles are made or the machine left on for too long.

sorry but a 4kw system with the few lights mentioned would only take me alone half an hour to rig up... and thats including unloading!

what can i say i like to make things complexed lol

as for the crew when we do the big shows often for many different bands remember its not just the disco on big jobs, we have to have a monitor engineer, lighting guy, sound man, guitar tuner/ drum tech/general backline techie, the person who does the images on the screen. trust me there are alot of work for everyone and its all busy busy, plus the rigging of the stage and lighting rigs we get in.

and yes its really for the fun of it, and the enjoyment i get out of putting on the bigger events and seeing all those poeple entertained and happy its like living my rock start dream in my own way i guess.

the 4k rig seems to take a good 90 mins to set up at the moment due to not having flight cases for things like lights so they are stripped with mirrors taken out and put somewhere safe before being put into the crummy cardboard boxes and loaded into the trailor. this is hopefully going to cut down to very little time like 20 mins of so when the flight cases arive which are on order as we speak...... i cant say i make much money out of it all i just love doing!! the dj stuff is really a doddle settin up wise in comparison tot he live band stuff, its a real pain making things run like clock work when you have 5 bands only playing for 20-30 mins and keeping the crowd interested,

trust me all of the above it needed for the bigger band things and like i said it doesnt happen that much but when it does its really good fun... the crew i get from local colleges and pay them to be honest not that much but they are students and keen to put on productions.

when i get the wheel in flight case and my speakers adapted for wheels as they are heavy old things for me back... djing will be alot easier (well the setting up and stripping down part will be. as the crowds are always a challange to please thats why we do it) and less time will be spent in the rigging (thank god) and life will be simple onces again..... i really have had needed the flight cases for too long its something i have just put off. and my roadie will be once again be cheif drinks fetcher and chatting partner and the odd flicker of lights chap as aposed to master rigger and mirror attacher as her is now lol

any other questions? its like ask shaggy today

BY the way back to the orignal post no strobes for us!!

hopefully will get a much cheaper scaled down version of those lights like they use on totp (my technical knowledge strikes again) im not sure what they are called but i think they will be the next purchase

still think you are mad!! The uni's we work for usually have their own trussing and lighting and most bands put on are totally self sufficient - but if you enjoy it!

well all the best people were mad!!

and yes its a bonus when they place has its own lighting but sometimes not and alot of the palces are dodgy village halls, some gisg we have to bring our own power too!

Madness

Unbelievable!