Foot Controlled Light Show

[charlie]

Hey guys,

I have been wanting to add a foot operated lighting system but I don't know where to start. I do know that I really don't want to use midi to control the lights as we have over 500 songs in our playlist, and that's way too much homework as far as programming. What I'm looking for is a small 4 channel foot controlled dimming system with (8) par 38 cans where I can set scenes and call for those scenes from the footswitch. I am currently looking at the FC-400 footswitch and (2) dimmer packs from American DJ. Another concern of mine is set up time. My current lighting system (4 -90 watt par 38 flood lamps) plus (2) color banks (sound-activated) can be set up in about 30 minutes, once all the extension cords are run. How long would it take to set up a system like the one I'm looking at? Anybody out there currently using a foot controlled system? If so, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks,


Charlie

[charlie]

Wow! I guess everybody out there gigging has their own personal light man....LOL...seriously, please somebody help! How are you guys dealing with running lights from stage?

[Steptoe]

Feb 19, 2009 21:28:55 GMT charlie said:

.seriously, please somebody help! How are you guys dealing with running lights from stage?

Lights plugged in then switched on ;D ;D ;D

No lighting man

Really don't see the need for an elaborate lighting rig, we just use 4 par 56's left on during the set.
Some clubs have lights installed, same deal though, set and forget

Cheers
John

[thingyy]

Feb 20, 2009 1:13:13 GMT Steptoe said:

Feb 19, 2009 21:28:55 GMT charlie said:

.seriously, please somebody help! How are you guys dealing with running lights from stage?

Lights plugged in then switched on ;D ;D ;D

No lighting man

Really don't see the need for an elaborate lighting rig, we just use 4 par 56's left on during the set.
Some clubs have lights installed, same deal though, set and forget

Cheers
John

Yep it's just another mouth to feed.We used a sound activated gismo that sat on top of the speaker and controlled the lights with the beat.
2 X 5 Halogen lights on T bars with coloured gel. Cost $12 a light and replacement bulbs $2.50.
Gel pads around $10 per sheet.
T bars on speaker stands fully extended.
Looked great on a black back drop.

[moonie]

Hey Charlie, I use all the methods out there I think, I know you said you don't want to do the homework on doing 500 midi songs but it's a great way to go. If you start out simple and add as you goit's not that bad...ie make a "clip" that turns the lights all red and save it as "all red" write your playlist for the coming weekend, then add it to songs that would suit that, with just 4 or 5 scenes dropped in that way your already ahead of the game, if you have a chase set as the default then these still scenes become very effective. I run my midi lighting via lighting console's memory banks so now that all the programming is done in the midi's if I want a new light show I just change the memories, sometimes I mix and do lights for other bands and I cand save those settings for a new light show and kill two birds so to speak...personally I think there's enough to think about at a show without stomping light switches too...good luck
Moonie