Tag Archives: Freedom series

Understanding the Family Values of the Wireless Freedom™ Series

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Photo Credit: Smoov Music Sound & Lighting Services


-by Navah Berg, Marketing Manager for TRUSST®, VIP bags, CHAUVET® DJ VIP Rewards Program

Members of the same family typically share the same values. When it comes to lighting fixtures, the same analogy applies. For example, each fixture in the 100 percent wireless CHAUVET® DJ Freedom™ series shares the same set of values. Click here for the top five values and how they apply to the wireless Freedom™ series.

DJ University is an online resource for the DJ/mobile performer sponsored by CHAUVET® DJ.

Testing out the Freedom™ Series – Part 2

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-written by Jon-Paul LeClair

Freedom™ Strip Mini
I was excited to test the CHAUVET® DJ Freedom™ Strip Mini and planned to use it as an extra uplight for our drummer. I currently use four SlimPAR™ 64 wash lights around the drum kit, so I set the Freedom™ fixture on the floor behind her. The unit comes with detachable legs, which allow you to place it in whatever vertical position you want. Depending how you transport the fixture, you may be able to leave the legs attached. It would be nice to have a folding leg system because I would rather not lose the washers and bolts.

Like the Freedom™ Par, Freedom™ Strip Mini can be configured in basic 3-channel DMX mode or 4-channel DMX mode, which opens up other functions as previously explained. I chose 4-channel DMX mode for my application. A word of caution to those who use traditional LED PARs like the SlimPAR™ wash lights: 3-channel DMX mode does not include dimmer control, so controlling all your fixtures with one fader may prove to be difficult.

Again, the unit is completely wireless. Chauvet also sent along a wireless remote. Since I run my lights with a PC, I only tested it for a short time. The remote, which is very slim and lightweight, would be handy to keep in your pocket and change the fixture’s color without having to go around a room and manually adjust them.

The fixture is compact and fits in tight spots — including the area between our backdrop and drummer — to light dark spaces. It throws a good amount of light and worked great in my application, however, it will get drowned out by more powerful fixtures.

Another item of note, the Freedom™ series includes master/slave mode for standalone master/slave operation. The manual explains everything, but I mention it for those running cables and chaining fixtures — be sure to check the input you are using and ensure you are using the standard DMX in/out ports. I set the fixtures up once or twice (using the wrong port) and wondered why the fixture, and other fixtures down the chain, were not functioning as expected.

Overall, the Freedom™ series is highly convenient with its built-in wireless DMX and super-long battery life for untethered power. These fixtures make for a clean show environment, and best of all, no knots in your cables. I really like how easy it is to position the fixtures in order to get light where you need it. The optional remote adds even more convenience allowing you to run your lights without a controller. If you want a fast, easy, wireless setup, you can’t go wrong with the Freedom™ series by Chauvet.

*Click here to read Testing out the Freedom™ Series – Part 1

Smoov Music Goes Wireless

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Daniel Wendt, owner of Smoov Music Sound & Lighting Services, lives in Delafield, Wisconsin and has 10 years of experience in the industry. His main niche is weddings, but he also provides services to school dances, corporate events and birthday parties. In search of 100% wireless fixtures, he decided to add Freedom™ Par and Freedom™ Strip Mini fixtures to his setup. Read on for his thoughts on the Freedom™ series.

1. Why did you select a Chauvet fixture?
I started using Chauvet products on day one of my DJ career. I did my research before I made my purchases and found Chauvet to be a very well-known brand with great warranties and top notch customer service. They also have a new customer loyalty program which helps my company earn new products.

2. Why did you decide to add the Freedom™ series to your setup?
The product had very high ratings online, is priced very well and is a perfect fit for my application. We have a Freedom™ Strip Mini that we place behind our DJ setup and 12 – 15 Freedom Par wash lights to uplight our events. We incorporated the Freedom™ series to replace our COLORdash™ Accent fixtures.

3. What specific features were you looking for?
I wanted 100% wireless lighting with a powerful output that can be controlled with an external controller.

4. What do you like best/least about the Freedom™ series?
The best feature is the 100% wireless power and control. The feature I like least is the size. I wish the fixture was a little smaller and weighed a little bit less, but still featured the same brightness and output.

5. How have these fixtures changed your set up/break down time?
The Freedom™ series has changed our set up significantly. It used to take between 30 minutes to an hour to set up. Then, it took us the same amount of time to clean up the wired lights. Now, with the wireless Freedom™ fixtures, it only takes about 5 – 10 minutes to set up and 5 – 10 minutes to break down. The Freedom™ Par wash lights have made a significant difference to our events.

Testing out the Freedom™ Series – Part 1

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-written by Jon-Paul LeClair

Chauvet contacted me to demo and review some gear — I enthusiastically agreed. To my surprise they sent me the wireless CHAUVET® DJ Freedom™ series — one Freedom™ Par and one Freedom™ Strip Mini. I immediately thought of ways to use them with my band’s lighting rig.

Freedom™ Par
Freedom™ Par is a portable PAR uplight that is very easy to position and reminds me of a lantern. Due to the weight (7.8 pounds) and size of the unit (9.3-by-8.5-by-8.8 inches), I would recommend keeping it on the ground and not mounting it. The Freedom™ series includes built-in wireless DMX and a rechargeable battery which greatly reduces the need to run wire and fish around for power. Basically, it is as simple as taking the unit out of the box, setting it in place, turning it on and you are done. It also features an adjustable tilt so you can position the light wherever you need it.

Configuration is at your fingertips with the easy-to-use configuration panel. The unit can be programmed in basic 3-channel DMX mode, or for more advanced features, 4-channel DMX mode opens a ton of features such as color macros, strobe effects and quadrant control. The manual describes all the available features and menu structure. Since there are a lot of options, the manual is essential if you are not familiar with this fixture’s setup. Since it is fully DMX ready, it can be used with your favorite DMX controller.

I used the Freedom™ Par to supplement the uplighting for our lead singer who is typically located center stage. Sometimes, the side wash lights don’t illuminate him as much as I would like. I was able to place the Freedom™ Par directly in front of him, tilt the fixture a bit and turn it on —boom, done. I didn’t have to run a power or DMX cable. Prior to the show, I pre-programmed the DMX values and setup the wireless DMX so I didn’t have to mess with it during setup.

One small annoyance was setting the DMX value. Holding down the “up” or “down” key didn’t automatically scroll through the DMX values. When you have as many fixtures as I do, setting the DMX value to 169 required a lot of tapping.

Since the Freedom series includes a built-in D-Fi™ 2.4 GHz transceiver, I used Freedom™ Par as a receiver and Freedom™ Strip Mini as the transmitter. The manual offers several options when setting up wireless DMX. The setup is a bit confusing — so again, having the manual handy is essential. I wanted Freedom™ Strip Mini to act as the transmitter, which means wiring into the DMX chain and sending the signal to the Freedom™ Par. First, you have to configure each unit as a receiver or transmitter. Then, you have to sync both units at the same time by holding down the sync button for about 20 seconds. I was able to control the Freedom™ Par from across the room using my controller. However, I think I lost signal to the Par at some point during our show. Or, other objects in the way could have caused the interference or blocked signal. It is also possible that I didn’t have the units properly synchronized. Make sure you test the fixtures before the gig so you’re not fretting 15 minutes before the show. If your application is critical, I recommend running DMX cable just to be safe.

The battery life is great and there is a handy battery-life indicator on each unit that shows the remaining amount of battery life. I used both the Freedom™ Par and Freedom™ Strip Mini during two, four-hour shows and didn’t have to recharge them in between. After the second show, I was left with more than 50-percent battery life.

Overall, I liked the Freedom™ Par — it is very easy to position and adds extra light where you need it without having to run power or DMX cables.

*Click here to read Testing out the Freedom™ Series – Part 2

DJ Profile: Jeff Brown

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Jeff Brown won a MiN™ Laser by registering his CHAUVET® DJ gear with the CHAUVET® DJ VIP Rewards program. We discovered he has 27 years of experience in the DJ industry and is the owner of All About You Entertainment in Savannah, Georgia — needless to say we decided to feature him in a DJ Profile. Read on and get to know more about him.

1. How did you get started as a DJ?
I bought my first turntables in 1984 and went on to work as an on-air radio personality, program director, music director and even ran my own radio show on two different stations.  Throughout the years, I also played at a few nightclubs in New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Savannah.

2. Is this a full-time job or something you do on the side?
After leaving radio in 2007, my wife and I started All About You Entertainment full-time. All About You Entertainment consists of five DJs who cater to the Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head, South Carolina areas and specialize in all types of events including weddings, corporate parties, school functions, reunions and Sweet 16 parties.

3. What fixtures are included in your setup?
We use a variety of effect lights at every event. Our setup includes the following effect lights: Kinta™ X, Swarm™ 4, Radius™, Double Derby™ X and an LED Mushroom™. We are excited about adding the Freedom™ series to our setup very soon.

4. What is your favorite fixture and why?
I personally like the Swarm™ 4 and Intimidator™ Spot LED 250. Swarm™ 4 is nice because it flows on the floor and is not a wild “in your face” effect. These lights offer great effects at great prices.

5. Best advice you can give someone just getting started in the DJ industry?
It is getting harder and harder to cut through the clutter. A lot of competition means you have to offer something the others don’t. Be unique, be yourself, be professional and most of all, be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as you can from other DJs, peers, musicians and performers. Ask questions and learn — it will make you better.

6. What are your top three most requested songs?
“Wobble Baby” by V.I.C., “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson and “Whistle” by Flo Rida are my three most requested songs right now.

CHAUVET® DJ goes to the 2012 Las Vegas DJ Show

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CHAUVET® DJ showcased the latest, must-have DJ gear during the 2012 Las Vegas DJ Show. Attendees stopped by the TRUSST®-built booth to check out the powerful washes emitted by the 100% TRUE wireless Freedom™ series, which features battery power, infrared remote control (IRC) capability and built-in wireless DMX, and grabbed for their cameras as the Nimbus™ professional dry-ice machine flooded the show floor with thick, low-lying clouds. Additionally, Randy Bartlett, producer of The 1% Solution series, delivered a seminar filled with tips to create effects that wow clients and guests and incorporated Nimbus™ and Freedom™ demonstrations.

Team CHAUVET® Builds Epic Booth at DJ Expo

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The CHAUVET® DJ team built an epic booth for the 2012 DJ Expo. The entire booth was constructed using TRUSST®, the rugged and economical trussing system backed by CHAUVET®, and featured more than 150 fixtures in action. In addition to sponsoring and lighting the main stage, we hosted a seminar delivered by DJ Mikey Mikey with upselling tips to increase your bottom line and another on ShowXpress™ — the software that turns any computer or smartphone into a lighting console.

Attendees witnessed the debut of hot new fixtures. Two new fixtures joined the Freedom™ series of 100% TRUE wireless fixtures, while amped up SlimPAR™ Quad-6 IRC and SlimPAR™ Quad-12 IRC wash lights joined the SlimPAR™ series. Nimbus™ flooded the show floor with low-lying clouds and Geyser™ RGB produced intense explosions of color, fog and light. Other big hits included the easy-to-use TRUSST® trussing system, as well as the ultra-bright and fast-moving Intimidator™ Spot series.

 

CHAUVET® DJ Attends ArmDJs 5.0

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CHAUVET® DJ traveled to Tennessee for the ArmDJs 5.0 conference. Nearly 200 DJs participated in industry-related seminars and tested out the latest CHAUVET® DJ lighting gear, including the Nimbus™ professional dry-ice machine, ultra-bright Gobo Zoom™ LED 2.0 and 100% TRUE wireless Freedom™ series.  Check out some photos we took while we were there.

Freedom™ Liberates DJ

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Mark Maskell, aka DJ Maskell, is a promoter as well as a nightclub and mobile DJ in the Washington D.C. metro area. With 10 years of experience, he is very active in the Washington D.C. club scene and is a resident DJ at several big music festivals throughout the year.

Maskell needed an all-wireless solution to provide uplighting in a variety of environments from formal weddings, wild nightclubs, and completely random shenanigans like lighting up friend’s houses. Read on to see why he added 16 Freedom™ Strip Mini fixtures to his setup and how he saves two to three hours setting up and breaking down.

Written by Mark Maskell:
“I have a wide range of CHAUVET® DJ gear and it has always served me well. I added Freedom™ Strip Mini fixtures to my collection because it was the right balance of price per unit, total light output, quality of projected light, ease of setup and integration with my existing systems.

I wanted a fixture with a six-hour battery-operated run time, DMX capable, take less than a minute set up and/or breakdown, be at least four times brighter, be at a cost-per-unit that would allow me to get 8-16 units for under $4,000, look good at a wedding and rock out and go crazy in a nightclub.

The Freedom™ fixtures replaced a set of much smaller American DJ® P36 LED fixtures used for uplighting. I wanted something brighter and without cords. After saving so much time just by using D-Fi units, going completely wireless was a no-brainer. Setting up, running cables, plugging them in, making them look pretty and taping them down took about two hours to set up and breakdown. With this system, I set up twice as many lights in 1/10 of the time and with 1/100 of the effort. The party benefits from a killer light show and my brand looks better too.

The thing I like most about the Freedom™ Strip Mini is its run time. I ran them for 16 hours on their first charge — very impressive. I also like that the programs are compatible with other CHAUVET® lights (like the COLORstrip™) which saved me a lot of programming time because I already had programs created. The thing I like least is the units don’t always respond in sync — especially when operating wirelessly. Normal people probably wouldn’t notice, but lighting geeks like myself notice it right away.

Freedom™ Strip Mini exceeded my expectations. For the price of the fixture, the brightness, quality and utility can’t be beat.”

The Simplicity of Freedom™ Par

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-Written by Hank Rotzal, owner of HHR DJ Services, LLC

“I own and operate a mobile DJ company in Oxford, Conn. that specializes in birthday parties, family reunions, Sweet 16 celebrations and classic car shows. I was in search of a wireless fixture to add to our setup so I invested in eight Freedom™ Par wash lights.

I chose Freedom™ Par wash lights because of their wireless power and control capabilities. I am able to set them up and operate them whether there is a limited power supply or none at all. Now with built in D-Fi 2.4 GHz, I am able to change colors without having to run DMX cables and clutter the venue. The only thing I would change is the weight and bulk of the battery.

I use my Freedom Par fixtures to provide uplighting, illuminate our facade and light the back wall. I love the ease of setting them up — especially when we need to illuminate our façade because we’re usually in a small area and don’t have space to run extra wires for power and control.

Overall, we love the simple setup and operation of these fixtures.”