Tune in as Johnathan Lewis, aka DJ Tutor, puts COLORband™ PiX-M on the review bench. A must-have LED fixture for mobile DJs, bands or nightclubs, COLORband™ PiX-M is powered by 12 tri-color LEDs and features DMX controllable motors to sweep back and forth, or from position to position, creating movement and dynamic effects. Get an overview of its operation, check out the built-in programs and see it action.
To create a fun and energetic atmosphere during a 21st birthday party held at a private residence in South Africa, Ijan Maasz, owner of I.M. Soundz, uses 13 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to add splashes of color and movement. Maasz, who caters to weddings, birthdays, school and corporate functions, artist performances and all other private parties, is responsible for the sound, lighting, music and entertainment at each gig. For this particular celebration, he used the following gear: four SlimPAR™ 64 and four SlimPAR™ 56 wash lights, 4PLAY™ and 4PLAY™ CL effect lights, a CHAUVET® DJ lighting stand, an Obey™ 70 DMX controller and a Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine. Read on for his take on event lighting.
“Without incorporating lighting into this type of event, it simply would not be the same,” Ijan Maasz said. “Lighting makes the music come to life and allows you to create an atmosphere. After every event, customers always tell me how impressed they are with the lighting setup and how it drastically improved their experience. They are also amazed at the amount of effects produced by such a small number of fixtures.
SlimPAR™ wash lights, as well as the Hurricane™ 1300, are my favorite fixtures used at this event. SlimPar™ 64 is an extremely bright wash light that emits warm colors and can be used at almost any event for uplighting, stage lighting or adding effects to the dance floor. SlimPAR™ 56 is perfect for uplighting because of its beam angle and rich colors. Both fixtures can be setup and torn down in minutes, are easy to program, take up a minimal amount of space and are very lightweight.
Another fixture that makes a big difference is the Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine. It has a short warm up time and fills almost any room with fog within minutes. I am amazed at how little fog fluid it uses for the amount of fog it generates. It makes the lighting come alive and brings out the best of each fixture.”
Photo courtesy of Mark Whipple
Every year, the Baltimore Area DJ Association (BADJA) hosts an annual cookout for all of its members. Mark Whipple, program director for BADJA and owner of The Sound Investment DJ Co., hosted this year’s event and threw a pool party complete with good food and camaraderie. To add excitement to the event, Chris Bartosik, BADJA member and owner of Raptor Productions, brought his Nimbus™ professional dry-ice machine and flooded the pool with thick clouds of low-lying fog. Thank you to Alex Kolego, BADJA member and owner of An Event to Remember Entertainers, for sharing this photo with us on the CHAUVET® DJ Facebook page.
Michael Iffla, owner of Iffla’s Productions, uses 14 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to add excitement and ambiance to a school dance held at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. During this event, he used the following fixtures: four LEDrain™ 64C, two LEDrain™ 38C, four COLORsplash™ Jr., LED Techno Strobe™ RGB, Eclipse™ RGB and Scorpion™ Burst GB. He also incorporated a Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine into this setup to accentuate the light show and programmed all the fixtures using the ShowXpress™ software.
“Lighting makes the show — it gives the “wow” factor and that’s what we try to capture at every event,” Iffla said. “My favorite fixture used at this event is the Scorpion™ Burst GB laser — hands down. I’ve only had it for a month, but with the right programming, it can take your setup to a new level. For example, use ShowXpress™ to black out all the lighting except Scorpion™ Burst GB — everyone will point and look at it saying, ‘awww awesome.’ I’ve used it at three proms this year and that was the response I received each time.”
“Right now, my favorite fixture is the COLORrail™ IRC — wow, what a light,” Thacker said. “We received these fixtures two days before the show and barely scratched the surface in terms of programming. The colors are VERY bright, the built-in chase effects are excellent and I love that it operates on 120v. Also, the daisy-chain feature and 26 channels of DMX control per light allow you to put on one heck of a show. For lighting performances in small clubs and bars, this light is perfect for our needs. I believe a good light show enhances a band’s performance and makes the crowd feel like they are at a show. The eyes and ears go hand in hand — if your lights move with the music, you not only create a mood that you hear, but also see and feel. As a musician, I know first-hand that good lighting makes all the difference in the world — there is more enthusiasm on stage so you add that extra pose or throw in a drumstick twirl. Again, I would like to thank Chauvet for making a great product for the weekend warriors like ourselves.”
Tune in as Johnathan Lewis, aka DJ Tutor, conducts an informative and entertaining review of Intimidator™ Spot Duo. Get an in-depth look at the fixture and its components, as well as a complete overview of its functionality. Designed for any mobile application, Intimidator™ Spot Duo features two fully and independently controllable moving heads mounted on an easy-to-rig bar. Tune in and see why your setup craves it!
Orlando Torres, aka DJ Spontaneous — owner of Spontaneous Entertainment, simplified his uplighting system by selling all his wired fixtures and replacing them with wireless Freedom™ Strip Mini Quad-5 wash lights. He is very impressed with his new gear and created a video review to share his thoughts with the world. Tune in for an overview of the fixture, tips to remember when operating it and a demonstration of how to use it with a D-Fi™ 2.4 Tx transmitter.
“I just wanted to say what a great fixture the Freedom™ Strip Mini Quad-5 is,” Torres said. “I was looking to upgrade my uplighting system and go from wired lights, to great quality, time-efficient fixtures. Thanks to Chauvet, I found it! When I first saw all the reviews from NAMM, I was impressed and decided to take the plunge and sell all my lights and go completely wireless — it was the best thing I have ever done. Set up time takes 3-5 minutes, breakdown is even faster and the quality of the 5-watt, quad-colored LEDs is insane. I currently have 14 Freedom™ Strip Mini Quad-5 wash lights and will be purchasing a few more in the near future.”
The seniors at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma celebrated their final days of school in style. The school hosted a lavish prom at the historic Cain’s Ballroom, complete with 37 Chauvet fixtures. Randy Lundy, owner of Party Allstars, created a lively atmosphere using one Scorpion™ 3D RGB and two Eclipse™ RGB lasers, one Cubix™ effect light, 20 SlimPAR™ 38 and four COLORrail™ wash lights, and four Q-Spot™ 260-LED and four Q-Spot™ 160-LED moving heads. He also used ShowXpress™ software to program and control the entire system. Lundy, aka DJ Ran-D, DJ RO’ and DJ Vixen kept the dance floor packed and the students had the time of their life. Party AllStars specializes in proms, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, Sweet 16′s and a variety of school events ranging from elementary to university level.
“Lighting played a huge part in enhancing the event,” Lundy said. “ShowXpress™ allows us to match the music and set the mood. The director of the venue said our light show was more impressive than most of the bands and DJs who perform there.”
Navah Berg, marketing manager for TRUSST®, CHAUVET® DJ VIP Gear Bags and the CHAUVET® DJ VIP Rewards program, took a dealer trip to Sound and Lighting Solutions (SLS) right here in our own backyard. Berg met with Jay Krause, owner of SLS, for a tour of their TRUSST®-built showroom. She was interested to see how they designed their setup and how they use TRUSST® to showcase the latest lighting gear. Check out some photos from the visit.
AVM Productions used 20 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to light the stage during the Color the Grove 5K & Music Fest held at Darton State College in Albany, Georgia. The team included four members: Jodie Kretzer, production manager; Mark Davis, sound technician; Dan Reeves, lighting technician; and Dustin Tilley, stage hand. Throughout the event, Abigail Rose, Relapse and The Cole Taylor Band entertained attendees as they performed on a stage illuminated with eight SlimPAR™ 56 and two SlimPAR™ 64 RGBA par-style wash lights, eight COLORrail™ IRC linear wash lights and two SlimBANK™ Tri-18 wide-area wash lights.
“My favorite fixture by far is the new CHAUVET® DJ SlimBANK™ Tri-18,” Kretzer said. “I can see myself using these fixtures in just about any application, whether they are used as an effect or wash light. For this event, I used them as audience blinders and the built-in programs looked great through haze — these lights can really throw out some light. They have a great beam and even lit our pecan grove.”
