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[Aaron Bott]

Hey guys, I'm at a dilemma and my alma mater contacted me wanting a lighting system installed in the gym. They told me they were looking to spend $1,500 and I told them that it wasn't going to be possible but I would keep the quote as low as I could to do it right.

They want their teams to come onto the court "NBA style" with lights flashing, a light on the locker room door, and they originally wanted to get a followspot to wave around at the crowd. I told them the best bet would be 4 movers (1 in each quadrant of the court) and a few LED washes to give some color but when I told them the cost on movers, they got worried.

So my new idea is to do a cluster of 2-4 scanners in the middle of the gym arrayed outward and POSSIBLY some wash lighting such as the Chauvet Colorstrips. Obviously everything will be mounted in metal cages to protect them from flying balls so that will add an additional cost to the school's project. We will also need a controlling system (thinking about ADJ MyDMX or Freestyler to keep it simple and cheap but not limit them). Also, the DMX link from the controller to the first light will need to be wireless as running a wire will cost them more on labor and wire than just getting a wireless unit due to the building's structure. The controller will be in the press box and have the receiver in the scanner's cage with them linked using 3' DMX cables and if we do any wash lighting, appropriate length DMX cables will be used to reach those fixtures.

I want to use a bright enough scanner the they can use them as a basic spotlight for public speakers, pep rallies, and other events needing a spotlight but not go overboard on features. An example of a fixture I like is the Martin SCX500 but not sure if it's bright enough and wondering if there would be an elation/ADJ/chauvet unit the may be comparable in specs and price.

Any suggestions on units to use would be greatly appreciated!

[duane massey]

ADJ Accuscan, if still available. If not, your choices become more limited unless your budget goes up a bit. The new ADJ Visi Scan is supposedly impressive, and it's an LED.
http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=1493&MainId=2&Category=Intelligent_Lighting

http://www.americandj.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=2032&MainId=2&Category=Intelligent_Lighting

Prices on the ADJ website are "list", should be able to find them for 20-30% less.

Consider a Showdesigner 1 for control. Cost-effective and very user-friendly, especially for playback; also works reasonably well for live manual control.
$1,500 will not get you very far, but you know that already.

[Ray Cerwinski]

I'd look into some used Technobeams.

[Nick Pignetti]

I'd look into some used Technobeams.

+1 on the used technobeams. The accuscans will work too. I'd stay away from the colorstrips for this application- try and get something with 1w diodes or higher- I'd recommend colordash battens at least.

And as others have said, $1,500 isn't going to get it done- its really not worth doing if they dont up the budget.. you need to make some profit too.

If you want some help on the pricing let me know as I'm a chauvet dealer.

[Aaron Bott]

+1 on the used technobeams. The accuscans will work too. I'd stay away from the colorstrips for this application- try and get something with 1w diodes or higher- I'd recommend colordash battens at least.

And as others have said, $1,500 isn't going to get it done- its really not worth doing if they dont up the budget.. you need to make some profit too.

If you want some help on the pricing let me know as I'm a chauvet dealer.

I'm aware it's not and I put that in my original post. My goal is just to get as close as possible. Counting labor, lights, control, and DMX cable isn't all either because we also have to have cages made to protect them from game balls.

[duane massey]

To attempt any type of wash lighting would be very costly. To achieve some type of "eye-candy", not so much.
Used fixtures can certainly save some $$, but I'm a bit uneasy putting used fixtures in a location that can be challenging to get to.
Definitely stick with scanners, they are faster and easier to program. Programming for specific locations is a worthwhile plan, but using them as traditional followspots not so much.

[Aaron Bott]

They won't be used as a followspot really. The school was originally going to use a followspot to put a steady light on a stage during a public speaker's presentation but my thought was it would require someone to stand there the entire time. The original thought I had was to put a 575w leko in but with the cost of a leko, I could just put 4 scanners in and give them some basic lighting effects along with the ability to use it as a spotlight when needed.

Also, I'm debating 4 Martin SCX500's. I know they aren't bright but they will be close to the budget they want. Also, what would you recommend for a controller to control these if they don't want to use a computer based application? 4 SCX500's controlled independently or possibly in pairs on a mirrored axis (programmed as 2 lights)

[Steve (Stevie Ray) Kalbach]

Ahh man Aaron, I wish I would have known this earlier.  I had 6 DJ Scan 250 HP's that I sold for $250 for all 6.  I know they are not the latest greatest, but for $250, it would have given them the effect they were looking for, way under budget.

As far as a controller desk, if you don't want software.  Then with the budget restraints.  I would recommend a Martin Freekie (used).  I have seen them for around $200 used, and they are a great board, or the Elation DMX Operator Pro (make sure you get the "Pro" version, the others are not as good).  Very similiar board, for around $300-$400 new.

If the budget can be a little bigger, no question I would look at the Elation Magic it is one of my personal favorites. 

[duane massey]

Absolutely ADJ/Elation Showdesigner 1. None of the budget controllers are "simple friendly", and you will not get your $$'s worth with a limited controller. The ONLY cheaper scanners that are reasonably accurate enough are the ADJ X-Scans. DJ Scans, Intimidators, etc, are not really suitable for anything other than non-critical mobile DJ's. Better choices (although over-budget) would be either Accu Scans or Vizi Scans.

[Craig Leerman]

Go with LEDs. The maintenance and changing of the bulbs will be something that will never get done in a school system. At least with an all LED rig, the bulbs wont die out anytime soon.

I worked with a school in AZ that had almost every stage light out. I talked them into buying the bulbs, and I went in one day and the theater teacher and 2 of the maintenance staff helped me to lower the electrics and change out all the strip light par bulbs, and the fresnel bulbs.

One year later most of the lights were out again, and the school didn't want to spend the money on bulbs as they had a hard time getting the bulbs in the last years budget.  Two reasons why the bulbs were out. One was that many theater bulbs only have limited lifespans in the 750 or so hour range (like the fresnel bulbs we installed) While that sounds like a lot, figure the lights are burning for every rehearsal and show, about 150 or so hours per production. The other reason is that if you accidentally leave the stage lights on for the weekend, or use them as the general stage wash for the theater classes during the school day, you burn through them even quicker!

LEDs will at least solve the dead bulb issue, and I dont think a gym will have electric battens that will lower the lights making changing a bulb an easy task for the maintenance staff. If its not easy, it wont get done.

Craig

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