Disco ball
- Thread starter anzyxx
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There is nothing that can compete with a true mirrorball and a 20 to 30 inch is perfect.
The trick is placement, mounting a mirrorball on a light stand or truss just doesn't cut it for effect! Sometimes you just have to get them into the ceiling!
The trick is placement, mounting a mirrorball on a light stand or truss just doesn't cut it for effect! Sometimes you just have to get them into the ceiling!
Due to space limitation I have a 16" mirror ball, I light it with 2 or 4 Martin Mania SCX-500, love being able to put multi-colors and patterns on the ball. Wish I got to use it more often, but most people are not paying for the lighting upgrades lately.
I agree with Thunder that ceiling mount is best, but for mobile setups that just can't happen in most venues. My next gig where I will be using the mirror ball I think I will be able to mount it out over the dance floor.
I agree with Thunder that ceiling mount is best, but for mobile setups that just can't happen in most venues. My next gig where I will be using the mirror ball I think I will be able to mount it out over the dance floor.
Mine is Chauvet, but whatever brand make sure it has real glass mirrors not the plastic ones. Also get a 1 rpm motor or slower, or you can get a DMX mirror ball motor with speed control.
NLFX has then I'm sure.
Get the slowest motor you can find...ours is 1rpm I believe. Also, make sure it is rated for the weight of the ball you choose. We use a 20" ball, but most mobiles probably can't get it high enough to utilize that size well. A 16" is probably more manageable in most applications.
I use a 12" which is fine. Like Val says, a 16" is probably as big as you'd want to go.
On another note... How was it for you transitioning to Freestyler to control your intel's?
On another note... How was it for you transitioning to Freestyler to control your intel's?
YES somefolks need to plug their audio directly into their computers mic input because sometimes... as is in my case... the built-in mic doesn't pickup well enough to be usefull.... plus you need to make sure the lights that you want to respond to sound are setup in the software to react to sound.... if you plan to use the Random fucntion... If you just want it to step through your chase scenes then the light does not have to be set to sound reactive in the software....
I set my scanner's only to sound active for random use...
Freestyler Sound Active mode has no effect on pre-programs such as you find on Color Pallets.... as these are sound activated on the light itself.... you can set up scenes using the pre-programs and then let freestyler run thru them in sound active mode....
How do the new LED disco ball effects compare to the real thing other than visually seeing a ball and pinspots vs light lenses of a LED disco ball effect? Setting asside the obvious nostalga effect of an actual ball.
Not withstanding Mike's opinion.....(i suppose some might relate that graphic to the Bose
)I have 2 LED starballs.....I replaced 2 Conventional Starball II's. Is either the same effect as a conventional mirror ball?....No
Does the customer care? No!
In the long run it's a heck of a lot easier to set up and use/pack away the LED Starballs versus the old mirror ball....
I have both --- a standard mirror ball & a Starball II. I like the convenience of the Starball II, but the looks and feeling I get with the good ole' mirror ball is great. As far as I know, I'm the only local guy that still even has one in the offering. Most don't even use a Starball at all, just some blue pars or emerald looking effects. With the new led pinspots that I'm going to order and the restructuring of my truss, it will be a snap to add the mirror ball back into the mix more often.
It took me one weekend to figure it out.
I started with some fixture programing (mostly macros) and gobo design in photoshop.
Now, that I have a full control, I love it.
Still have to learn how to program some scenes.
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Steve, once is ready I will post my disco ball bracket. I'm using parts from my old keyboard stand. It will take no longer than mounting 2 led balls on the truss.
I say no for now. Don't know anyone running successfully that option.
I was trying to do it last year and auto sound from freestyler was affecting my audio from Dj Traktor.
Thanks for the info but it still looks kind of scary to me... :sqerr:
Do you find that you have the time to fiddle with all that during a gig?