What is the purpose of these lights? Dancefloor lighting? Just to get something new? To Enhance the appearance of the Sweetheart table or DJ booth? If it's for the last option, I don't recommend anything other than the Astera AX1's. Everything else on the market looks aesthetically unpleasing, by either being too tall, too wide/bulky or not clean in appearance. If you're going to dress something up, doing it in a way that benefits is more important than just throwing something in that space and ultimately detracting from it's appearance. Keep in mind, unless hanging them from the rafters , the stands you use also make or break the appearance. I've spent almost $1500 in stands for my astera's to provide a clean look. I attached a couple of pics that I think highlight how tubes should look, and in particular why i like the astera's very clean, sexy, delicate appearance compared to the bulkier lights from other companies.
You can create ones that look similar... but do they have the same color control/programming capabilities. I charge clients for this dancefloor lighting add-on, so a certain level of control and quality is expected... and honestly that's where the astera's stand out leaps and bounds above the others. If he's just mounting them, leaving them one color and calling it a day, maybe the DIY route may be better.
If you’re using these for mobile and at someone’s special day in any way, then invest in something that is appropriate for that environment and creates a good appearance and ties in appropriately with the music/atmopshere. The worst thing and personally a pet peeve of mine is when I see a slow song being played or something downtempo and the djs lights are acting like it’s a Miami night club. It’s the reason why couples hate DJ lights in general. If it’s for the bar only I can understand why these aren’t as much of a priority. Personally in the photo you shoulder me those lights look like they have little to no output and are simply for the visual effect, as opposed to lighting an area.
I've only seen or worked with DMX tubes. Mostly Astera. Usually it's to enhance built out light up decor or sets - not a stand alone feature. It's also possible to make very large tubes using other DMX fixtures and rolled translucent sheets and other materials.
Do these not have 360 degree illumination?
No, they don't. They are advertised as corner illumination lamps. They have a 180 degree plastic lens. I place them right behind my living room speakers (which are on vertical stands). They basically aren't visible until they are turned on. These are consumer products all the way. They probably wouldn't last long with the rigors of the road. OTOH, my wife loves them.
I use astera tubes. They’re controlled via dmx or in my case, they have an app with its own proprietary software which makes it super easy to use.
Astera has already done the most common and useful programming and placed it in their app. Using your iPad and Astera's wireless link you simply select the applicable colors, pattern, and speed all on the fly. You really don't need to know anything about DMX at all to have oustanding effects. No cables, no complex controller to learn.
