LED Par Cans

[Guest Guest]

Hi all,

 

We're moving into a new build soon so I've been tasked on sourcing stage lighting for the hall. We currently have 12 32watt RGB LED Par64s in our drama room. They work great for what they are but will be no where near bright enough for a hall. Has anyone had any experience of the newer multi 3 & 8 watt Pars which are out now? They seem to come mainly in 36x3w and 18x8w so between 100 and 150 watts of power. How do these compare to 500w par64 medium floods for example?

 

Looking at the following video they seem pretty good with the 36x3w out powering a 1000w halogen, but then you can't always believe everything you see on the interwebz...

 

 

Also anyone got any recommendations on brand?

 

 

Thanks

[Guest Guest]

Bumpy.

[RTFM]

Can't say I have any knowledge on the subject, isn't there a company who will specialise in stage lighting who might be able to point you in the right direction?

 

Stage Lighting Installation Services, PA Systems and Equipment, Theatrical Supplies

AJS - Theatre Supplies - All your theatre supplies from one place

 

Just a thought

[Guest Guest]

Just trying to get an unbiased opinion really. Sod's law would be that if I asked a company I would get a salesman who just wants a sale rather than give honest advice.

[Steve21]

Guess it depends how many other lights you'll use.

 

We have 6 MTC-PAR64 MTC-PAR64 - LED Par 64 can - MilTec(UK) Ltd which are run directly above the stage, mainly just for colouredness (Yes a word), and/or backlighting etc.

 

We run a lot of other spotlights (Got about 20-25 lights I'd say) etc etc for "proper" lighting too though, the LEDs aren't used to do spot work etc. If that makes sense?

 

Steve

[RTFM]

Pro audio equipment | Audio and music recording equipment | PA Speaker systems for sale we have used these boys before for some microphone equipment, just spoken to them and they can source lighting and put you in touch with people for advice etc that they use frequently. Ring and ask for Jonathan if your interested, he is a decent bloke.

 

I can't recommend anything regarding lights but can certainly recommend these guys as decent, if that helps any.......

 

Edited January 21, 2013 by RTFM

[hil]

Maybe worth speaking to Stage Electrics and asking there opinion on them. We have used them for all of our stage lighting and sound installs as well.

[Andrew_C]

LEDs look bright, but don't seem to illuminate as well as one might hope. Further, if you want to fade in and out, they (as far as I've seen to date) don't dim "nicely". Always flick on and off, sometimes "steppy" as you go up and down.

 

Fine for "eye candy", but not quite there yet for theatrical illumination.

[dave.81]

Depends on the stage size. We have 2 production areas and both use only LED lighting, for the smaller stage people complain they are too bright although think they just need to move the direction of the lamps. Our main stage was done over last summer and everyone has been very impressed by the brightness and ease of use compared to the older system.

 

We have had both systems installed by Microcomms.

[Guest Guest]

Thanks for the replies people.

 

@dave.81 do you know the make/model of them off hand? Don't go climbing up to the rig to find out - its for our new build which we won't be moved into for another 18months so no doubt things will be moved on by then

 

Don't you love "indicative pricing" for a specification which is yet to be defined...

Edited January 21, 2013 by Guest

[dave.81]

I cant be sure without climbing up but i'm sure all the lamps where LEDJ lamps. Not the most expensive but have suited our needs perfectly as stage wash lamps. We also have some of the zoom par cans and led strips.

[Chris_]

LEDs look bright, but don't seem to illuminate as well as one might hope. Further, if you want to fade in and out, they (as far as I've seen to date) don't dim "nicely". Always flick on and off, sometimes "steppy" as you go up and down.

 

Fine for "eye candy", but not quite there yet for theatrical illumination.

 

It depends what you get. You can get some very good LED fixtures and you can get some not so good ones. All of the decent LED fixtures I've used have dimmed "nicely".

 

We've got some Chauvet Colorado LED fixtures in our assembly hall. They're pretty bright and can create a decent colour wash.

[dave.81]

I'll add that i've never noticed any issues with dimming appearing steppy. I do find it funny the amount of people who have told me over the time we've redone our 2 halls that LED's are just not up to the job of lighting stages, then they see them and they change their minds.