led startup

Go with a Punch Pro. Wide dispersion, should light you both up with wash. Then expand from there.

Thank you so much Chris for your time.
Did a little research and read more info on this site and elsewhere since posting here as a newbee.
I noticed the LS-70, and 80 series. Is this a good option also? Or do I simply stay on the same path previously stated. Which would entail getting the punch pro first, then a dmx controller and a few pro 64's or 38 as time goes by.
I understand that one system is complete from the get go. The Ls-80 for example. One the other hand I have a gut feeling that I will be better equipped and have more control with the first choice.
Your short answer to my question seemed to verity that I am certainly starting things right by going with the single Punch Pro to begin the journey in led lighting.
My goal in all of this is to add a little light to our performance but not in a way for said lighting to be distractive and eventually do what a dj would do and focus some attention to the dance floor and get sime light there as well. Sort of a Dj midi duo kind of set up.In other words, want to invest in a lighting system that we can grow into and that will serve to shed some basic light on us and focus quite a bit of attention on the dance floor as well.
Don't want all the attention on just the two of us. Want some attention on the dancers as well.
Our music is heavily sequenced and bringing the attention on the dancers in those times would be a double whammy benefit.
Do we stay on the path laid out in the beginning or refocus and go with the LS systems?
Any response is greatly appreciated. And again, thank you Chris! Rev

Stay the path. Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,

Thank you for the reply James. Will stay the path. American Djpunch pro is on its way! Very soon in the future will add one or two Par38 or 64 Pro LED's. Perhaps even simply another Punch pro. Will do an upcoming gig with the Punch Pro right in front of us on the floor for wash and let it go through slow color changes.
That should be much better than having no lights at all... Wow. can hardly wait to add some lighting to our act!
Any suggestions on a controller? Am wondering if we should install it in our rack or get a table top unit? I will be running the controller and I play acoustic guitar as well. I wonder if it would be more handy to set up the controller in the rack? Please recommend the easiest DMX controller in the world to operate and learn for our set goal of some basic lighting for the two of us on stage as well as a few lights for the dance floor in the future.
By the way, I found out that ADJ has very good technical support personnel. Called the company with some questions as well as this forum. This fact all by itself, not to mention product quality, is steering me toward ADJ for my future purchases.
Good job American DJ.
~ REV

Sounds good. the easiest controller i know is either MY DMX or the DMX operator 192.
Sincerely,

The DMX Operator is also super easy to use. I thinkthe DMX Operator 192 replaces it.

Your precious time is very welcome.
DMX Operator or DMX Operator 192... Ok, will get one or the other.
Are both units available as rack mounts?
Now the big quaestion... Please make some comments about the merits of either for a live band. Which one, rack mount, or table top unit is the handiest and easiest to operate from the stand point of a live band with busy hands?
Please consider set up time as well.
I can't wait to get the Punch Pro!!! It's on the way. Next gig, Valentines Day...
Thank you all for everything.
~ REV

Wow, what a loaded question.

I have to run audio(think average 36+ channels) plus 8+ channels of monitor at an event. That and switch video, run lights, record and stage direct. All senses and limbs are taken during events. Light gets low priority, but it's necessary until I get some help.

MyDMX is easy to use as a software package. Properly organized and triggered, it can be very simple to use.

The DMX Operator and DMX Operator 192 are using the same physical footprint, available as a rack/desktop unit. I think they ship them with rubber bumpers in case you want it as a desktop. The ports are desktop-friendly, but not so rack friendly unless you get a right-angle Male XLR and MIDI for the MIDI IN and DMX OUT.

What's easier to use comparing rack to desk? It's really hard to say. For me, my DMX Operator is rack mounted and that ain't changing. That is more convenient for me, so it stays put, no argument or discussion. Is it easiest? Well, it gets the job done, but if I had to state an opinion, I'd say if I were a dedicated lighting operator, rack-position is OK, but flat on a surface would be easier.

Set-up time: Mine is always in the rack above my OptoBranch/4 splitter. Sets up SUPER fast. There. Even so, if you go desktop mode, we're talking a power cable and a DMX signal cable, so set-up at the control station is not the issue, but the power supply is a wall-wart so you might want to get a shorty Edison/power cable so you don't tie up precious power plugs. The time waster is aways the DMX cabling. there are ways to speed it up that don't involve a lot of money(or any in some cases), but it just takes time to string it.

The DMX Operator is very good for a small amount of lights for on the fly stuff, mainly due to how it handles those 8 faders. Using scenes, then you get more control over things and can still make on the fly changes. So, make scenes for your intels, but maybe keep your cans or specials available for on the fly stuff. It's a learning curve, you just have to get used to it and understand the limitations and features of it and how to best use it. What works best for me may not be the best fit for you, or someone else.

I've moved to MyDMX, but still have that DMX Operator nearby for ready fail-over. I'm still learning both, but MyDMX works better for me except for 1 thing: I have so many scenes that sometimes it's tough to find right what I want super super fast. Other than that, can't say enough good about MyDMX. And I like my DMX Operator too.

If it came down to the DMX Operator and DMX Operator 192, see if you can see them both in person. DOwnload the manuals and read them. Hurry up and decide, BUT see if there is a return policy in case it just doesn't work out for you. For some people, a DMX OPerator is quite nice, but for others, it's juts not gonna cut it. That's why there are so many DMX controllers that do different things. There is a fit for darn near everyone, but it takes careful research.

Thank you so much Chris for all that.
Knowing that the Elation DMX operator can either be used as a table top or rack mounted answers a lot of doubt for me.
Oh, and by the way, thank you for assuring me that a lot of us have busy hands as well. Will need to multi- task like everyone else. Very well put!
Next item for me will be the above mentioned controller! Whether it will go in the rack or as a table top unit...? Hands on with the unit for a while will tell!
Thank you Chris,
~REV

Yeah, time will tell with how you go with the mounting.

I burned the rack space for the DMX Operator, and I don't intend to change. Always went that way, kind of stuck that way.

Busy hands, for sure. Having to monitor 4 cameras via multiple monitors, monitor the DVD recording, CD recording and multi-track recording, video switching, lighting and the audio channels, subgroups, matrixes, aux sends and VCA tends to put me in overload mode real quick. Switching between my nearfields, my monito wedge, headphones and the various PFL/AFL's I gotta deal with, it's a freakin' nightmare sometimes.

Wiht myDMX, I typically have the stuff I want to use readily available then hit keys real fast or click rapidly to get things going and then ignore it for at least 60 seconds as I go onto other stuff.

Once you go scene based, it really does make life easier. The advantage MyDMX has over, say a DMX Operator, is that it's right on the screen. So, if you're going hardware based, DO document your scenes and you'll be good. You might also want to do chases with various colors. Use the SLOWEST fade times you can so it's constantly changing colors slowly. It looks really cool doing it this way.