Need Help With Lights, Controller, and Dimmer

1) A controller is what you use to turn the lights on or off, and run different sequences (ie control the lights), wence it is why it is called a controller. A Dim pack, is what "powers the lights". This is where you would plug lights such as par cans into. You run a power cable to the dim pack, as well as a cable from the controller to the dim pack to run your lights.
2) Depending on what you want to control...Yes. To run any unintelligent lights (such as parcans) from a controller DMX or otherwise, you will need both. If you will be running only intelligent lights (ie. the pocket scans), you do not need dim packs, but will need a DMX controller.
3) 1 750 watt strobe will fill most small to medium high school gyms just fine, It will also perform admirably at larger events as well on its own.
4) This would depend on the size of the events your running, and how you will be set up. For most people 1 is plenty, but if you are running seperate light "tree's" spread far apart in a large auditorium. You may wish to consider 2 foggers.
5) Most foggers come with their own small controllers, although there are some that can be controlled via a DMX controller if you decide to go that route.
6) Just browse through the lights at the American DJ homepage, and decide what is in your buget (the MSRP's) are listed with each light. But te Pocket Scans or DJ scans, are great lights to start out with if you are on a tight budget and want to go with intels. If not look into the Roto-pods, Vertigo's, Millenium, and there are about 50 others under $200/pc.
7) Pocket scans look the best when used in multiples, and I usually recommend 4-6 to get the best effect out of them.

Thanks! Can I control the par cans and the Pocket Scans with the same controller, or would I need 2?

you can use something like the LSC Stage Desk 16 to controll your par cans and Pocket Scans or the new DMX operator 2 it has 16 channels for intelligent lights and 8 channels for par cans.

quote:

Originally posted by coollights:
[qb] new DMX operator 2 it has 16 channels for intelligent lights and 8 channels for par cans. [/qb]

Cant you use the rest of the dmx channels with a relay pack to control over a hundred parcans or other lights individually?

the DMX programmer is the 16 channel and 8 switching pack controller. the Operator 2 is 192 channels