Play Suggestions: LED pars

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LED pars

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3680
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Topic: LED pars

Posted By: stageman 2
Subject: LED pars
Date Posted: 12/21/08 at 9:31pm

We are about to do an upgrade to our lighting system and are considering using some LED Par 46 cans. Does anyone have any input as to the suitability of these lights for theatrical use? The color change possibilities are interesting. Will this eliminate the use of gels?

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Les Liss
Fine Arts, County of Effingham
info@effinghamface.com
www.effinghamface.com

Always be yourself because the ones that matter don't care and the ones that care don't matter.

Replies:

Posted By: 75director
Date Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:48pm

Last year we purchased several of these. I've found they work best for side or back lighting. I wouldn't recommend using them as front lights. The color mixing works great and we plug them into wall outlets so they don't take up precious on stage dimmers that we never have enough of. The model we have not only daisy chains the DMX but power supply as well, which is very convenient.

A couple of things to think about. Check the recommended range for the lights. Ours is a relatively small stage so they work well for us, but our particular model wouldn't work very well on a large proscenium stage. Another thing is to be careful how you aim them. They are very bright and intense. So try to avoid placing them right at eye level with your actors, a little above or a little below works fine.

With that said, though, I LOVE having them. Very versatile instruments.

Posted By: kaelidancer
Date Posted: 12/22/08 at 5:01pm

I don't know first-hand, but I have seen many reviews of different LED instruments over on the Control Booth tech theatre forums, and the general consensus seems to be that yes, there are good LED instruments out there, but the "affordable" ones are not so great; most people tend to recommend waiting until the technology is not so "bleeding edge" (that is, inconsistent and expensive). I've also heard that the RGB LED pars aren't really able to do a true amber, and aren't so great at pure white either... again, the higher end units will have Red, Green, Blue, Amber, and White LEDs for true-color mixing.

That said, I adore the idea of LED stage lighting and hope to see it become the mainstream. The heat and energy consumption is very very attractive.

Here are a couple of threads at Control Booth about LED Pars (and stage lights in general) that you may find helpful:

http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/9884-led-par-lighting-question.html - http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/9884-led-par-lighting-question.html

http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/9552-small-stage-led.html - http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/9552-small-stage-led.html

...and there are tons more in the lighting forum there.

If you can, I'd recommend trying to rent some LED units for a show and see how you like them :)

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Kaeli Gardner
Johnson City Community Theatre
http://www.jcct.us - www.jcct.us
http://www.gardnerarts.com - www.gardnerarts.com

Posted By: ziggy1122
Date Posted: 12/22/08 at 10:54pm

We did a lighting upgrade and bought 10 of the PAR64 equivalent LEDs intending to replace our front lighting. They do work, but the light isn't "White light" and not powerful enough. We've mixed in some real PAR64 cans and that helps get things white & bright enough. We also bought 4 of the LED bar lights and they work excellent for footlights. The color changing capability is invaluable.

Recommendations are like everyone else, they're great for side and back lighting but not really for front lighting. Also I highly recommend buying all the same brand as close to the same time as possible, this is because the white light will vary from brand to brand, model to model. Other than that they are great lights.

Posted By: stageman 2
Date Posted: 12/22/08 at 11:23pm

Thanks for the feedback and ideas. They have all helped. Merry Christmas to all.

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Les Liss
Fine Arts, County of Effingham
info@effinghamface.com
www.effinghamface.com

Always be yourself because the ones that matter don't care and the ones that care don't matter.