LED

The Latest Craze…….

As I have entered my 18^th year of concert lighting I have reflected back upon all of the changes that I have seen with lighting equipment during my career thus far. There have been several periods in my career where there were craze’s about one type of fixture or another. For instance, I recall when Intellabeams (one of High End Systems first moving mirror fixtures) came onto the scene. I had seen “big time” LD’s using Vari*Lites for years, but could never even begin to imagine using them on my shows. But these Intellabeams, now they were usually in my budget range! The old Intellabeam controllers were often referred to as “shoe boxes” as they were these odd square rack mount units that used a joystick to control pan and tilt. Sometimes I miss the simplicity of those lighting rigs…..

As a few years went on, the moving yoke fixture became more affordable to LD’s like me….High End Systems made the Studio Spot and Studio Color while Martin was putting out the Mac 500 and Mac 600 fixtures. With the more common availability of these fixtures, it forced the need to use (and learn) the newer automated lighting consoles. Jim Bauman, the longtime LD for Alan Jackson, took a couple of days out of his schedule to teach me the Whole Hog II console. I still spec that console on some of my shows to this day!

We are in different times today…..budgets are tighter, we all feel the need to be conservative on energy, and the need to save time is important. These factors all play a key part in today’s latest craze in the lighting industry – the LED. I have seen over the past 4-5 years LED’s become a very integral part of most lighting rig. Let’s look at the facts:

• LED’s require FAR less power than any other type of lighting fixture on the market.
• LED fixtures are very affordable and have a long life span.
• The ability to mix literally hundreds, if not thousands, of colors give LD’s the opportunity to be creative without worrying about gel, color wheels, and other color alternatives.
• Most LD fixtures are easily manageable and lightweight.
• There is almost any kind of LD lighting fixture that you can imagine on the market these days – LD pars, battens, molefays, moving yoke units, video panels, video curtains, and all sort of other gadgets and gizmos.

LED fixtures have become a staple on most of the shows that I design these days. They are great to use as truss toners, eye candy, scenic pieces, uplights on the band, or general stage wash. The simple fact that they require so much less power is alone a reason to try to utilize them whenever possible!

Color Kinetics are one of my favorite manufacturers of LED product. I have used their products on many of my shows and have always been satisfied. I have found their products to be durable, user friendly, and have some of the best looking (and brightest) LED’s on the market. JSS.net is proud to distribute Color Kinetics LED products! Check out some of their most popular products on our LED page, and of course lets us know if you have any questions about these or any of our other products!

Chris Lisle
Affiliate Lighting Designer
JSS.net
615.534.1190