DJGold

BillESC · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject: ColorSplash review

ColorSPLASH-196 LED PAR

By
Nick Burke (DJ Nicky-B)
Sound Decision DJs
Millersville,MD

Note: The opinions expressed in this review are my own and have nothing to do with ProDJ.com. I’ve based my opinions on hands-on experience and actual job use with all the fixtures mentioned.

First Impressions:
My first surprise was ‘how small’ the box was sitting on my doorstep as I arrived home from work. Bill from ESC was very prompt as I had ordered these the previous day. I opened the box to find it full of those hated Styrofoam peanuts and then an Arriba bag and four loose ADJ O-clamps. To further my surprise, I found all four 8” diameter ColorSplash heads, cables and the controller inside the bag! The heads were white in color … something I wasn’t used to as most fixtures are black finished. Lightweight is an understatement in this case ….. 4 lbs each w/clamp attached.

Initial Turn-ON:
As per normal procedure, I retrieved an Ultimate tripod stand and 4 ft. aluminum T-bar from my garage, attached the O-clamps I had ordered and hung the fixtures evenly spaced on the T-bar. I addressed each according to the included User’s guide but was quite disappointed with it’s vagueness! The instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. The same hold true for the controller’s manual which was separate. The fixtures use 7 dmx channels each so I addressed them 1, 8, 15 and 22. I connected all the provided dmx cables and applied power. There was a quick ‘white flash’ in the corner of my eye that startled me as I applied power but all quickly settled down. As I discovered later, the ‘flash’ is normal operation when applying power to these fixtures. Okay, let’s see what this little ‘quicky’ controller can do as I had planned to use this system the very next evening at my weekly Oldies-But-Goodies function.

‘Quicky’ Control using the ‘COLORBOSS’ controller:
The controller initializes to ‘black’ in the display which I assumed was a ‘blackout’ mode. Fine, so I pressed the MENU button until RED appeared. Only the first of the four fixtures came on RED. I walked the MENU button through it’s entire range and still, only one fixture reacted. As it turns out, when running only the COLORBoss controller by itself, all the fixtures MUST be addressed to dmx channel #1 UNLESS, you have a full dmx controller in ‘series’ with the COLORBoss and are using MENU mode 15 which displays DMX MODE! This fact is NOT documented in the User’s Guide which I’ve now read cover-to-cover roughly a dozen times. I quit for the evening, packed things up leaving the four heads on the T-bar to use the next evening on the job. Despite a lack of decent documentation, the thing that surprised me most, was the brightness and purety of color from the fixtures. I had always stayed away from LED fixtures in the past because I felt they just weren’t intense enough for ‘prime time’ and at this point, I still wasn’t totally sure but would find out the very next night.

On the Gig:
Come Wednesday evening, setup was a snap; roughly 14 minutes and I was done hooking up my laptop console, two EV SXa-360’s and the lighting tripod and the COLORBoss controller. I must build a case to house the T-bar and four fixtures but really enjoyed having the whole T-bar weight in at something less than 20 lbs. To my delight, despite the limited range of colors built into the controller, I found the four head system to be more than adequate for my dance floor and the 100+ people present. The colors at the full 100% intensity, easily carried to the bar at the back wall some 50 ft. away. What’s even better is the fact that unlike incandescent PAR cans, there are no ‘hot spots’ at the center of each light; just a nice even glow of multiple circles or LEDs. I thought to myself, could it be that LEDs are indeed ready for ‘prime time’?

As the evening passed, I found the dance floor flooded with a nice array of color, the sound active mode worked right on the beat as it should. There was one very weird thing that took some getting used to. With the controller set to “yellow”, the dance floor was indeed “yellow” BUT when you look directly at the fixtures, you see several and distinct rows of Red(3) and Green(2) LEDs. This takes a little “getting used to” as RGB color mixing is quite different from your typical color changer to the eye. The same was true for “white” where every LED in the fixture was at full intensity and you stare at 7 distinct concentric circles of Red, Blue and Green …. Different to say the least!

Overview:
Can I recommend these fixtures … for a small color fill job, an emphatic YES! For larger gigs you’ll need more of them, say eight maybe even twelve. I tend to think 4 per 100 people would do quite nicely. I personally can’t wait to get them under full DMX control; something I’m programming as I write this article … four COLORSplash 196 heads and one Martin Acrobat as a centerpiece. It should result in one versatile wedding light system with a minimum of setup and fuss. Are LED fixtures ready for “prime time”? Yes and No … I believe these are when used in sufficient numbers for your audience. It appears that nearly 200 LEDs are required to get enough intensity to compete with equivalent PAR cans but with a mere 10w power draw per fixture, these are a mobile DJ’s ‘dream come true’ and about as bright as a 250w halogen. There are some things to consider before you go out and purchase a bunch of these things. Their cost is now slightly higher but getting more competitive with color changers. RGB programming is ‘weird’ to the eyes and takes a bit of adjustment to get the colors you want. For now, they’re to be used as a full color wash; if you want gobos or a sharp edged focusable beam then forget about LEDs. The LED patterns in this particular model, because of their concentric circle arrangement, give an aura of a marquee sign rather than a PAR can. There are models where the RGB LEDs are dispersed evenly across the fixture. However, the ‘marquee effect’ offers some interesting and very mesmerizing effects to the eye that can be used to your advantage when sequenced. The WOW factor is high right now, especially to the audience; numerous compliments about the pleasing even, no-glare colors. I’ll take that as an approval which pleases me to no end!

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject:

Great review by NickyB -- thanks for posting it, Bill!

________________

I'm ready to buy a set of 4. How soon can I have them? :lol:

Dan Zynda, Mobile Music · Joined: August 31st, 2004 Posts: 198 Location: Darien, GA

Next year!

Quote: Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:37 pm

Well, now it's this year. :hahaha:

Happy New Year CJ!

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

Thanks Dan! :jester: :drinking: :jumpy: :yeah:

BillESC · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:38 am Post subject: Re: ColorSplash review

We expect to be shipping on or about the 15th. of January.

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:44 am Post subject:

:( :( :( :( :(

Awwww.... You know me..... I want them tomorrow! :hahaha:

I have two shows coming up that they'd be perfect for on the 7th and 14th of January. Oh well, I'll just have to stick with the ol' color changers for now. :?

davidjones@a2zmobilemusic · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:38 am Post subject: Re: ColorSplash review

CJ, when you get them if you havent already, pls let us hear about your impression and experience. and compare to par set-ups you have had. i think these lights are gonna fly off the shelves if they havent already. :wink: