News

New York's FAO Schwarz Gets an LED Makeover

By BulbAmerica Editor

The FAO Schwarz on New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue is likely the most famous toy store in the world. The designers responsible for the lighting for the store’s renovation therefore faced a significant challenge when they were faced with the task of redesigning the store's lighting. The designers sought a lighting system that would sustain the store’s fanciful and exciting environment while remaining versatile and efficient. Another hurdle was devising a way of evenly and vibrantly lighting the store’s expansive 140ft by 60ft floor space and while ensuring that the store’s merchandise be adequately lit. The lighting designers settled on a plan to stud the entire ceiling with almost 80,000 individually addressed LED bulbs. When the project was finally completed the ceiling was adorned with an astounding 28,080ft of color changing light. Moreover, the ceiling lights also serve as a gigantic LED panel and can create lively shows, shapes, and images for the customers at the store to enjoy. The color changing and LED panel effects made them ideal for matching the lighting to the varying themes and displays used at the store.

Though you may not be able to create an LED light system quite like FAO Schwarz’s, you can come close, and save money and energy while doing it. Start adding color to your home or business lighting and check out what we have to offer today! As usual leave a comment or question on our blog or Facebook or call 1-877-622-0897.

Exit Light, Enter Night: Metallica's Concert Lighting Keeps the Heavy Metal Light

By BulbAmerica Editor

I was thinking about my favorite lighting from some of the concerts I have been to over the last couple years, and one concert stands out in particular, Metallica’s concert from theirDeath Magnetic tour. Though my memory of this show (it was in the spring of 2009) is a tad hazy now, PLSN wrote a great article on their lighting and jogged my memory. The lighting scheme of Metallica’s show was simple. To the lighting designers nothing else mattered but the band’s performance and the audience’s enjoyment of it. The stage was the center of the action and the audience surrounded it so there was no backdrop. This presented two lighting problems: the audience had to be lit because the audience was the background of the show and the band had to be lit from above. Another complicating factor is that the members of Metallica like to move around a lot on stage. These circumstances required the lighting designers to use spotlights and truss mounted, automated followspots to keep track of the band members on stage.

The majority of the stage lighting was accomplished using an elaborate overhead truss system, fashioned to look like huge coffins, on which hung lasers, and a large number of moving head washes and other units. This lighting strategy was chosen to create a memorable, almost ghostly and fairly minimalist look, absent of hard edged light beams. There were also moving head washes set up on the drummer’s individual stage and on other parts of the stage for supplementary lighting.

Controlling the show was no easy task. As the PLSN article reported, Metallica typically chooses from a range of 30 songs that will play during a show, so the lighting designers had to program cues and scenes for all of these songs. This meant that by the time it was show time, their controllers had roughly 4,500 cues programmed, just so they were prepared for any song the band would play.

Though you may not have the resources or the heavy sound of Metallica, you can certainly put together a lighting system using followspots, spotlights, moving heads, and lasers to wow your crowd. Make BulbAmerica your one stop shop for lighting. As usual, leave a comment or question on our blog or Facebook or call us at 1-877-622-0897.

Optima's Oscillating Motor: Make Your Lighting a Moving Experience

By BulbAmerica Editor

In addition to quality LED and DJ products, Optima Lighting offers creative products to get the most out of your existing lighting fixtures. A while back I wrote an article about the simple but extremely useful PAR can stand, that allows you to turn any PAR can into a floor mounted fixture and thus use it for wall washes or other applications. Optima has struck again with another creative lighting product to turn any PAR can into a oscillating fixture, the Oscillating Effect Motor. By simply mounting your PAR can’s yoke to the bolt on the motor’s platform, you can give your PAR can or other fixture an oscillating effect, which is a handy and inexpensive way to add some more excitement to your lighting or make your PAR cans draw an audience’s or a passerby’s’ attention.

Optima’s Oscillating Motor can handle fixtures up to 20lbs and is only 6.5lbs, thus making it durable and easy to transport. Optima’s Oscillating Effect Motor is another creative tool to get the most out of your PAR cans or any other fixtures. Check out all of our other stage lighting products and you’ll discover that we have everything you need to maximize your stage lighting. Feel free to leave a question or comment on this article, our Facebook, or call us at 1-877-620-1762 for any remaining questions you may have.

American DJ's Spectrum LED: A Powerful Moonflower Effect for a Great Price

By BulbAmerica Editor

Once again American DJ’s commitment to low cost high quality lighting effects comes through with an innovating and exciting unit, this time it is the 30w Spectrum LED. With an output equivalent to a 150w halogen lamp, the Spectrum LED is powered by 64 powerful LEDs, each rated at 100,000 hours each. The Spectrum LED can run for hours and hours without stop due its lack of duty cycles and moving parts. This means that the Spectrum LED packs a punch but its easy on the electricity and maintenance, leaving you more power and money left on your circuits and in your wallet for additional light fixtures. The Spectrum LED produces a bright and colorful moonflower effect that can be projected on a wall or the dance floor, adding energy where you need it. Like many of ADJ’s products, the Spectrum LED comes operable in either stand alone (sound active, DMX controlled or auto) and master slave modes, giving you a tremendous amount of flexibility when it comes to where and how you will you the Spectrum LED. Remember, use the Spectrum LED with fog or haze effects to really accentuate the sharpness of the unit’s light beams and to get the most out of this moonflower effect unit.

BulbAmerica has the Spectrum LED and other ADJ products in stock now. Also, don’t forget to check out our wide selection of other LED DJ effects. As usual, leave a comment or question on our blog or Facebook or call us at 1-877-622-0897.

ADJ's TRI Phase LED Excites the Crowd with Loud Color

By BulbAmerica Editor

American DJ has struck again, this time with its TRI Phase LED! The 23w TRI Phase is a new moonflower effect featuring ADJ’s patented Tri Color LED technology that mixes red, blue, green, purple, white, yellow, and cyan to create a nearly infinite color pallet. ADJ’s unique 10w integrated 3-in-1 LED light source, with each bulb rated at 50,000hrs, produces little to no heat making this unit efficient and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, this unit does not have duty cycles, meaning you can run your unit all night without any problem. The high quality optics of the TRI Phase LED and the 1.8˚stepper motor ensures that the 57 tight light beams will be moving smoothly.

When it comes to control, the TRI Phase LED gives you options. You can run this unit in sound-active, DMX, and master/slave modes, making this fixture work with your venue whether you have an extensive lighting system or no controller at all. Combine the TRI Phase LED with a fog machine or haze machine and you will have an unbeatable effect at an unbeatable price.

Make BulbAmerica your one stop shop for LED DJ lighting effects. We have the TRI Phase LED and many other ADJ products in stock, so make sure you check out everything we have to offer. As usual, leave a comment or a question on our blog or our Facebook or give us a call a 1-877-622-0897 with any further questions.

ADJ's Mega Bar Pro: A Wash and Color Changer in One

By BulbAmerica Editor

As LED technology becomes more and more of a lighting mainstay, increasingly imaginative LED effects are being dream up. One of my favorite LED lighting effects right now is American DJ’s Mega Bar Pro. This multi-purpose fixture functions as a RGB color changer/color chaser and as a wash unit, thus giving you fantastic bang for your buck. Though the Mega Bar pro may be two fixtures in one, it has an energy draw of only 45w, which is less than most conventional lighting fixtures. To add the Mega Bar's versatility, it can be controlled in three modes (stand alone, sound active, and DMX) and has eight different DMX work modes, ranging from 2 channels to 29. The Mega Bar Pro features 27 one watt LEDs, all of which are rated at 50,000hrs to ensure that you will be shining bright for a long time.

The Mega Bar Pro is not just a dream machine for DJ or club lighting, it can also be used in an architectural lighting application. Its variable color changing allows the Mega Bar Pro to produce a nearly limitless gamut of colors and its 30˚ beam angle means that the light produced will be a wide, flat wash. The Mega Bar can be mounted on the floor, to a truss, or placed on the ground, giving you great flexibility with regard to what surface you decide to illuminate. The Mega Bar Pro features an on board LED display and buttons so you can fully operate it without a controller or music. Furthermore, the inclusion of static color scenes and built in programs adds to the usability and versatility of this fixture, allowing you to set up your Mega Par and forget about it.

ADJ’s Mega Bar Pro is an exciting RGB color changer/chaser and wall wash wrapped in one 8lb package. This fixture is a great choice for a DJ on the go that does every type of venues from weddings to clubs and needs versatile lighting. Check out our other American DJ products and our other LED lighting effects. As always, feel free to comment or post a question on our blog or Facebook, or call 1-877-622-0897.

ADJ'S Color Shot Strobe: Great Light at the Right Price

By BulbAmerica Editor

The search for inexpensive yet high quality LED lighting effects can be exhausting. Every so often, however, you come across certain products that stand out in price, performance, and reliability. American DJ’s Color Shot strobe light is one of these products. The Color Shot is an intelligent RGB color changing strobe with a maximum strobe rate of 13fps. When it comes to controlling your Color Shot you have the option of running it in either sound-active, automatic, and DMX modes. This allows you to use the Color Shot regardless of how simple or complex your lighting system is. This 6lb strobe is compact and extremely light weight, making it a fantastic option for the DJ or band on the go. This long life and low heat strobe is ideal for any performance and any venue.

BulbAmerica stocks ADJ’s Color Shot and much more, so be sure to check out all the American DJ products we have to offer. As usual leave a comment or question on our blog or Facebook or call 1-877-622-0897.

DJ Effect Lighting: A Guide for the Perplexed

By BulbAmerica Editor

If you've ever shopped for DJ lighting effects you’ve probably been overwhelmed by the numerous types there are. What doesn’t help is that very seldom can you find a guide that enumerates the different effects, rather than just the different fixtures themselves. In this article I will go through the different effects and explain the differences between the effects and what you can expect from them. So, let’s get started. The simplest effects in the DJs arsenal, and the ones of with which people are most familiar, is the strobe. The strobe, which is now very commonly powered by LEDs, can either be white light or colored and flashes light at a variable rate, creating the unbeatable robot-like strobe effect. The beacon is another fairly popular choice for DJs. This inexpensive technique features a colored plastic cylinder or cone with a rotating bulb inside. Beacons are great for being placed on top of a speaker or anywhere where a little extra flair is desired.

Beam effects are one of the most widely used effects. Beam effects come in specific beam effects fixtures like the Chauvet LED Mushroom, which features a rotating series of colored lenses mounted in front of an LED light source. The effect created is a cluster of spinning, independent colored beams. Moving heads, like Elation's Beam Design heads, also are capable of producing beam effects. Don’t forget when you consider using a beam effect to consider getting a fog machine, these two effect units go perfectly together! A sub-family of beam effect is moonflower effects and derby effects. A moonflower effect, like that produced by Chauvet’s Vue 4.1 DMX LED, produces many different colored beams that collect on the surface it is directed at and form a pattern. Moonflower fixtures often produce numerous patterns and feature impressive color changing abilities. Derby effects are also another common beam effect. Derby effects feature the creation of many moving beams that can be layered on top of each other to create a multi-color beam effect. The derby effect, like all DJ effects, has a built in microphone that automatically syncs its pattern to your music.

The other main family of DJ effects is barrel and scanner effects. A barrel is usually a rotating cylinder with multiple mirrors to fixed to its exterior that reflects the light shined upon it from the bulb’s lamp. Optima’s Excalibur scanner features a barrel which creates many quickly alternating and rotating beams. Barrel effects also use gobos which are then rotated and use color changing to create a dynamic performance. Scanners create a similar effect and work similarly. Rather than use a rotating barrel, a scanner features a light source that shines on a single mirror which usually features XY rotation or rotation horizontally and vertically.

Of course there are other effects, like blacklights, lasers, snow machines, and bubble machines, which are easily distinguishable from the rest. BulbAmerica has all of these effects in stock and at unbeatable check us out today. Post any questions or comments you have on the blog or our Facebook or call 1-877-622-0897.

Let it Snow with Snow Machines from BulbAmerica

By BulbAmerica Editor

Snow machines are a fantastic lighting effect that rapidly transforms any stage or space into a winter wonderland. There is a blizzard of snow machines to choose from so hopefully this article will help you navigate the options. My favorite snow machines are offered by American DJ and Elation. In particular I like American DJ’s Snow Flurry Snow Machine and Elation’s Silent Snow Effect Machine.American’s DJ’s 2,000 cu. ft./min Snow Flurry has a 2.2L tank capacity to keep you pumping snow for a long time. The Snow Flurry stays cool with its ECO thermal control system so the machine does not overheat; this also ensures the Snow Flurry’s durability. The Snow Flurry also features intelligent pump protection (IPP) so when the machine gets low on fluid, it does not continue to run and damage the machine. The Snow Flurry can be controlled easily with either an included remote control and has adjustable volume level to control the volume of snow produced.

Elation’s Silent Snow is an excellent snow machine option that is great for clubs, theatres, and movie sets. It can produce any amount of snow fall from a light flurry to a steady snow fall. One feature that sets the Silent Snow from American DJ’s snow machine is that the Silent Snow can be controlled via a DMX controller, thus allowing you to integrate it directly into your lighting system. If you do not want to use the Silent Snow with a DMX controller, the Silent Snow comes with a remote control that features a knob that allows you to adjust snow volume as well as an on/off rocker switch. The Silent Snow features the same great construction and performance that all Elation products have, so you know that it is a trustworthy piece of equipment.

BulbAmerica has a great selection of snow machines that will provide your show with a wondrous snow effect. Check out what we have and let it snow!

Bubble Trouble: Great Bubble Machines from American DJ and Elation

By BulbAmerica Editor

The bubble machine is one of the most fun and easy to use effects around. Bubble machines can turn a stage or a dance floor into a whimsical and exciting environment with the flip of the switch. In this article I will review two of my favorite bubble machines, American DJ’s Bubble Blast and Elation Professional’s Professional Bubble Machine. The Bubble Blast is a high performance bubble machine conveniently placed on wheels for easy transport. The Bubble Blast produces 100s of bubbles per minute with its primary and secondary fan system which lifts the bubbles into the air and disperses them. The Bubble Blast is as easy to use as it gets. Simply fill the tray with bubble juice and flip the switch on the back of the machine and watch the bulbs fly. The Bubble Blast has a low current draw and solid construction to make it easy on the electric bill and durable, so you won’t have to worry about it being damaged in transit. The Bubble Blast also comes with an option remote control that can control the power, the duration of bubble blasting, and other features.

Elation’s Professional Bubble Machine is another formidable bubble machine option. Unlike the Bubble Blast, Elation’s bubble machine has a yoke on it that allows you to mount it on a truss like you would any other lighting fixture. Elation’s Professional Bubble Machine is powerful; it is able to widely disperse its bubble with its four separate bubble wheels and a trio of fans at the back of the unit. Another feature that sets Elation’s bubble machine apart is that it is also capable of being integrated into a lighting system via its DMX connectivity. This unit also includes a remote control that can serve as a timer and shut the Bubble Machine down when you believe enough bubbles have been created.

BulbAmerica has got the bubble machine for you. Come check us out today!