How to Buy a Portable Lighting Rig for Mobile DJs

Welcome DJs and DJs to be! If it’s time to expand your shows with an energetic lighting design, then this article is for you. Luckily, it’s easy to build a dependable, portable lighting rig for mobile DJs. All you have to do is grab the right equipment and fixtures for your applications.

Now, think about the last DJ show you saw. The music had the power to grip your mind and get your body moving, but the lighting gave that music the wings to soar. Successful DJ lighting will give your music the right atmosphere to engage the audience. Are you wondering how to mold that inspiration of yours into practicality but don’t know where to begin? Fortunately, Sweetwater has compiled a list of must-haves — like equipment, fixtures, all-in-one systems, and other gear — to get you started on assembling a stunning portable rig.

What Should You Consider First?Party or Professionalism?What Kind of Transportation Will You Have?Indoors? Outdoors?Support Your Passion: Trusses & StandsProgrammed Perfection: Lighting ConsolesEasy-peasy Portability: All-in-one Lighting SystemsEvery DJ’s Must-haves: Wash FixturesPAR LightsLED Bars & Wash EffectsThe Heart of the Show: Moving HeadsThe Pazazz: Effect Lights & MoreEffect LightsAtmospheric EffectsMoving Pieces: Miscellaneous Lighting GearProtect Your Investments: Cases & Bags

What Should You Consider First?

When investing in a portable lighting rig, it’s essential to consider some key variables. Before buying any fixtures, determine your budget, where you’ll perform, and the space you have to work with. Knowing your event spaces and how you want to grow will keep you from buying extraneous fixtures and equipment that won’t work for you.

Party or Professionalism?

For example, a DJ that caters primarily to weddings and formal events will want a more toned-down and refined light show. Think mood lighting for heartfelt moments and some dazzling fixtures for the fun parts. Conversely, if you cater mostly to backyard parties or club shows, then you’ll want to flesh out the space with washes and build on that with effect lights and high-energy attention-grabbers.

What Kind of Transportation Will You Have?

Next, consider the vehicle that serves as your main DJ transportation. How much gear can fit inside it? It’s worth measuring to determine what kind of space you have. Similarly, it’s also good to consider your setup and tear-down routines. Are you the sole roadie, or do you have other hands assisting you? Buy equipment that fits your budget and space. Don’t bog yourself down with too much gear — there are always opportunities to grow your rig as you move forward!

Indoors? Outdoors?

Many DJs with portable lighting rigs perform both indoors and outdoors. If your shows take you outside often, then watch for fixtures rated IP65 and above — that way, you won’t have to worry about short-circuiting lights because of a random cloudburst. But if you need to take your non-IP-rated fixtures to the outside world, then keep some protective tarps with you, just in case.

Lastly, consider the end product as a cohesive whole; whether you work via DMX or through a fixture’s built-in light shows, it’s best to think about how fixtures and effects behave with one another. The end product should go well together and have capabilities for more than one genre of music. Now, let’s get this party started!

Support Your Passion: Trusses & Stands

Before you buy lights, you need a place to put them. Of course, many fixtures have capabilities for ground support via their built-in yokes. These same supports also function as connections for clamps so that you can mount the lights to stands, trees, or trusses. Getting your lights off the ground will add professionalism and dynamic energy to your rig. Luckily, we carry plenty of lightweight, easy-to-assemble stands and trusses at Sweetwater. You’ll also need to grab some clamps and safety chains to attach to your fixtures to complete the setup. Remember: the safety of your guests should always be your first concern.

Sweetwater Tip: When attaching fixtures to trusses and stands, sandbag them to keep them weighed down — especially in outdoor conditions.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Programmed Perfection: Lighting Consoles

It’s possible to run entire DJ shows with fixtures’ built-in light shows and auto modes. But if you plan to outfit your portable rig with DMX-controllable fixtures, then you’ll need to have a way to control them. Think of DMX as the language you use to communicate with your fixtures — the same concept as MIDI but for lighting. Luckily, you can easily control DMX fixtures from the DJ booth or have a separate pair of hands control them for you. Many modern DJ controllers can run DMX directly from the controller, obviating the need for a different console.

Don’t stress if you don’t own one of these high-tech gadgets; you can invest in a standalone console like the ADJ WMX1 standalone DMX lighting controller or the ADJ DMX Operator 384 384-channel DMX lighting controller. The WMX1 gives you flexibility with a massive four DMX universes of control and capabilities for vibrant color and dazzling effects. Designed with backlit silicone pads and rotary encoders, it’ll feel like another DJ controller — only for lights. Its slim, streamlined design fits easily in a backpack, too. On the other hand, the DMX Operator 384 and Chamsys QuickQ 10 1-universe compact lighting console offer a more traditional approach to lighting design. These consoles offer intuitive interfaces and logical processes to achieve strobes, fades, color mixing, movement, and blackouts.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Conversely, if a dedicated lighting console isn’t your cup of tea, then you can use a laptop to design and run shows. By utilizing software on your laptop and a DMX interface, like these 512-channel ENTTEC Open DMX USB and Chauvet DJ Xpress-512S USB products, you can master energetic cues right from your laptop. All you need is the interface, a USB cable, and a DMX cable to get started.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Easy-peasy Portability: All-in-one Lighting Systems

Are you interested in lighting that’ll make your life easier? An all-in-one lighting system can give you some serious bang for your buck. DJs can DMX-program these systems or let them run through built-in light shows, in sound-activation mode, or in show mode. All-in-one systems often come with a stand, a compact carrying bag, and a wireless remote or foot controller. Most lighting systems will have PARs for wash light; others will throw in small moving heads, spots, or effects like lasers and strobes. The beauty of an all-in-one system like this is that you can integrate it into your lighting system immediately without DMX. Then, down the line, when you grab some DMX cables and a lighting console, you can connect them for even more precise control. They’re also great in a pinch or for short-notice shows.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Every DJ’s Must-haves: Wash Fixtures

Every lighting rig needs a reliable set of wash fixtures. PARs, LED bars, or wash-effect lights will do the trick. These fixtures wash your space with color or white light, serving as the perfect atmospheric base for the rest of your effects. You can use them to light a wall or truss with encompassing color. You can also use them to illuminate the dance floor. Whether they’re used at a wedding or an outdoor birthday party, wash lights are necessary in the modern DJ world. They easily integrate into lighting rigs, featuring DMX, automated programs, and, sometimes, Bluetooth compatibility for use with smart devices.

PAR Lights

PAR lights are a great place to start. Many mobile entertainers define PARs as the quintessential wash light, and you can’t go wrong with several of them in your DJ arsenal. If you want to ditch cable tangle, then opt for the battery-powered Chauvet DJ EZpar 64 RGBA PAR. If you’re going to grab a pack of lights, then the ADJ Mega Flat Hex Pak RGBWA+UV PAR package comes with four Mega Flat Hex PARs, some cables, and a bag. These lights will suit any laid-back or formal show you have while still having a place at raves and high-energy dances.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

LED Bars & Wash Effects

On the other hand, LED bars or wash effects may better suit your upbeat style. An LED bar can create engaging effects and wash capabilities, whereas PARs mainly cater to color-wash functions and strobe. For DJs using DMX, LED-bar washes can utilize pixels or LEDs to create effects like color chases and unique, eye-catching movement. A tri-color LED bar, like the 22-inch ADJ Mega Bar 50RGB RC, can diversify your wash capabilities with washes directed at the DJ booth, dance floor, or crowd. Lastly, a dedicated wash effect like the Chauvet DJ Wash FX Hex RGBAW+UV focuses its creativity on the effects side of wash lighting. With several of these, you can add incredible chase effects without the need to touch DMX.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

The Heart of the Show: Moving Heads

Stationary wash lights will set the mood, but moving heads will enliven the crowd! Moving heads have incredible capabilities for control via DMX or through sound activation or preprogrammed onboard shows. With functions like pan, tilt, spin, dim, and strobe, your dance floor will revel in vibrant illumination. Plus, some moving head fixtures feature a gobo wheel. With gobo wheels, DJs can throw patterns, words, letters, and images onto the ceiling, walls, and dance floor. Some gobo wheels even allow the use of custom gobos. Many DJs use gobo lighting to project event-specific imagery or their DJ logo.

Both the Chauvet DJ 60-watt Intimidator Beam Q60 RGBW and 32-watt Intimidator Spot 160 ILS LED moving heads, as well as the Eliminator Stealth Craze 10-watt LED moving head, are excellent choices for DJs who set up their lighting systems by themselves — each has a small footprint and weighs no more than 12 pounds. The 300-watt Chauvet Pro Rogue R2X Spot LED moving head with gobos serves DJs who have transportation space to spare and some other hands to assist them during setup. With moving heads, a DJ can get intricate with how they program their shows. All quality moving heads have DMX control, so that light console or program on your laptop will give you a slew of programming options. Color, movement, fades, strobes, prisms, gobos — complete illuminative immersion — are here!

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

The Pazazz: Effect Lights & More

You can make your rig pop once you’ve acquired the preliminary gear. With some genuinely unique and well-utilized effects, you can change the night from “alright” to an incredible experience! PARs set the backdrop, moving heads create the energy, and effects make the night memorable. Let’s explore some effect lights and effect machines that’ll make you an unforgettable DJ on your scene.

Effect Lights

Gobo projectors, like the battery-powered, 10-watt Chauvet DJ EZGobo, can enhance your event with wedding- or holiday-specific projections or custom-printed gobos. Next, black lights can wrench your guests from a stage-lit dance floor to a place that feels like another dimension. Additionally, having some lasers, moonflower effects, water effects, and more can fill your space with the energy that gets people itching to hit the dance floor.

Atmospheric Effects

When mixed with the right lighting, effects like hazers and fog machines can create an even more potent atmospheric experience. For instance, fog will reveal the shapes and glistening beams of lasers and prisms. You can even buy special fog-juice scents to a add new shade of atmosphere to any event. And go out with a bang by grabbing a confetti launcher!

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Moving Pieces: Miscellaneous Lighting Gear

Now it’s time to fill in the gaps. Cables, power cords, and tape may seem like small pieces of a larger puzzle, but they help you put a rig together safely, securely, and quickly. Every portable DJ lighting rig needs a good share of reliable DMX cables for those programming with DMX protocols. Power cords, like the Hosa PDX-430 6-outlet power distribution cord, can help cut down on long cable runs and make them more concise. Gaff tape keeps those cable runs looking clean and professional. Other items like utility tables offer a safe area to set your gear and make an excellent space for lighting consoles.

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Protect Your Investments: Cases & Bags

Protecting your gear is almost as important as having it in the first place. A mobile DJ will be stocked up on bags and cases to transport their DJ and lighting equipment. While some lighting systems or single fixtures come with bags, you’ll still need to get some for the fixtures that do not. As your DJ business grows, it’s best to invest in hard cases to transport your existing gear than spring for another expensive fixture you can’t protect. Also, to protect against gear theft, diligently watch your gear when transporting from vehicle to stage. Park as close as possible to the venue — even if that means paying extra for parking. Keep your portable lighting rig safe and in top condition for every show with some cases and bags from Sweetwater!

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Add to cartLearn MoreAdd to list

Light Up the World, DJs!

A DJ’s portable lighting rig involves many moving parts, but choosing the right equipment is easy once you decide on the best setup for your applications. Remember to prioritize safety when buying and setting up your portable lighting rig. With the fixtures and equipment listed above, your guests will dig your next show. Don’t know if a fixture will work for you? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 — we’ll gladly help you find the perfect rig or chat about the DJ lifestyle. Party on!
The post How to Buy a Portable Lighting Rig for Mobile DJs appeared first on inSync.