I love hearing the background of how Brian and lighting tech changed over the years. IMO, Ape Labs would crush all competition if price dropped to a reasonable level. They are the Rolls-Royce of lighting. Incredible quality... something to aspire to.
That was always the issue with me owning those Junior. If the prices were set where beginner to advanced DJ’s could afford them, they’d come off the shelves quickly.
I think initially, there is sticker shock because of the "Tour Pack" prices & also we are all used to buying extras to ether wire or control stuff. There's really nothing else that needs to be bought. Oh sure, you CAN buy a W App or whatever, but no tablets or dongles are required to run a real nice all-APE light show
It's an investment. It's worth noting that I have received compliments from customers who liked what they saw. I buy the cans in the 4 pack. With all the different lenses and the magnetic mount, they are easily the most versatile lighting I have ever owned. Thanks to you.
I bought 4 ADJ Mega Hex pars and although havent really had chance to use them , they are good for uplights ect and very bright however I also have an Equinox Hypnos which has grown on me because it doesnt need smoke, it puts a really cool water ripple effect in RGBW on walls, ceilings, even the side of a building before and is fully DMX controllable too
those battery powered lights looks great as back lights i was always told never to point bright light in peoples faces or use lasers as they can be dangerus for peoples eyes but i really like to have lights that fill the floor and look great seems that newer dj's dont use as much lighting just led par cans as there background and led movers for table or stands etc i think looks neat and all but not much happing on the foor i think its a lot nicer to have some adj scanners and some derby lights etc only problem with that is making it look good without having wires all over the place i have t-bar i put it behind me looks ok but sacnners dont seem to reach the foor unless it's in front of the table then don't look right as there's bar in the middle of your view then got use some sort of truss then it becomes more competent hard work to set up so its finding easy way to set up to look good without all the hassle
Love this video! Same experience with old lighting. Had to wait for them to cool-down before packing up. Hot, heavy (in comparison) & only single color due to gels that were expensive & had to be replaced regularly. Currently running Chauvet freedom wireless but I am getting older & Ape Labs is looking very attractive. The cost is our biggest hurdle & the investment in our current lighting. I am a gear hoarder & still have most of it (30 years worth)...in storage. You should see my headphone graveyard! Great vid Brian! It was like a trip back in time & very refreshing. I miss the feel of the old days... good times.
Wash FX and 2 Chauvet 260's are my go to wedding lighting setup. Control it with DMX Go and everything is simplified. Scenes and Presets are pre- programmed.
The single best lighting investment I ever made is the Chauvet MotionDrape. I run it using ShowExpress and stretch it between my two truss stands. It covers a large area, pretty much the entire end of the dance floor, and has 30 different patterns as well as RGB color fading. That and a set of six wireless uplights (ADJ Element QAIP) is really all I need to keep people happy. The ADJ QAIP fixtures are great for simulating candle light during slow sets too, and outdoor rated do I can use them in the rain if necessary.
Thank you Brian for the PSA, because of videos like this featuring APE LABS I made the investment like you. Everything in your video was me in the past
Brian i took a HUGE break off of the Dj side of YT for years and now i am back and whats very crazy is my country is so behind in ALL ways audio that you blew my mind just now showing me these lights same with Pro Audio, car Audio etc. and i applaud you for putting me in this direction seeing as i now have an amazing reference for what kind of mobile lights i should be using i watched your old vid about uplights years back and been running that ever since and now i'm gonna go this route soon and then add a RGB laser after i get my training, i cannot thank you enough for the mobile Dj advice you specifically have helped me with and it's all indirect thank you very much for this vid and vids like it. Gonna Binge your channels vids from 2019 till 2022 to catch up and maybe get some more pointers my fave lights are the Gobo/RGB Uplights.
I love my Apes! After cancellations and rescheduling, I have 3 weddings this year, and I decided to use only Apes, I have 6 Maxis and 12 Cans. I also have the WAPE which really helps the dial in the sound active mode. I was thinking of rigging the Maxis on my truss and spreading the cans around but you mentioned light in the face. My only concern is dance floor coverage, without any damage to the lights? I've had Cans knocked over in the past!
I bought the ape lab maxi tour kit, from thomann arrived today, These lights are unreal, yes a lot of money, but well worth it my opinion, possible the best mood light at the moment, at this level for mobile use. I'm not bias, did a lot of research on different mood lights before buying, and these came out on top, spec for spec compared with other leading brands. The only info I couldn't obtain, without a lux meter and physically measuring light output was the lumens which is the true brightness of a light fitting on a surface, but that was the same for other manufacturers. Thanks to thomann, for a super quick delivery. And yourself Brian, for all you post and Informative info.
It’s interesting you bring this up and go down this journey. I just sold half my original dmx halogen lighting rig yesterday. Bought most of the stuff almost 20 years ago in the late 90s early 2000s.
Great video Brian.. I’m in exactly the same train of thought. With nearly 100 weddings a year lugging moving heads, podiums and rigging all the lighting with cables, DMX control etc was all a massive use of time and a king size pain in the the ass. Especially when you can’t use haze. I’ve just grabbed a tour pack of sticks 4 maxis, 4 cans and two minis with tubes. I now have easily the best light show I’ve ever had. I’ve just ordered the WAPP unit aswell so it will be even easier from my phone app. I’ve actually added to this a laser Cube and will probably add another. Check them out. Small battery wireless laser projectors that have 100s of built in shows and animations. The plan is to animate on white walls behind the DJ. Again, wireless, battery, super quick and easy. And will look so good. I think moving heads are the new motorised disco balls. Getting a bit outdated
Hi..I am in the process of buying lighting... Would you be so nice to share the names of brands and models or what you are talking about?. .Everything you mention here is from Ape Labs?.. Thanks a lot for your help.
Nothing Else More than Ape lights. !! As you Said, Easy of use, Portability, Battery operated, wireless and Even dmx-able ...... Even magnetic attachable for Sticks, cans and coins..... Love all of them ......... and Man, they make lots of light for a Long period of Time with one charge ...... and do Not forget the 3 year warranty and excellent service from Ape labs ...... And yes i am from Germany 😂😂
My favorite lights I have are my intimidator scanners. I got a pair of the 2.0 with bulbs. Not the led ones. I think the light is richer IMO. The rest of my lighting is either LED or lasers. I love the videos Brian. I got into lighting about 4 years ago and your videos are very helpful
I enjoy hearing your opinions on lights & DJing. A question for you, Brian: With advances in remote tech & Bluetooth capability, do you see DMX being obsolete in the near future?
No, not for big stage & theatrical applications, which is what DMX was created for in the first place. It was never made for us little mobile DJs. We just used it
I have 10 Ape Labs pieces so far, I still do run a ADJ INNO Pocket Spot Twins unit but that's it besides uplights for most gigs, I do have 2 Sticks I use them on my speakers. I just think moving heads is a little upscale compared to many, the Spots are 1 simple unit, no mess or fuss.
@@ajspellmonthat1djguy622 honestly the lights just run in sound active, I use a remote to black them out or maybe strobe occasionally but otherwise sound mode works fine.
I watch ur videos Brian and always like the way you use your honest opinion and experience to teach some do's and don'ts even when ur not even trying to. It's good to see how honest and generous u are as a business man and a Professional D.J. I'm also a Mobile D.J. and learned a ron from ur channel. Thanks alot and keep up the good work. By the way I like Chauvet intimidator 260's and also the battery powered Pars also by chauvet. For uplighting.. Never really seen the ape-labs b4. Maybe at a D.J. convention next time I'll stop by the ape-labs booth.
Hey Brian, I agree that effect lights just don’t look as good these days. But Ape Labs pricing is so expensive and there are other lower cost alternatives that deliver that look and effect. Yes you have to set them up differently but the cost saving considerable! 😎🎧👍🏻
Which ones are those? I have all Chauvet lights and was considering moving heads, but I do mostly school dances and weddings so it wasn’t cost effective for me. Thanks in advance.
DJ Skyewalker The ones I was looking at are called Beamz BBP96SW and they are 100 cheaper than the Ape Labs, I have them featured on me next video 😎🎧👍🏻
The whole point of buying Ape Labs is for the quality, and ease of use. They aren't about being the cheapest. Therefore there's no real point in trying to compare them to cheaper products.
I recently had my mid-90’s era halogen moon flowers (with pastel dichroic mirrors) refurbished with LED. Those, simple washes and my Laser Cube lasers are my favorites right now.
You make fantastic points about the atmosphere. Up to now, lighting takes the most time of my load in and load out and it's frustrating. I'm really close to making some big changes and I'm so excited about it.
Without haze last night my 4 intimidator Hybrid 140sr show looked pretty dope. I saw the beams. Uplighting has come so far in the last 10 years. I’m excited to see what comes next! Good video!
I'm more of a traditional DMX guy. I've looked at may propritory wireless solutions and found as you did that they tended to be expensive and prevent mix and match. Therefore I stuck with traditional DMX. However for communication with the lights, I use one of the streaming DMX over Ethernet protocols. I use E1.31, also known as Streaming ACN. This enables running multiple universes over WiFi from a laptop to a router. From the router, one of the many E1.31 to DMX devices can easily provide 6 universes of DMX. I have one of the Electron Devices converters for about $100 for 6 universes. Many fixtures are wired to the device and for some hops to a truss, wall, etc, one of the many Alien DMX wireless transmitter/receiver sets for a single universe hop. This permits using any of the software packages that support streaming ACN protocol. You do not need a receiver for each light to cut costs. You can use a singe receiver for a truss, a wall, a tower, etc to keep cost reasonable. I use a free DMX program able to run multi-universe shows and can use input from HID devices such as a USB joystick. This provides the ability to drive a moving head with a joystick to do a spotlight dance. Very effective. Buttons on the joystick can be mapped to colors and the shutter, so you can run the light with one hand. For software I use Q Lights Plus. qlcplus.org/ Buttons for a specific theme can be programmed. One button can turn the whole set into Red White and Blue for independence day. Same for many holidays. Red, Pink and White for Valentines. A button for the brides wedding colors can be custom blended and used. This expands greatly over the canned color selections of most wireless remote control packages of lights. It is not as expensive as MA2 or Madrix, but can provide many variations with many lights.
Brian, are you including these lights as part of your package or do you have them as an add-on? If part of the package, did you raise your package price to help cover the cost of those lights? I buy new lights every other year or so. Currently running a SwarmFX and a wash light. You're right! I would love to not have to set up the additional light tree! But for what I am charging for an event, it makes business sense to keep doing it. Thanks for another great video.
You are my hero.. What kind of lighting is this?.. Did you share the brand and model?.. How do I look it up?.. Self-baterry lighting disco?..Thanks for your help. Great video.
I love my two maxi's that I have on my speakers in my livingroom. I'm not a Dj, I just have them for ambience or when throwing a party. I have LIFX-bulbs in my apartment too and it's a great combo that's transform a regular place to a party-scene at anytime in seconds. The only thing about some Ape Labs products that would make me nervous if I were a Dj is their portability. I know they have a wirelock but sometimes I assume there's no place to lock them to. Hopefully one deals with people that are honest an just want to have fun, but still, I would be a little nervous.
Good thoughts. Have you tried how simple MyDMX Go is? I have it and it is also very simple to use and configure lights. It takes the DMX addressing hassles out and makes it DJ friendly.
Hey! Thanks so much for this video and your outlook as someone who's lived and worked thru the changes. I didn't start with lighting until 2014, but have been kicking around music and entertainment for quite a bit longer. For me, DMX programming is right there with MIDI mapping, and I happen to enjoy both! I really like Chauvet as a company, and am just now starting to take a serious look at the battery run stuff. First outing with D-Fi (an implementation of wireless DMX) is coming up this July. So, my favorite light is - currently, the Chauvet Kinta. Why: Well, you made really good points about the state of atmospherics in the industry - at the mobile level.. No more smokers, no more haze or fog without a venue license, fire detail, and alarm tech - depending on locale. We're just left with UV now I think? However, out in the woods, when you get that late night early am dew/fog that forms when the sun isn't above the horizon yet, but it starts to cook off the moisture in the soil and there's a heavy haze all thru the trees - Beams become magic again! So, that's why I love the classic derby effects, just one, front and center as a blinder or elevated to move the floor - and I don't have to mess with a mirrorball to get it done. Hanging some fire treated mesh (2 layers works) in front of it if it's too bright tends to resolve complaints too, if needed. Honorable Mention would be the FX Par 9 - you can do a lot with it and it's a light load on your generator as well.
Hey Brian, the lights are amazing and have been using them for about 8 years now. And to be honest the price is similar to everyone of the big name brands.
Check out Rockville audio’s best pars and rock wedge...wireless dmx, battery operated with a decent sound active light show...use one remote to control all the lights (not as a far reaching as an RF remote but definitely does the job).
im really not (or ever been) a light guy. Any battery led par will do for me even the cheap chinese ones do fine. I've used many different brands from all the popular ones to off brands and sure some are easier to use and smaller and more compact than others but really ITS JUST A LIGHT. I got some chinese lights 4-5 yrs. ago and they are still working just fine. Peace B. Good video.
Very helpful I am looking to upgrade my whole DJ system I have a bunch of beginner lights on a T trust bar and it’s time to upgrade I just got adj mega par plus uplighting the 4 pak- And I’m looking at getting a façade and maybe some new lights I was been looking at American DJ pocket pro and I want to see how practical that is because I am a mobile DJ
Ape lights are by far my favorite. Bough a 6 pack of maxis last year and another 6 pack a few weeks ago. I haven't taken any other lights with me since that first purchase. Setup and teardown are so fast, the colors are great, music mode is the best I have seen yet and the batteries last forever. Are they cheap? No. Are they worth every penny? Absolutely. Ape lights, please don't cheapen the quality of your product just to sell more. Some of us are willing to pay for quality stuff.
Hi Brian. Thanks for your vids. Love the content. I’m a mobile DJ in the UK. I’m currently considering buying ape labs lights and just running with them. I love the idea of no wires and quick set up/pack down. Ape labs seem to be the way forward.
The APE lights are nice, especially after I saw a video of them dunking it in water. However, I use the full RGBAW+UV on my Freedom Pars. When will APE offer Amber and UV?
Greg Aguilera depends, on what the task is, I use 12 maxies for Stage light and uplighting the room ..... cions i use to Illuminate my keyboard, as beeing a live musician .... Sticks i use wherever ist Looks nice ...... Starting with a tourpack of 6 maxies, you dońt go wrong. ..... from that Point on you can develop, that has been my Way..... and yes they have the Potential to become a addiction ....😂😂😂. Love Them alll ❤️❤️❤️👍🥰
Peter Feldmeyer Thank you for the feedback! I’m definitely looking at the Maxies. I’m just a little confused on whether I should go with the cans or the light bars along with them.
@@gregaguilera7304 I just started with the maxies, And bought. Some coins .. they are the Same as Mini and or can ... but much mor affordable ,... then you can build up of that .......
@@villanousspyder405 very true, I guess he said they’re his favorite lights and I would say they’re not my favorite because any light that can’t change position is only so fun to me this point as a lighting designer. Still, APE LIGHTS ROCK! I want the Ape Sticks now after using the minis and maxis
Hate LED fixtures in general, They just look cheap, Generic and samey, Give me something HMI with gobo and dichroic anyday, Or something seriously retro like Fal Alligators or Harvesters, Favourites include Coemar Bello, Goldenscan HMI's, Pulsar strobes...
I'm going to give it to you, your title made me click on your video. Very disappointed. Had to sit through all of the beginning just for you to advertise something that you probably honestly don't like, but most likely getting paid to advertise. SMH. That is just a step back.
Most of the lighting today are extremely, extremely boring. You can attend wedding after wedding and the lights are about the same. There is no Elite, Fantastic, The Best DJ, Super Tunes Productions, etc. There is nothing fantastic about wash lights.
At least put a frost filter on them. That pattern and color mixing looks so cheap and ugly... And it will always be sound to light. That's not quality, It's lazyness.
Thanks for your feedback. I was actually using the Fresnel lens to purposely create that effect. Here's what those lights look with that lens in groups. It's a "look" that some will like & some won't, but there are a couple other lens options available, such as Flood & 10 Degree for those fixtures ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bvEaOxh1SUo.html
