[jscaldwell]

Lighting question here:

For those of you who have the Morris Perfect Storm lightning box, could you describe your setup and provide any tips & tricks to maximize the effect? I'm trying to decide if I should add this to the must-do list for this year.

I already have a 500w halogen work light I could use, but let me know if you have better suggestions (LED? Wattage? etc.) and what soundtrack you like, if you don't use the CD included. I think the Poison Props thunder track sounds pretty good... Do you rely on cheap computer type speakers or something else? THANKS.

 

[Mapleton Manor]

I haven't gotten mine hooked up to the lights i am using yet but as for the speakers i found that you cant get standard computer speakers loud enough for it to be heard outside. So I went at got this:

I got it from http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-...er-with-remote-usb-mp3-media-card-fm--310-302.

Hooked up two home stereo speakers and play the sound from a flash drive. It allows it to play automatically so it can be turned on with a timer.

Works very well.

 

[brimagic]

Hey there. I grabbed a perfect storm off of Amazon last year and set it up in the yard last year. I used a 3.5mm audio splitter in order to split the audio from my phone to my amplifier, you may also be able to use the mic function of the perfect storm instead of the audio input. I kept the amplifier, perfect storm and phone hidden on the porch. Speakers were connected via speaker wire throughout the garden and an extension cord ran from the porch up our tree where it was connected to a 500w halogen work lamp.

If you'd like to see how it worked, I've got a video clip up on my google photos album: https://goo.gl/photos/bypTBS5smDQ4GTKV7

I used the included track and it seemed to work just fine. One thing I would recommend is a good set of speakers, with a subwoofer preferably. With each clap of thunder, the bass can actually make the ground seem to shake. If you come across other thunder tracks, I'd be interested in giving them a try. Can't wait to set it up again this year!

 

[jscaldwell]

Hey there. I grabbed a perfect storm off of Amazon last year and set it up in the yard last year. I used a 3.5mm audio splitter in order to split the audio from my phone to my amplifier, you may also be able to use the mic function of the perfect storm instead of the audio input. I kept the amplifier, perfect storm and phone hidden on the porch. Speakers were connected via speaker wire throughout the garden and an extension cord ran from the porch up our tree where it was connected to a 500w halogen work lamp.

If you'd like to see how it worked, I've got a video clip up on my google photos album: https://goo.gl/photos/bypTBS5smDQ4GTKV7

I used the included track and it seemed to work just fine. One thing I would recommend is a good set of speakers, with a subwoofer preferably. With each clap of thunder, the bass can actually make the ground seem to shake. If you come across other thunder tracks, I'd be interested in giving them a try. Can't wait to set it up again this year!

Hey thanks, and I really like your setup (especially the Caldwell Manor stuff ). I was also thinking of splitting the audio and using the input port on the box, so the Perfect Storm wouldn't be creating lightning by "hearing" other ambient sounds...I plan to have some Atmosfearfx stuff going on at the same time as the lightning. I hope to use an old amp and some bookshelf speakers as well...maybe will steal my home entertainment system subwoofer for the night.

Just curious how you mounted the light in the tree. I'd like to do that since the lightning should look a lot more realistic coming from above, rather than from behind a gravestone or something on the ground, or, maybe that doesn't matter...not really sure.

 

[jscaldwell]

I haven't gotten mine hooked up to the lights i am using yet but as for the speakers i found that you cant get standard computer speakers loud enough for it to be heard outside. So I went at got this:

View attachment 317730



I got it from http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-...er-with-remote-usb-mp3-media-card-fm--310-302.

Hooked up two home stereo speakers and play the sound from a flash drive. It allows it to play automatically so it can be turned on with a timer.

Works very well.

I'll check this out, thanks. Might solve a problem I have, in that I only have one amp available to drive speakers, but I'd like to be able to drive two sets each with different audio (one for lightning, one for Atmosfearfx audio...).

 

[brimagic]

Hey - I don't have any pictures of the setup itself, but I did grab a ladder and placed my HDX worklamp about 7.5 ft in the tree, pointing slightly upward so as not to blind those coming down from the porch. I'll try to describe my setup.

First I have a similar worklamp to this one: http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-500-Watt-Halogen-Portable-Work-Light-509-953/202071325

I removed the base and was left with essentially two handles (the actual handle and the metal base part). I then tied it between two branches using a pair of these gear ties: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-18-in-Gear-Tie-in-Black-2-Pack-GT18-2PK-01/203210714

These kept the lamp safe and secure in the tree and allowed for easy manipulation and take down. I also use these for my bike rack all year long, they're very handy.

Obviously, just be mindful about the projectinos since the flashes will certainly hinder their effect.

I'm interested in seeing another 'Caldwell' setup this year!

 

[jscaldwell]

I then tied it between two branches using a pair of these gear ties: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-18-in-Gear-Tie-in-Black-2-Pack-GT18-2PK-01/203210714

Sorry, I didn't see the link to the gear ties (looks like the link to the light was used twice. Is it something like this? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-32-in-Gear-Tie-in-Black-2-Pack-GT32-2PK-01/203211054

 

[brimagic]

Darn, thought I edited it in time. Anyway, that's them! ?

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[jscaldwell]

P.S. Brimagic, do you find that one 500w light is enough (vs. 2)?

 

[brimagic]

I found one to be enough, since I only have a small space to light up. If and when I move into a larger home, I'll likely purchase a few more work lights and a multi-channel controller. So for now, I think one is enough - it's bright as hell.

 

[jscaldwell]

I haven't gotten mine hooked up to the lights i am using yet but as for the speakers i found that you cant get standard computer speakers loud enough for it to be heard outside. So I went at got this:

View attachment 317730



I got it from http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-...er-with-remote-usb-mp3-media-card-fm--310-302.

Hooked up two home stereo speakers and play the sound from a flash drive. It allows it to play automatically so it can be turned on with a timer.

Works very well.

What I would really like is a mini-amp like this that would have enough power for my Klipsch 525 outdoor speakers (up to 75 watts each) and a subwoofer. Haven't found an elegant solution like that yet.

 

[Bigameman]

Posted this a couple days ago, I have it hooked up to an old sound bar with a wireless subwoofer, using the disc that came with it. The sound is awesome. https://youtu.be/OtpaggHRRWs