Jump to content

looking for keyboard illumination


Recommended Posts

  • Members

I have a two-keyboard (both Korg Tritons) stack for playing live and when the lights go down for effect, it is REALLY hard to see the lower keyboard. I have tried various ways to light up the keys, always seeming to have TOO much light. Any ideas out there?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I use one of those small 18" fluorescent black lights turned on its side facing down on the keys in my studio. It lights the keys up nice and bright without being in your eyes or flooding the area. Of course the shirt you choose to wear might light up. Its not the best choice for the road because the bulb can be broken if you aren't careful but a little Velcro and it is light enough to do the trick.

 

I still have my old keyboard light made of brass that takes the long 25/40W bulbs. Again, that might be overkill for lighting things up but they do point down out of the eyes.

 

I'm not a fan of the LED type. It always seem to have a battery go dead when you need them the most.

I suppose you could buy a mixer gooseneck lamp. I saw them on ebay the other day for $10. Or you could rig a lamp up out of a long mic stand goose neck and build your own lamp. They make the surface mount screw on adaptors and you could easily mount it to a piece of wood or even the keyboard itself like a mixer. Then you could flex it as needed. If you sing you could rig it to the mic stand with a dual mic adaptor.

 

What might be cool is to just do the Talking Heads Stop Making Sense thing and just use a living room floor lamp with a fairly dim light. You could use a solid shade so the light only shines down and give the stage some casual ambience. It does draw the eyes of the viewers in seeing something like that on stage because its something you don't see every day. Everything has to be modern techno and having a living room floor lamp is pretty cool if you ask me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Here's a high quality one being sold cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Extended-Gooseneck-Brushed-Nickel-Energy-Efficient-Desk-Lamp-/171324788098

 

Cordless rechargeable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Cordless-Desk-Lamp-Rechargeable-48-LED-Bulbs-Gooseneck-Brass-Plated-/310953574428

 

 

I kind of like this one because it reminds me of an old sci fi movie, war of the worlds. The dimmer would be ideal. A bit pricy though.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Powerful-6-Watt-LED-Dual-Goose-neck-Illuminator-/400705811781

 

Here's a cheap version of the same thing but its battery powered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Dual-Arm-LED-Music-Stand-Light-Lamp-/111298367637?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e9e65095

 

This ones cool too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Loox-LED-12V-2018-Goose-Neck-Through-Hole-Lamp-2-Lamps-/141278959045

 

A simple Keyboard lamp might just be the best. It requires a USB power adaptor which you can find anyplace.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-9-LED-Music-Piano-Lamp-Orchestra-Music-Stand-Clip-on-Light-Adapter-USB-/171197354723?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27dc2852e3

 

Retro is cool too. You'd look like a banker in back of this one.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Mid-Century-Modern-Brass-RADIONIC-Articulated-Adjustable-PIANO-MUSIC-LAMP-/111348131706?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ecdda77a

 

This would really have some class.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Focus-Light-Spotlight-Studio-Light-Stage-Light-Lamp-Marine-Lighting-Home-Decor-/201071685152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed0ce6e20

 

Of course if you want Stelf lighting these are likely the ideal solution. Tap on tap off. They are cheap enough to where you can buy a bunch and just throw them away when they go bad. double stick tape and you're good to go. May need to make a shade so they don't hut your eyes but a strip of black plastic should do the trick. You can probably mount these right over the keys.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1x-Under-Cabinet-Push-Tap-Touch-Stick-On-Night-5-LED-Light-Lamp-/121339867954?pt=US_String_Lights_Fairy_Lights&hash=item1c406b7332

 

$6 for $10 of the round ones. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-6-3-LED-Under-Cabinet-Push-Tap-Touch-Stick-On-Night-Light-Lamps-/400683695499?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item5d4a9bfd8b

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I provide production for a lot of variety shows in my area and quite often I get asked to bring a piano. Many of the people who end up playing the piano are readers so I put a strip of Velcro on my Yamaha P120 so I can stick a Littlite gooseneck lamp where it can illuminate the sheet music.

 

I have found it handy when playing the piano myself if I need to work in a low light situation where it is difficult to see the keys and panel switches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...