Check out the new offering called Lightning from MagicSmith. Looks like a perfect tie-in with their Big Bang effect. It appears you can make any light bulb flicker and you don't even have to be touching it.

Retail is listed as $60 and it starts shipping on June 21. Looks like another winner from Chris Smith!

Lightning


** Bill **

Wow, this looks very en-lightning. Actually it looks very good, but so do most demo videos, I'll have to wait on some reviews, but I hope they are favorable.

I am very interested in this. Hopefully the effect can be seen at a distance.

One thing that I noticed throughout the demo was the fact that the performances were done at night. I realize that you would want to enhance the effect rather than take away from it. It makes sense to put out the most impressive demo possible. A dark background would aid in this.

My question is, will the lit bulb play well in a lighted palour or stage application? Is the effect bright enough? Or is closeup the best working environment?

Hi Echomagic,
Thanks for your interest. Yes, Lightning is effective for a lit parlour environment (like the Magic Castle's). In the demo, though filmed at night, there were some pretty big video lights on Christian and the lightbulb, yet it still showed up well.

The first units are shipping 6-18, so perhaps someone will post a review up here at the Café shortly.

Cheers,
Chris

MagicSmith,

Thanks for your response.

Very cool!

Lightning Curious,

No need to wait for a third party review of MagicSmith's Lightning, here are the inside details of this tiny gem.

If you're wondering why I already have the skinny on this, the reason is . . . MagicSmith hired me to injection mold the first batch of enclosures for this professionally produced microprocessor.

First, the enclosure for the unit contours around the batteries and then encloses what little remains of the IC Board. I could give you the exact dimensions of the tiny thing but all I will say is that you could put it in a TT (not that you would want to do that).

The units power voltage is such that it really makes the thing illuminate. Eventually the batteries will die but the housing design makes them very easy to replace (no tools needed).

The Lightning unit has two built-in programs and handles all of the timing for you. It does that by the built-in prompter (it's crazy). Think about it . . . You know exactly when the visual effect will start and exactly when it will stop. Perfect timing . . . Every time! All you need to do is good acting.

Another fine detail is how the unit is activated. All you really need to know is that it is sure fire and ULTRA EASY!

My last little note: I did the first molding run of the Lightning enclosure with equipment that is mainly intended for prototype work. The molding-run I did for this project was just to rough on my expensive equipment to do it again. Chris only has a limited number of housing units before he must go through a timely process of getting more enclosures made. Trust me, when I say . . . Mold tooling often takes four to six months. When I shared this thing with my closest magic bud, he was one of the first on the reserve list. Lightning is the real deal! Do yourself a favor and browse over to the MagicSmith website and check out the Lightning video.

Yours truly,

Mark Allen

If you need this . . . http://www.magicsmith.com

This looks really cool, count me in for one;)
Nice very nice indeed.

Since I have bought BigBang I had to put an order in for Lightning.
Can't waite till they arrive and will post a review in a few weeks on how they work together.

Eric

I placed a order for this, along with big bang. I don;t do much of this kind of effect except for in october, which is when ill likly use this. in either case it looks like a fun magicians toy lol.

I just ordered it as well, looksl ike it is not in stock right now, but should be soon.

This looks great. I am, however, a bit skeptical of the "don't have to touch the bulb" bit. Perhaps not but I'm not sure how practical that would be in actual performance.

I still have not received mine but from reading the rest if the ad copy id say that means, once activated you do not have to touch it =D

Im sure the "gimmick" needs to be touching the bulb. Im hoping the gimmick will be relativly small and camoflaged.

Anyone received it yet?

Its in the mail, should be any day now

I too have confirmation that it is on it's way.
You will probably get yours first Joshua since mine is coming in on a dog sled.

Hay, can you do it with any bulb? And if it's not a secret, can you do it instantly with a bulb from a lamp? I'm just not sure if gimmnic is separate form the bulb. Ok, I hope I didn't make to many mistakes:)

I received mine yesterday. Quite well made, and yes, can be used with any bulb. I've had success unscrewing them and using it without setup. Gotta be a bit careful with the angles though.

Received mine today. Does indeed have angle issues but nothing I can't handle.

It is really about the delayed timing in the program that sells the various effects.

The light itself seems to struggle to come on and that is very dramatic.

The gimmick is what I somewhat expected and while we could certainly accomplish the same effects with various other devices... THIS little thing has a nifty programmed delay and creates a nice pulsing fluttering ghostly light. I like that.

The delay gives you distance from the light effect and that is key and quite enjoyable.

I don't perform Big Bang myself... but if you do...you will want this.

Think outside the light bulb for various uses...that is where I am going.