In this post I wanted to share a recommendation on an inexpensive rechargeable light I’ve been using. I’m NOT an Amazon affiliate or anything like that. Just wanted to offer a tip :^)
First up let me explain my use cases, then I’ll offer the recommendation.
Use Cases
Use Case 1 – Playing in Dark Environments
Back in January I played a set on all Elektron gear in a near dark environment for the Zodiak Free Arts Lab West concert series in Lafayette Colorado. This event was presented by @tiertwolive.
The lighting in the space was super cool with shimmering blue lights painting the walls. It kind of looked like you were in the bottom of a swimming pool at night. On top of all that, one of the other artists Redwing Blackbird brought lasers and a smoke machine! Here are a few picks of the venue, Victoria Lundy, Me, and Redwing Blackbird performing in the space.
Denver Thereminist Victoria Lundy 
Mark Mosher 
Redwing Blackbird
So while I was performing I was almost completely blinded – haha. Check out this short video clip from the set and you’ll see what I mean.
Rewind to sound check. I realized while being immersed in smoke, lasers, and dark blue light I could in fact make out the buttons and controls on the Digitone and Octatrack MKII thanks to their backlit buttons – yay!. Not so much with my trusty Analog Four MKI which has LED dots with screen painted labels – boo! The show producer was kind enough to point a blue light on my gear which helped as did playing the muscle memory I acquired by playing Analog Four MKI for a number of years.
I had a goose neck LED but I forgot to bring it. It only had one intensity so I think the light would have ruined the aesthetic.
Use Case 2 – Front Lighting for Zoom Meetings
I had already started to make plans to take the Rocky Mountain Synth Meet online in February as I was having some problems finding rooms. Of course all that work helped us when we HAD to transition to online.
I found myself as all of us in a whole lot of Zoom meetings from a location in my house where the lighting isn’t great. Therefore, Use Case 2 was to see if I could find a light that would do double-duty for front lighting for online meetings.
The Hunt for a Cheap Rechargeable LED Light
After some research and trial and error buying some lights on Amazon I found one I really like.
The BIGLIGHT Book Reading Light which costs all of $12.99.
3 LIGHTING MODES — With the touch switch on the book light head, you can switch for 3 lighting modes at 3000K(Warm White), 4300K(Warm White + Cool White), 8000K(Cool White).
STURDY & SECURE PADDED CLIP — With strong & robust rubber padded clamp, you can clip the reading light on almost anything like music stand, piano, orchestra pit, book, desk,bed headboard, etc.
SUPER BRIGHT & DIMMABLE — Each music stand light has 8pcs longlasting LEDs, 100 lumens, very bright. And the brightness can be dimmed from 100% to 5%, no flicker, no shadow, no dizzy light, good for eye protection.
RECHARGEABLE — The built-in rechargeable polymer lithium battery is 1500mA. Fully charged can use for as long as 12 hours.
EXTENDABLE LIGHTING HEAD — The piano light’s head can be folded or extended 180 degree, which can provide a wider lighting area.
In Use for Performing and Online Meetings
Some things that make this light a winner for me are:
- The clamp can opened quite wide so you can not only use this on a music stand but clamp to a desk or mic stand
- I haven’t done a timed test, but the battery life is great
- The warm light mode means you don’t have to use a gel (like with some other low cost solutions) to use it as a meeting front lite for Zoom meetings and such
- It’s bright enough that if you want to splash it off a wall for more diffused lite it works pretty well
- Being able to dim this down means you could use it for gigging without competing too much with the stage lighting vibe. Also you being able to adjust the intensity for an online meeting is essential.
It’s the Little Things
I’ve been gigging for many, many years now and it’s always the little things that can screw up your live set. Not being able to see is one of them. Throw this handy light in your gig bag and you’ll have one less thing to worry about. Plus you’ll look less ghostly on online meetings – bam!
Mark Mosher 
One response to “Inexpensive Rechargeable Lighting Recommendation for Online Meetings and Dark Performance and Studio Environments”
Added one of these to my cart, along with a suspension mic stand & shock mount that I’ve been eyeing for a while. Great tip! I hadn’t really thought about lighting much.
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