Smoke/haze and bubbles are two effects that have long been used by mobile DJs to enhance the atmosphere at their events. In the new Hurricane Bubble Haze machine, CHAUVET DJ has combined the two to create a new and distinctive effect. The unit pumps out a cloud of bubbles that are filled with haze, giving them a more visible white colour and creating a wisp of smoke when they are popped.

My first thought when I heard about the Hurricane Bubble Haze and was asked to review it for Pro Mobile was that the timing was perfect. Halloween was just around the corner and I felt that its unique effect of cloudy bubbles would be perfect for this season.

Before I write more about using the machine and the effect it produces, let me take you on a guided tour of the unit itself. The front design of the Hurricane Bubble Haze is clean and simple, with an exit hole in the top facia and an angled fan to help elevate the bubbles and haze in the bottom facia. The sides come equipped with carrying handles, which is a good idea as this unit is not particularly lightweight at 9.2kg (without fluid). However, a robust all-metal construction is good to see and this unit definitely looks like it has been designed and built to last when out on the road.

The unit is fitted with rubber feet, which allow it to stand directly on the floor or on a podium or other raised surface. This is how I imagine 99% of DJs will choose to use the machine, however it also has an M12 threaded mounting hole on the top, which can be used to attach a clamp, as well as a safety chain eye bolt. This means that the unit can also be hung from above – mounted to an overhead truss for example – if you prefer.

The rear of the unit has also clearly been well thought out, and it's nice to see both 3-pin and 5-pin DMX input/output sockets on offer. You also get a very simple-to-use LED display, controlled by four push buttons. This is used both for setting up standalone operation and also for addressing when used with DMX control. Following a quick glance through the manual, I soon figured out how to use it to set my preferred haze volume and blower speed in standalone mode, as well as how to select an address for DMX operation.

In the bottom of the unit there are two reservoirs which are clearly labelled for ‘haze fluid’ and ‘bubble fluid’. To gain access to the bottles you need to undo a couple of thumb screws, which is a bit awkward, so you might want to keep a screwdriver to hand. The haze and bubble reservoir tanks each hold 0.8 litres of fluid. The manual recommends using specific fluid to get the best effect from the Hurricane Bubble Haze unit: CHAUVET DJ’s BF5 bubble fluid and HF5 haze fluid, both of which are non-toxic, non-flammable and unscented. According to the manual the machine uses 16 ml/min of haze fluid (which equates to 50 minutes of continuous output), while the bubble fluid consumption is quoted as 22ml/min (36 minutes of continuous operation).

So, with both tanks full of the correct fluid, it was time to see how the Hurricane Bubble Haze performs. From cold, the unit took just over 3 minutes to heat up and on first use it took just over a minute for bubbles to be produced (the time it took to pump the fluid up to the top of the machine where the bubbles are produced).

Once up and running, the effect that the machine produces really is spectacular, especially when you see the bubbles popped to let the haze escape. Even the clients at the party I tried it out at commented on the effect, saying that they liked it and had never seen it before. It’s also important to point out that you don’t just have to use the machine to create the ‘bubble haze’ effect. It can be set to just produce regular bubbles, or regular haze, as well.

The machine features a ‘gravity fed’ reservoir system, that recirculates unused bubble fluid. However, at the end of an evening’s use, the machine did need a bit of TLC! The front was splashed with bubble fluid and it made me wonder if it would have been possible to have a drip tray below the exit hole that could catch this excess fluid and return it to the tank (and prevent it falling on the fan beneath).

To ensure a long service life, the manual recommends cleaning out the bubble line by running water through it after every use of the machine – which I can imagine will become tiresome after a long gig. Meanwhile it is also recommended to clean the haze machine element of the unit using CHAUVET DJ’s FCQ fluid, although this is only required after each 40 hours of continuous operation.

The ‘bubble haze’ output of this machine is both unique and stunningly effective. If you’re looking for a new effect to add to your mobile setup, this is sure to be something your clients won’t have seen before (at least for the next few months!). Kids – and adults, after a drink or two – will love popping the bubbles to see the smoke escape when partying on the dancefloor, while the ability to use it as both a regular bubble and haze machine makes the Hurricane Bubble Haze a versatile tool for the professional mobile DJ.