LED Effect Lights

Static LED effect fixtures build the stage picture that moving heads punctuate. Pixel bars, strobes, par cans, wall washers, blinders and matrix panels are cheaper per fixture than moving heads, draw less power and are usually deployed in quantity. Because they are bought in sets rather than singly, DMX channel count and power consumption per unit multiply quickly and should be planned before the order, not after.

Compare the range

Specifications below are taken from the product data for each item in this collection. Rows with fewer than two published figures are omitted. Sorted by price.

How to choose LED effect lighting

Think in rows, not in units. Effect fixtures earn their keep through repetition: eight bars across a back truss read as one coherent look, two do not. Decide the line you want to draw across the stage and divide by the fixture width to get the count.

Check whether pixels are individually addressable. A bar that takes three channels gives you one colour across the whole fixture. A bar with per-pixel control takes far more channels but lets you run chases and text along its length. The difference in channel count between those two modes is often ten to one, which decides the universe plan.

Budget channels before you budget money. Thirty-two fixtures in a 48-channel pixel mode need 1536 channels, which is three DMX universes. Either accept a simpler mode, or plan Art-Net or sACN with enough nodes to break out the universes at the truss.

Add up the power across the set. Individually these fixtures are modest. Twenty-four fixtures at 150 W is 3600 W, which fills a 16 A circuit on its own. Effect lighting is where rigs quietly exceed the supply.

Check protection ratings for outdoor sets. Bars and washes mounted on uncovered outdoor truss need a published ingress protection rating. Indoor-rated fixtures in those positions are a weather risk, not a cost saving.

Frequently asked questions

How many LED bars do I need across a stage?
Divide the truss width by the fixture length and aim for a continuous or evenly spaced line. Effect fixtures read as a look when repeated, so plan a row rather than a pair.

What does per-pixel control mean?
It means each LED segment in the fixture can be addressed separately, allowing chases and patterns along the fixture. It uses far more DMX channels than a single-colour mode.

How many channels will a set of effect fixtures use?
Multiply the fixture count by the channel count of the mode. Thirty-two fixtures in a 48-channel mode is 1536 channels, which spans three DMX universes.

Do I need a strobe and a blinder, or will one do?
They do different jobs. A strobe produces short bright flashes for accent, while a blinder throws sustained warm light at the audience. Many shows use both at different moments.

Can LED effect fixtures go outdoors?
Only those with a published ingress protection rating. Check the individual product page rather than assuming the rating applies across the range.