Advice for Stage Lighting – Cheap, Efficient, Pragmatic

Lighting technology has made real quantum leaps in recent years. Features that were once unimaginable have long since become standards. It has never been so easy to realise creative light shows with rich colours, mixed in countless ways, with programmable moving heads, moving either in sync or individually, creating atmospheric scenarios with powerful beams, spotlights, wash lights, hybrid spotlights and effects. And all this at unbelievably low prices. Here, we present you with lighting equipment for a spectacular show at an unbeatable price-performance ratio.

Give the audience what they want: A real lightshow

Living in today’s visually-oriented world, it’s obvious that concerts are not only for the ears… the eyes also listen. Spectators, guests or fans want to be entertained musically and visually at the same time. A performance without a decent lightshow is hardly convincible these days. Understandably, after all, it would be quite absurd if the protagonists of the evening stood in the darkness or permanently in glaring white light like deer in headlights.

Lighting equipment must also be affordable

Clearly, lighting systems don’t come for free, and with the numerous different spotlights and effects, the setup, including controls, can gnaw at your wallet. Fortunately, over the last decade or so, a lot has changed, especially in the low-cost segment. Even with a manageable budget, it is now possible to illuminate the stage or dance floor skillfully. We have a few tips for you:

Fun Generation PicoBeam 30 Quad LED

The compact PicoBeam 30 Quad LED is one of the least expensive, and very popular, candidates for your stage lighting. The moving head is equipped with a 30 W quad-colour LED, which provides you with colours and mixed colours from the RGBW spectrum, with the colour mixing taking place via colour split in the beam. In DMX operation, the moving spotlight can be operated in 3,8 or 11 channel mode. You could use the control via DMX-512, the sound-to-light mode via the built-in microphone and the 5 auto programs integrated at the factory. And for those who want things to be particularly simple: the device, which weighs only 3 kg, can also be controlled using the included infrared remote control.

Fun Generation PicoBeam 30 Quad LED

Fun Generation PicoBeam 60 COB RGBW

Equipped with a 60-watt 4-in-1 COB LED, the Beam Moving Head COB RGBW offers rotating beams at a low price. The moving light concentrates on pinpoint beams with a narrow beam angle, whereby the mixture of red, green, blue, white (and all colours that can be mixed from them) is step-less, giving you immense creative freedom. The Fun Generation PicoBeam 60 COB RGBW weighs a restrained 3 kg and, with its performance and dimensions, is particularly recommended for smaller locations, the staging of DJ desks and a number of other applications. Concentrated on the essentials, the basic functions of this device can also be reached via the included remote control.

Fun Generation PicoBeam 60 COB RGBW

Stairville LED Bar 240/8 RGB DMX WH

The LED floodlight strip Stairville LED Bar 240/8 RGB DMX WH is ideal when it comes to coloured lighting design on stage. There are a total of 240 single-colour LEDs on board as a light source, with a cool special feature: The LEDs can be combined into 8 segments, which in turn can be controlled individually, making the LED bar a real eye-catcher. You could use it to create varied and very dynamic surface effects. The LED floodlight can be placed in a wide variety of stage positions, such as at the edge of the stage, as an alley light or as a backlight. The device is ideal as an effect on medium-sized and large stages, and the bar works well as ambient light for smaller events. A suitable IR remote control is optionally available.

Stairville LED Bar 240/8 RGB DMX WH

Stairville LED Bar 240/8 RGB DMX 30°

The Stairville Led Bar 240/8 RGB DMX 30° offers multi-faceted, atmospheric colour design by the meter. The LED bar is one of the most popular in this category because of the functionality offered and the low price. Like its counterpart, the bar is equipped with 240 LEDs, each 10 mm in size, which shine in all colours that can be mixed from red, green and blue. With the eight segments you can configure a wide variety of effects, whereby the segments can also be controlled separately. A whopping 21 automatic programs provide amazing variety. With this LED bar you can illuminate the back wall of the stage, for example; all the better if you use several of them and connect the devices in series. It can be mounted or positioned both horizontally and vertically, with its two different installation brackets.

Stairville Led Bar 240/8 RGB DMX 30°

Stairville CX-60 HEX

PAR is the acronym for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. PAR spotlights are a must on any stage; after all, these are the classics of stage lighting. And so comes the Stairville CX-60 HEX LED headlights in the classic Par 64 housing, but with modern and contemporary equipment. The CX-60 HEX is equipped with 6-in-1 LEDs, so it offers colours and mixed colours from the RGBAW spectrum, as well as UV light. The total of 18 LEDs have an output of 12 watts each with a colour temperature of the cool white LEDs of 6700 Kelvin. In addition to the wide beam angle for the area lighting and the flicker-free light, the whisper-quiet operation thanks to the temperature-dependent fan is particularly advantageous. It has internal colour change and fade programs as well as selectable colour macros and static colours, which can be freely defined.

Stairville CX-60 HEX

Varytec Event Par IP65 4in1 14x8W

The Varytec Event Par IP65 4in1 14x8W is a noiseless multi colour LED spotlight. It is therefore recommended for stages and noise-sensitive environments. The headlight is brighter than you would expect given the power rating of 112 watts. The colours can be dimmed finely, even fast fades run smoothly with the shortest response time. When it comes to colour mixing, it is advantageous that there are no conspicuous colour edges. The internal components are designed to be easily cooled, which in turn reflects the modern construction inside and out. This spotlight is suitable for proscenium, stage or rear wall lighting.

Varytec Event Par IP65 4in1 14x8W

Cameo Thunder Wash 600 RGBW

The Cameo Thunder Wash 600 RGBW is multifunctional and therefore of great value. It is a strobe, blinder and wash light in one device. Due to its multifunctionality, this device gives you the opportunity to enrich your stage lighting in a creative and versatile way. The Thunder Wash illuminates your stage with 648 RGBW SMD LEDs and achieves a high light output of 6,700 lumens. It makes sense to position the device at the front edge of the stage, as an alley light or on the truss. The strobe rate is adjustable from 1 to 30 flashes per second. The colours of the wash light are homogeneous and transition-free, especially under medium to full load. You can control the device via DMX, in sound-to-light mode or manually via the display and the control buttons.

Cameo Thunder Wash 600 RGBW

If you have any questions about special lighting equipment or need further recommendations, just contact us at +49-9546-9223-45 or by email at licht@thomann.de 🚥

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Joe has been singing since he can remember and started playing guitar when he was 10. He's been using it as a songwriting tool ever since. He is passionate about melody and harmony and admires musicians who create these in unique ways. Check out his alternative / indie projects Best of Feelings and Zef Raček.

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