Question 1

What is moving light and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Moving light describes motorised, remotely controllable stage fixtures that redirect their beam in real time across a room or stage. Moving lights work by driving pan and tilt motors — pan rotates the beam horizontally (often up to 540°), tilt moves it vertically (up to 270°) — while simultaneously changing colour, gobo, dimmer and beam width. Control usually runs over the DMX512 protocol from a lighting console or, on simpler models, via built-in music control. This dynamic behaviour lets a single moving light replace several static spotlights and create constantly changing, atmospheric effects.

Question 2

What is a Moving Head?

Accepted Answer

A Moving Head is the most common type of moving light, in which the entire projection head — lamp, lens and effects — moves on motorised pan and tilt axes. This gives a Moving Head a large action radius and smooth, natural beam movement, allowing it to light different zones, objects or performers in sequence. Moving Heads come in three optical variants: Spot for sharp gobo projection, Wash for soft area coverage and Beam for narrow aerial effects. They are controlled via DMX and are the backbone of professional stage, club and concert lighting.

Question 3

What is a light scanner?

Accepted Answer

A light scanner is a moving-light fixture that keeps its housing stationary and steers the beam using an electromechanically driven mirror. Because the mirror has far lower mass than a full moving head, a scanner can reposition its beam extremely quickly, making it ideal for fast, rhythmic and punchy dancefloor effects. Scanners typically include gobo wheels and colour options to create distinctive patterns. Their rapid movement gives a different visual character from Moving Heads, which is why many lighting designers combine scanners for fast accents with Moving Heads for versatile main effects.

Question 4

What types of moving lights are there?

Accepted Answer

There are three main types of moving lights. Moving Heads move their entire head on pan and tilt motors and split into Spot, Wash and Beam optics. Scanners keep the body fixed and steer the beam with a fast-moving mirror, ideal for quick effects. Moving effects are multi-beam fixtures that produce rotating beam patterns and colour rays with minimal programming, popular with mobile DJs. Combining all three — Moving Heads for flexibility, scanners for speed and moving effects for easy dancefloor coverage — gives you a complete, layered light show for any venue.

Question 5

What is the difference between Spot, Wash and Beam moving heads?

Accepted Answer

The difference between Spot, Wash and Beam Moving Heads lies in beam angle and edge quality. A Spot Moving Head produces a tight, sharp-edged cone (roughly 10°–25°) and carries gobos and prisms for object and pattern projection. A Wash Moving Head uses a Fresnel or diffuser lens for a wide, soft-edged beam (up to about 60°), providing coloured base light for stages and dancefloors. A Beam Moving Head emits an ultra-narrow, razor-sharp parallel beam of just a few degrees, creating dramatic aerial effects that come alive with haze. Most rigs combine all three.

Question 6

What are LED moving lights and what advantages do they offer?

Accepted Answer

LED moving lights are fixtures that use LED light sources instead of traditional discharge lamps. Their advantages are significant: LEDs run much cooler, last far longer, draw less power and switch colours instantly. LED moving lights offer rich colour mixing from RGB up to RGBWA+UV, and COB LEDs are available in power classes from around 30 W to 400 W. They require little maintenance because there is no lamp to replace, and lower heat output makes them safer near performers and easier to fly on truss. This makes LED moving lights the standard choice for modern event lighting.

Question 7

What does a moving light cost and which one should I buy?

Accepted Answer

Moving light prices span a wide range depending on type and power. Compact LED moving effects and mini Moving Heads for mobile DJs start in the low three-figure range, mid-size club Moving Heads (100–200 W) sit in the mid three figures, and professional heads with CMY colour mixing and high output reach four figures. Which moving light you should buy depends on your venue: choose small LED effects with music control for private parties, DMX-controlled Wash and Spot heads for clubs, and high-output professional fixtures for large stages. At LTT you get free shipping from €69 and a 3-year warranty.

Question 8

How do I safely fly moving lights on truss?

Accepted Answer

To fly moving lights safely, you must respect the Working Load Limit (WLL) of every component — clamp, truss and hoist — and never exceed the combined weight of fixture, clamp, cable and safety steel. Attach each fixture with a clamp matched to the truss tube diameter (35 mm, 50 mm or 60 mm) and always add a second independent safety cable. In Germany, DGUV Vorschrift 17 governs loads suspended above people, so plan your rig within the truss manufacturer's span and load tables. As a truss and rigging manufacturer, LTT supplies load-rated Naxpro-Truss systems and Riggatec clamps for secure suspension.