You have your sound system ready, music is good to go, and people are starting to pile through the door, but wait, have you thought about lighting? Although lighting is not the first thing you think of when it comes to partying, having a decent range of lights and effects is highly important. It can set the vibe for your disco, event or club party, and will visually entertain your audience as they rave through the night. Finding the best visual effects for your application is vital, whether you are a mobile entertainer, club owner/promoter, or starting your own events, you will need various lights that will suit your requirements and ones that will not let you down. Below you learn and gain an in-depth knowledge of the most popular disco and Party Lights for Mobile DJs, Bars & Small Venues for 2024 and beyond.
So which Disco lighting is best for me in 2024?
These days Disco and Party lights come with a load of various control modes and functions. Many professional lighting effects come with their own built-in light shows and pre-programmed patterns that mean you can leave the unit to run through the night on its own. Another control method includes DMX control which uses DMX cables to connect multiple lights to a lighting controller which in turn allows you, or a lighting engineer, to create customised light shows. Also, most lights come with a built-in microphone which grants you access to a sound-activated operational mode; this makes the lighting effect flash and change colour in accordance with the music that is being played and is most ideal for house parties and mobile entertainers.
When it comes to choosing the correct disco and party lights for your situation you need to consider which type of FX would work best for you. A wide range of lights are used for various applications, for example, moving head effects are best for fixed installations such as clubs and bars, however, they could also be useful for mobile entertainers. They will, however, be too large and unsuitable for house parties. In this scenario, led par cans, led derby effects and mini lasers are great for illuminating most rooms and smaller open areas/features. I know confusing right!? Well, this is where The DJ Shop comes to hand to help you choose the most appropriate and effective lighting for the venue.
American DJ
American DJ (ADJ) is a renowned lighting brand that is well known for their high-quality range of lighting effects and DJ accessories, besides having a variety of lights for every application. Here we have chosen three of our best-selling ADJ lighting effects that are great for both professional and personal use and will work to create the perfect vibe for your party. Additionally, they offer a range of various operational modes and functions such as electronic dimming and flashes/strobe.
ADJ Boom Box FX3
One of the best lighting effects to go for by ADJ is the Boom Box FX3. The FX3 comes as a combo 3-in-1 lighting effect that combines a Derby effect with a unique LED colour ring, and nine vibrant super-bright LEDs. Thanks to the 3-in-1 functionality you get three excellent effects in one convenient unit and are perfect for both mobile and fixed applications such as mobile entertainers, club and bar installations, theatres, and music venues.
| Boom Box FX3 Video |
The BoomBox FX3 comes equipped with nine built-in light shows that offer hours of use and provides you with three operational modes:
Show mode runs through the pre-programmed light shows
Sound-activated mode uses an integrated microphone that makes the FX3 flash and change colour according to the music that is playing
DMX control mode with two available DMX channels for generating your own customised light shows.
This effect comes fitted with a bracket that lets the unit be hung from a truss for permanent applications or can stand on its feet for ease of use.
ADJ Stinger Star
The American DJ Stinger Star is a 3-in-1 lighting effect that comes equipped with a unique party dome, colour wash effect, and a galaxian style red and green laser effect which all work in perfect harmony to deliver vivid light shows making it ideal for mobile entertainers, small club and bar venues, music venues, events productions, and house parties. The party dome is equipped with six 3w RGBWAV LEDs while the colour wash effect is fitted with eight 1w RGBA LEDs which both work to offer 63 preset colour combinations and the laser is equipped with class 3B red and green laser diodes.
| Stinger Star Video |
Three operational modes include an automatic mode with six impressive pre-programmed light shows, a sound-activated mode which uses an integrated microphone to make the light dance along to the sound of your music, and DMX control mode with 2 or 14 available DMX channels that enable you to generate your own customised light shows.
There is also a strobe mode that offers an interesting flashing effect and an LED chase effect which works to generate an effect that’ll float vibrant beams of light around your venue. On the rear of the lighting effect, you’ll find an LCD display and navigational buttons that allow you to control the light directly from the unit itself as well as a safety loop that means only you can activate the effect.
ADJ Inno Pocket Spot Moving Head
The American DJ Inno Pocket Spot is a compact moving head lighting effect that comes equipped with a super-bright 12w white Cree LED alongside Gobo and colour wheels that offer several vivid colours and a variety of crisp projection patterns making it perfect for mobile entertainers, small club and bar venues, music venues, events productions, and house parties. The Gobo comes equipped with a shake effect and scroll mode which generates fast moving beams of light alongside rapid colour changes while a manual focus ensures you’ll always have the clearest Gobo projections possible.
| Inno Pocket Spot Video |
A built-in shutter gives you a refreshing pulsing and strobe effect that generates a flashing effect with a speed rate that ranges from slow to fast, and an electronic dimmer mode lets you set the intensity of the light anywhere between 0 -100% with five selectable dimming curves. There are three operational modes including an automatic mode with four pre-programmed light shows, sound-activated mode that uses a built-in microphone to make the light dance in sync with your music, and DMX control mode with 9 and 11 available DMX channels for creating your own customised light shows while an included UC-IR remote control gives you wireless control over the effects. An omega bracket is included so you can easily clamp the lighting effect to a truss system if required.
AFX
AFX is a relatively new lighting brand that has listened to what people need most from their lighting effects… full professional functionality with a fair, wallet-friendly price tag. AFX lights are great for both professional and personal applications, are highly-reliable and robust making them perfect for mobile and fixed uses.
AFX Combo-LED
The AFX Combo-LED is a 3-in-1 lighting effect that includes a multi-beam effect, a strobe effect, and a laser effect providing you with three exciting lighting effects in one convenient unit. The multi-beam effect makes use of five 3w LEDs that offer red, green, blue, amber, and white colours and work to provide you with vibrant beams of light that will wash your dance floor while the strobe effect uses eight 1w white LEDs to create a vivid flashing effect that is sure to energise your audience. The laser effect comes equipped with a 100mW red laser diode as well as a 50mW green laser diode that give you a firefly effect which fires thousands of red and green dots around your venue.
| Combo LED Video |
There are four operational modes that allow you to control the light effects in various ways and includes automatic mode which offers pre-programmed light shows, sound-activated mode that uses an integrated microphone to make the effects dance along to your music, master/slave mode allows multiple Combo-LED to be linked together for synchronised light shows, and DMX control mode with eight available DMX channels that enables you to generate your own customised light shows when used in conjunction with a DMX controller. An LED display with navigational buttons lets you control the effects directly from the unit itself while a supplied remote control gives you wireless control over the lighting effects.
AFX Strobe-FX
The AFX Strobe-FX is a high-powered strobe lighting effect that makes use of 98 bright white SMD LEDs to generate vivid flashes of light that is sure to amaze your guests.
When left to run in automatic mode the Strobe-FX will alternate between the various built-in strobe patterns or can be used in the sound-activated mode to make the strobe flash along to the sound of your music. The Master/Slave mode can be used to synchronise multiple Strobe-FX together so they flash at the same speed and time. The final mode is DMX control mode, with four or nine available DMX channels that allow you to generate and customise your own light shows so you can set the light to flash during specified times.
There is an LED screen with buttons on the rear of the unit which ensures you can easily navigate the various modes and functions giving you excellent control over how you operate the light which makes it ideal for both fixed and mobile applications.
Chauvet DJ
Chauvet DJ is a lighting brand that is well-known for their advanced lighting effects and innovative features that aim to provide you with top-quality functions that work perfectly in clubs and bars but are also suitable for mobile entertainers and even personal use. Chauvet DJ has built their name through providing DJs and clubs with top-of-the-line lighting equipment that is highly-reliable and provide a great range of applications.
Chauvet DJ GigBar2
One of the best lighting effects from Chauvet DJ for mobile DJs and small venues is the GigBar2 which is made up of a lighting stand and T-bar alongside four different lighting effects including two Derby lights, two par can effects, four high-powered LED strobes built right into the T-bar, and a red/green laser.
The red/green laser works to project thousands of vibrant red and green dots around your venue in all directions while the four integrated LED strobe lights to give you an exciting flashing effect that is perfect for generating energetic effects. The two derby lights and par cans will work to provide you with an array of vivid colours that will cover your audience in bright light.
| GigBar 2 Video |
For an utterly improvised light shows you can use the sound-activated mode or set the automatic mode to let the GigBar2 run through the pre-programmed light shows. You can control the unit using DMX mode for customised lighting shows, the digital display (found on the rear of the T-bar), or use the IRC-6 remote control (wireless).
Laser World
Laserworld EL-230RGB
The Laserworld EL-230RGB is a powerful 3B-class laser system that comes equipped with red, green, and blue laser diodes and offers a total power output of 230mW ensuring beautifully vibrant colours that make it perfect for small clubs and bar venues, mobile entertainers, hobbyists, music venues, and even house parties.
The laser makes use of three laser diodes consisting of a red diode with a wavelength of 650nm, a green DPSS diode with a wavelength of 532nm and a royal blue diode with a wavelength of 445nm, all diodes work to produce a 1mrad beam with a diameter of 4mm.
| EL-230RGB Laser Video |
The EL-230RGB is equipped with 50 pre-programmed basic patterns made up of tunnels, fences, and waves which use a high-speed stepper motor for flawless projections.There are three operational modes including an automatic mode which runs through the 50 built-in projection patterns, sound-activated mode uses an integrated microphone to make the laser produce patterns that are perfectly in sync with your music and DMX control mode that allows you to generate your own customised light shows.
Ibiza Light
Ibiza Light is another well-loved lighting brand that has been creating exciting lighting effects for years. They offer excellent value for money and provide consumer-friendly equipment at wallet-friendly prices. Ibiza Light products are well suited for all venue/performances, from DJs and entertainers to clubs and hobbyists; Ibiza has a party light for you.
Ibiza Light LZR430-RGB
One of the best lights built for clubs and bars as well as mobile entertainers and even festivals is the Ibiza Light LZR430-RGB. It is a high-powered 430mW projection laser that comes equipped with three individual laser diodes, a red diode with a wavelength of 638nm, a green diode with a wavelength of 532nm, and a blue laser diode with a 450nm wavelength. All three diodes work in perfect harmony to deliver vibrant multi-coloured projections and patterns.
| LZR430-RGB Laser Video |
The LZR430-RGB comes with 21 pre-programmed light shows, 128 built-in fixed patterns and three evolving patterns that will stun your audience. You can control the light wirelessly using the supplied remote control, use the DMX512 operation to create your own patterns and projections, or use the LCD display and menu buttons give you the ability to control the light’s function directly from the unit itself.
Ibiza Light Derby-Las
Another great and highly affordable small venue and home party effect by Ibiza Light is the Derby-Las. A popular Derby lighting effect that is equipped with nine 3w LEDs, a red and green laser which work to deliver 12 sharp beams of vibrant light, and eight RG laser patterns. The nine LEDs work to create red, green, blue, amber, white, yellow, orange, and violet colours with smooth colour mixing abilities that will easily fill your venue with vivid colours. The RG laser will fill your venue with thousands of red and green scattered dots.
The Derby-Las comes with eight available DMX channels allowing you to program your own customised light shows while an electronic dimmer lets you switch between various light intensities. It also features a strobe mode, creating an exciting flashing effect. The light is fitted with a safety switch and is supplied with a remote control so you can control the light wirelessly if required.
QTX
The final brand to feature in our helpful lighting equipment guide is QTX. A brand that is known globally for their excellent range of sound and lighting equipment that is suitable for both personal and professional performances. They feature an excellent build quality, with reliable electronics that have been built to last.
QTX LED Par Bar System
The QTX LED Par Bar Lighting Effect System is highly portable and includes four par can effects, with RGBW colours, for washing a wall, ceiling, dance floor, or stage in vibrant colours. This all-in-one lighting effects system is great for mobile DJs/entertainers as well as bands, musicians, live performers, stages, bar venues, and events productions thanks to the excellent portability and range of functionalities.
The LED Par Bar System is equipped with four par can lights which are each fitted with 12 LEDs, three red, three blue, three green, and three white, which provides you with brilliant colour mixing capabilities, and enables you to blend between various colour combinations smoothly.
| LED PAR Bar Video |
The system comes with a range of operational modes which allows you to use the light in various manners. Included is an automatic mode which runs through several pre-programmed light shows, sound-to-light mode, and a strobe mode that creates an exciting flashing effect that is sure to energise your audience.
The LED Par Bar System also features DMX control, so when connected to a DMX controller you can generate your own customised light shows. The supplied IR remote can be used to wirelessly control various modes and settings from the touch of a button.
QTX Gobo Starwash Multi Light Effect
The QTX Starwash Gobo is a compact 3-in-1 lighting effect that comes equipped with five coloured moving Gobo projections, five LED colour washes, and a dual-colour multi-point laser. This gives you a full lighting system with a small footprint and a great number of professional functions.
Thanks to the excellent range of features and vibrant lighting effects this lighting system is perfect for small club and bar venues, mobile entertainers/DJs, music venues, bands, musicians, live performers, events productions, and house parties. This combo lighting effect is one of the best lighting effects available within its price bracket.
The Gobo projection effect is equipped with five 3w LEDs that offers red, green, blue, white, and yellow colours while the wash lighting effect is fitted with five 1w LEDs, also with red, green, blue, white, and yellow colours. The multi-laser effect is equipped with a 100mW 650nm red laser diode as well as a 30mW 532nm green laser diode.
The Starwash Gobo comes with two operational modes, an automatic mode which runs through several pre-programmed light shows and a sound-activated mode that uses an integrated microphone to make the light dance along to the sound of your music. You can also control the light wirelessly by using the supplied infrared remote control or using the navigational buttons on the rear panel.
Overall
As you have read, there is a vast range of lighting effect units available for 2014. We hope this guide has provided you with a little more insight as to what is out there and help you gain an understanding of what would enhance your performance, Club, Bar or venue.
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