Your Feedback

Moving Heads and Scanners

lightmaXX Vector BSW 10R MkII Moving Head
Multi-Purpose Moving Head Light
DKK 7,457.00
To Product
Showtec Phantom 130 Spot
A medium-sized powerful moving head
DKK 7,195.00
To Product

Moving Heads – Types, Features & Buyer’s Guide

Moving heads bring motion and dynamic visual effects to any lighting setup. Here you will find everything you should know about these fixtures before buying.

General Information About Moving Heads

Not long ago, moving heads were used mainly on large professional stages — their moving-beam effects have always fascinated audiences, but the fixtures were too expensive for small events or private users. Fortunately, technology has advanced: today you can find modern, high-performance moving heads at accessible prices.

A key selling point of moving heads is their ability to rotate smoothly and continuously — horizontally (Pan) and vertically (Tilt). This makes it possible to target specific areas and create dynamic motion effects. Thanks to DMX control, operation is flexible and precise.

In most setups, moving heads complement static lighting such as spots and floodlights.

Typical applications include:

  • Concert stages
  • Clubs and nightlife venues
  • Theatre productions
  • Film and television studios
  • Live events and shows
Chauvet DJ moving head fixture in action
Moving Head / Spot (Chauvet DJ Intimidator Spot 360)

Construction and Variants

To use moving heads effectively, it's helpful to understand their basic components:

  • Base: Contains electronics, motors, power input and DMX ports.
  • Yoke: The arm connecting the base and head; responsible for horizontal movement.
  • Head: Houses the light source, colour and gobo systems, and controls vertical movement.

Several types of moving heads exist — the ideal choice depends on your application:

  • Spot Head: A spot moving head produces a sharply defined beam. Perfect for precise accent lighting and gobo projection. Also known as a “Profiler”.
  • Wash Head: Also called wash lights. They offer softer beam edges and wide coverage, ideal for atmospheric washes.
  • Beam Head: Beam moving heads project extremely narrow, focused beams — excellent for mid-air effects, especially with hazers.
  • Hybrid Head: Hybrid units combine spot, wash and beam characteristics in one fixture.
Moving heads with gobo effects
Moving heads with gobo projection (example: Showtec Shark Spot One).

Light Sources

Today, LED light sources dominate modern moving heads. Their advantages include:

  • High energy efficiency
  • Long operating life
  • Direct colour mixing (no colour wheels required)

However, some lighting professionals still prefer discharge lamps due to higher light output and nuances in colour rendering, especially with mixed tones and pure white.

lightmaXX LED moving head in use
LED moving head in practice: lightmaXX VEGA BEAM 1.0

Special Features

Most moving heads offer far more than basic movement. Below are some commonly found features — if one is important to you, check for it when selecting a model.

  • Operating Modes

    • Standalone: Operates independently without external control.
    • Master/Slave: Multiple fixtures can be linked and synced.
    • Sound-to-Light: Automatically reacts to audio signals and generates effects in rhythm with the music.
  • Strobe: Classic rapid flashing effect, widely used in clubs, festivals and shows.
  • Dimmer: Smooth intensity control for subtle or powerful lighting moods.
  • Shutter: Narrows or blocks parts of the beam for precise focus; sometimes also functions as a dimmer.
Eurolite TMH-X4 moving head wash zoom with strobe
Wash moving head with integrated strobe effect: Eurolite TMH-X4 Moving Head Wash Zoom

▲ Back to table of contents