Movinghead

A moving head is a type of intelligent stage lighting fixture mounted on a motorized yoke that enables continuous pan and tilt. This capability allows the light to be aimed and re-aimed remotely during a show, enabling dynamic beam positions, targeted spot effects, and broad washes without manual repositioning.

Most moving heads incorporate a controllable light source (discharge lamps or LEDs), optics for beam shaping, and mechanisms for color, gobos, iris, and focus. Common features include color wheels or LED color mixing, gobo patterns (including rotating gobos), prisms, iris, zoom or focus control, and sometimes frost for softer edges. Control interfaces typically include DMX512, Art-Net, and sACN, with some units offering standalone operation or internal programs. Many fixtures support remote management and configuration through RDM, and aim for fast movement and quiet operation.

There are two broad categories: moving head spots and moving head washes. Spot fixtures emphasize bright, well-defined beams with gobos and precise projection, while wash fixtures provide broader, softer illumination with smooth color transitions. Hybrid fixtures combine features of both. In practice, moving heads are mounted on trusses, stands, or podiums and controlled from lighting desks or software, with cues, chases, and effects coordinating pan and tilt along with color, gobo, and beam shaping changes.

Historically, moving heads emerged in the late 20th century as part of the evolution of intelligent lighting and became standard in concerts, theatres, clubs, and large venues. They enable complex lighting designs and programmable shows, but require trained operation and regular maintenance, including lamp or LED replacement, cleaning, and electrical checks.