No club or dance floor could ever be complete without a strobe light. Bright, intense and lightning fast, these lights are able to create a hypnotic slow-motion effect. Short for stroboscope and getting its name from the Greek for swirl (strobos) and 'to look' (skopein), this stuttering, motion-warping special effect is able to create the illusion of time standing still and moving in slo-mo.
The Strobe Effect
The bulb of a strobe flashes at a high tempo to conjure what's referred to as the 'cinematic effect' where time seems to stand still or move in slow motion.
Strobe Lights: What You Need to Know
Non-LED strobe bulbs are fitted with a flash tube, which are less efficient than LED bulbs and need to be replaced regularly. When you're picking out your strobe light, make sure to get one that's big enough to flood the space. So if you're lighting up your living room, go smaller, and if you're lighting up a club dance floor, go bigger. For the perfect atmospheric combo, you could team up a UV-light shedding black light with your strobe.
LED Strobe Lights: Energy Efficient
Compared to traditional strobe bulbs, LED strobe bulbs are around ten-times more energy efficient, meaning that the bulb barely gets hot, has a longer lifespan and is even more fire safe. Strobe lights can be controlled via a specialised strobe lighting controller or using a DMX lighting console.
Picking Out Your Strobe Light
The kind of strobe you'll need depends on the kind of party or event you're putting on. If you're throwing a house party, then a small standalone strobe will probably do the trick. If you're kitting out a club dance floor or venue, then you're likely to need a bigger strobe - you might even need more than one, and you might need to be able to suspend them from the ceiling or mount them on a wall or truss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Strobe Lights
What is a strobe light?
In the world of lighting effects, the strobe light is a fast flashing light that creates an optical illusion, making dancers look like they're throwing shapes in slow motion.
What's a strobe effect?
A strobe light, set up somewhere like a club or live venue, is a fast flashing light that makes anything moving look like it's frozen in time for a fraction of a second, creating a slow-motion effect.
