’ve long argued that lighting isn’t just an optional extra – it’s the heartbeat of the atmosphere. We’ve all been in those venues that feel a bit flat until the first wash of colour hits the walls. Over the years, I’ve lugged around every kind of fixture imaginable, from heavy, rattling PAR cans to temperamental moving heads that require a degree in engineering just to sync. 86 However, the new ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX has genuinely made me rethink my entire approach to dancefloor aesthetics.

After putting a full set through its paces at a string of weddings and corporate gigs recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that this might be the most versatile kit I’ve ever used. It’s certainly the most user-friendly. When the kit first arrived, I wasn’t just looking at a single light to test. ApeLabs sent over the professional six-piece TourBox, which is clearly designed for the working pro who needs a showin-a box solution.

Opening the lid for the first time was an experience in itself. You’re greeted by six of the Neon Tube PIX units, each a metre long, nestled in a rugged, IP65-rated flight case. Accompanying them are six dedicated mini tripod stands, which are crucial for those of us who need to position lights vertically on the floor without faffing about with clamps or unsightly gaffa tape. The real star of the unboxing, however, was the charging case itself.

For a mobile DJ, the “packdown” is often the most painful part of the night, but this case simplifies everything. You don’t have to plug in six individual power leads; you just slot the tubes back into their moulded foam homes, and the integrated charging electronics take over. One mains plug from the case to the wall, and the whole set is topped up for the next gig. It’s a level of efficiency that saves me 20 minutes of cablecoiling at 1am, time that is precious.

The first thing you notice when you get these tubes out in the field is the form factor. At a metre long but only 4cm thick, they are incredibly slim compared to the older “Stick” range. For those of us who are tired of playing Tetris with the van, the lightweight polycarbonate build is a massive win. But don’t let the weight fool you; they feel solid, and the aluminium end -caps give them a premium finish that won’t look out of place at a high-end corporate event or a minimalist art gallery.

The aesthetic is very clean – there are no distracting buttons or menu screens on the side of the tube to ruin the lines. This is a godsend when you’re working a rustic barn one day and a sleek, modern hotel ballroom the next. They just blend into the architecture. Once you power them up, the real magic happens in the pixel control.

We’re talking 32 individually controllable segments per tube. Instead of just a solid block of colour, you get these beautifully smooth gradients and chases that look far more professional than your standard budget LED bar. APELABS NEON PIX The 180-degree beam angle is They ’ve even a smart choice, too – it fills the storage for your space with a soft, neon-style a lovely glow without those distracting you’re switching hotspots you often get with and a phone. cheaper fixtures.

I had a couple of videographers comment on how The headline clean the light looked on camera us, though, during a wedding breakfast life. ApeLabs recently. Being flicker-free is a in my experience, huge plus for anyone filming the I ran the full first dance for a highlight reel; day-to-evening there is nothing worse than a ceremony right client’s professional video being song – and didn’t ruined by strobing light bands a single power across the screen. cable clutter makes the In terms of colour, the addition of times more warm white to the RGB mix is a frequent use game-changer.

Many LED tubes mode. During struggle with natural tones, often need the tubes looking a bit too clinical or blue I dimmed them when you try to create a relaxed This not only mood. With the PIX, you can go the guests but from vibrant, saturated partyplenty of oomph mode purples to a sophisticated, dancefloor fills candle-lit amber for the wedding speeches with a single tap. The The versatility colour rendering is excellent, the TourBox meaning that when you use The included these for skin-tone lighting or revelation; I cake highlights, everything looks some large stone exactly as it should. house venue, are so small, Control is where ApeLabs usually invisible.

On wins people over, and this setup is built-in magnets no different. I mostly found myself tubes on to the using the Connect unit and the DJ booth, creating app on my phone for quick tweaks that looked between sets. The app is intuitive photos. I’ve and Let's you group the six lights with hanging however you like.

For instance, I’ve a more industrial had four tubes doing a slow, warm are so light, you amber fade while the other two duty rigging to accent the DJ booth in a sharp, air. This flexibility static white – all controlled from time I walk into my pocket while I’m chatting with look at the space the client. For the lighting nerds use the Neons among us, the wireless DMX integration is rock solid. It is worth MusikMode as You can go as deep as you want, sound-to-light right up to 128-channel mode if fixtures can you’re looking to do some serious random, the PIX programming. musical in how APELABS NEON PIX apelabs neon pix included cloud It doesn’t just flash; it pulses and settings, which is flows in a way that feels intentional peace-of-mind feature if and rhythmic.

Combined with the between a tablet free Connect App – and I do love that they don’t hide features behind a subscription – it’s a very feature for most of complete package. will be the battery claims 15 hours, and, So, is the ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX that’s bang on. TourBox worth the investment? It’s set of six for a full certainly not the cheapest system wedding – from the on the market, but you really do through to the final get what you pay for here.

You have to hunt for aren’t just buying six lights; you’re outlet. That lack of buying a complete, professional around the dancefloor ecosystem that is weatherproof, whole setup look ten wireless, and incredibly easy to professional. I also made manage. Between the German of the Power Save build quality, the sophisticated the speeches, I didn't 32-segment pixel effects, and at full brightness, so that marathon battery life, it’s a down via the app. tool that genuinely makes my job sets a better mood for easier and my show look better. ensures you’ve got If you’re a mobile DJ looking left for when the to elevate your lighting game up. without adding hours to your setup time, the Neon Tube PIX in the field is where 6-pack is, quite simply, the best in really pays for itself. its class.

It’s moved from being a mini tripods were a nice-to-have to an essential part used them to up-light of my rig, and I can’t imagine pillars in a manor going back to wired bars. and, because they they were virtually another gig, I used the to snap a couple of metal frame of my a glowing frame incredible in the event even experimented them from eyelets for look. Because they don’t need heavyget them up in the means that every a new venue, I can and find a way to differently. mentioning the well.

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