While strobe lights are most common on the dance floor, they can be valuable in the artist’s studio too. You can use these lamps, which produce regular pulses of light, to enhance photography, add flashing effects to your installations, and even create sensory experiences—just please be mindful about the potential to trigger migraines or, worse, seizures. Choosing the right strobe light can be overwhelming, since models can have an abundance of technical features. Ahead, consider what we think are your best options.
1. EcoStrobe Stage Strobe Light
Our top pick is simple to operate and budget friendly, and it packs a lot of features. Although it’s a box that measures just about 6.5 by 4 by 2 inches, it is powerful: The lighting surface features 108 60-watt-equivalent LED bulbs that emit superbright light in 7 colors (including white, blue, red, and purple). A knob on the back allows you to adjust the flash frequency, while another activates the sound sensing feature, which sets the flashing to the beat of nearby music or other sound. You can also use the included remote control to adjust the settings on this strobe, which responds without fail.
2. Roxant Pro Mini LED Strobe Light
This is a great strobe if you need a basic, pulsing white light for prolonged use. It can run for hours, yet its metal construction somehow stays cool to the touch. Like our top pick, it is ultracompact in design, fitting anywhere and traveling everywhere with ease; it weighs less than 7 ounces. And a hinged handle means you can easily angle it wherever you like. It is slightly dimmer than the EcoStrobe, though, featuring just 24 LED bulbs; some artists might actually prefer this. The flash rate range is wide and easily controlled by a variable-speed knob on the back.
3. Litake Party Lights Disco Ball
If you’re searching for a strobe light that projects eye-catching designs, look no further than this model, which features a dome faceted like a disco ball. This produces kaleidoscopic light patterns in a variety of color combinations that flash at your chosen speed. Control the 7 colors and the flash speed with the included remote. Sold in a pack of 2, this economical option takes up little room, measuring 3.5 inches across, but it’s capable of covering an impressively large area. We like that you can place it flat on the floor to cast light over the ceiling and walls, or place it on its base, which doubles as a handle, and angle it to your ideal position.
4. ADJ Products DMX Strobe
This strobe light, which measures about 19 inches long, is the most powerful option among our picks. It’s built with 800-watt lights that can be dimmed from 0 to 100 percent, and it can fill a large room entirely with bright white light. It can also sync to the beat of any song, and you can change the speed by turning a control knob on the unit’s back. Built like a tank, this model also features a front grille to protect the delicate components inside. Impressively, it weighs only about 5 pounds and comes with a handle for portability.