12 x 12W RGBWAU Pixel Bar with barndoor

Hire PIXBAR12H — 12 x 12W RGBWAU Pixel Bar with Barndoor

The PIXBAR12H is a 1050mm linear LED bar with twelve individually addressable RGBWAU cells — red, green, blue, white, amber, and UV in each position — and a barndoor to control spill. It is one of the most versatile fixtures in the Edwards hire fleet because it has no fixed orientation and no fixed role. Point it at a cyc, lay it on the floor, hang it vertically on a totem, aim it at the audience, use it as a shin buster at stage level, or run it as an architectural uplight on a wall or pillar. All of those are legitimate uses and all of them look good. Hire code PIXBAR12H.

The bars are stocked in cases of six, but you hire the quantity you need rather than the full case. One bar, two bars, four bars — whatever the application requires. The hire team will advise on quantity based on the coverage area and the intended use.

At 2,050 lux at 2 metres with all six colour channels at full output, the PIXBAR12H is not a primary key light for a stage wash from any significant distance. It is a colour, texture, and atmosphere fixture, and within that role it is extremely capable. The twelve individual cells can be controlled as a single colour source, as two or three zones, or as twelve completely independent pixels for chases, gradients, and dynamic effects that run across the length of the bar. The PWM frequency of 12,000Hz is the highest in the Edwards LED hire fleet, so flicker is not a concern for camera use even though RGBWAU colour mixing makes it unsuitable as a primary key light on a presenter.

Fanless and completely silent. At 4.5kg per unit it is easy to position, reposition, and carry. Frost filter included alongside the barndoor.

Key specifications:

• 12 x 12W RGBWAU 4-in-1 LEDs per bar
• Beam angle: 30 degrees standard, 55 degrees with optional lens
• Output: 2,050 lux at 2m, all channels full
• PWM: 12,000Hz
• Dimming: 4 x 16-bit dimming curves
• Strobe: 1-30Hz
• DMX modes: 3, 4, 4A, 8, 12, 24, 72, or 74 channels
• Operation modes: DMX, manual, auto, sound-active, master/slave, multi-fixture chase
• Display: 4-button LCD control panel
• Power: True1 in/out, 150W
• Control: 3-pin and 5-pin XLR in/out
• Barndoor: included
• Frost filter: included
• Cooling: fanless, completely silent
• Length: 1050mm
• Weight: 4.5kg per bar
• Stocked in cases of 6, hire any quantity

What It's Used For

The list is genuinely long. The PIXBAR12H is the fixture that fills the gaps in a rig — the positions where a fresnel is too much, a PAR can is too limited, and nothing else quite fits. Here is how Edwards sees it used most often.

Cyc and backdrop wash. Laid on the stage floor pointing upward at a cyclorama or stretch fabric backdrop, one to three PIXBAR12H units wash the full width of the backdrop in any colour or colour gradient. The twelve individual cells allow horizontal colour mixing across the backdrop width — warm to cool, brand colour to neutral, or a multi-colour split — without multiple separate fixtures being aimed from different positions. This is the most common use in theatre and corporate stage production.

Stage front wash and shin busters. Positioned at the very front edge of the stage floor, pointing upward at the performers, the PIXBAR12H provides a low-angle colour wash that complements overhead lighting with a direction and character that overhead fixtures cannot produce. Theatre lighting designers call these shin busters; the low angle catches the face and body from below, adding dimension and colour that sits differently from anything coming from above. For dance, performance art, and entertainment events, this is a standard technique.

Audience blinder. Pointed horizontally at the audience from the stage edge or a truss position, the PIXBAR12H at full white output creates a blinder effect that whites out the audience's vision momentarily during a reveal or a transition. At partial output it creates a warm wash across the front rows for photograph-friendly audience lighting during award presentations and gala dinners. The barndoor controls how wide and how far the beam travels into the room.

Backlight and top light on stage. Positioned above and behind the performer area pointing downward or slightly forward, the PIXBAR12H adds a colour wash backlight that separates performers and presenters from the backdrop and adds depth to the stage picture. This is the same role as a traditional PAR can top light but with the full RGBWAU colour range and pixel control across the bar's length.

Architectural uplighting on walls and pillars. On a stand or floor-mounted at the base of a wall, column, or architectural feature, the PIXBAR12H washes the surface in colour from below. The 1050mm length covers a wide base area in a single bar, and the barndoor controls spill onto adjacent surfaces. For corporate venue theming and gala dinner room colour, a series of PIXBAR12H units spaced along the walls gives an even, controllable colour wash that the smaller PAR can uplights cannot match in uniformity.

Totem mounting for overhead wash. Hung horizontally from an Edwards truss totem stand, the PIXBAR12H points downward over a stage or dance floor area as an overhead colour wash. Multiple bars on a totem cover a wider area and the pixel control allows chase effects to run across the combined length of the bars. This is a cost-effective alternative to a full truss wash when only one or two totem positions are needed.

Vertical side light on a totem or stand. Mounted vertically on a stand or totem at the side of the stage, the PIXBAR12H becomes a vertical colour bar — a visual feature of the rig as much as a practical light source. The twelve cells running vertically can chase upward or downward, pulse, or hold a static colour gradient from bottom to top. Used in pairs on each side of a stage, vertical PIXBAR12H units frame the stage picture and add production value with minimal footprint.

DJ and entertainment events. In sound-active or auto mode with no controller, the PIXBAR12H responds to music and runs its own built-in colour programs. Two bars on the front of a DJ booth or along a stage front edge add professional-looking colour and movement to a small event without requiring a lighting desk or an operator.

DMX Channel Modes and Pixel Control

The channel mode determines how much control is available over the individual cells. This needs to be set correctly before the event begins because changing it mid-rig requires the controller to be reprogrammed.

In 3-channel mode the entire bar operates as a single RGB colour source. Simple, low channel count, and entirely appropriate for events where the bar is used as a static or slowly changing colour wash with no chase effects required.

In 24-channel mode each of the twelve cells has two-channel RGBW control as a group of three, allowing zone-based colour differences across the bar's length without full per-cell addressing.

In 72-channel mode each of the twelve cells has full six-channel RGBWAU independent control. This is the pixel control mode that allows gradients, chases, and moving effects to run across the bar. It requires more DMX channels per fixture so the total channel count grows quickly across multiple bars; confirm the controller's universe capacity before specifying a large number of bars in 72-channel mode.

The QuickQ20 (QUICKQ20) handles the PIXBAR12H in all modes including full pixel control. The Wolfmix W1 MK2 (WOLFMIX) handles the bar in its simpler modes and provides good beat-synced colour and chase effects without requiring full pixel programming.

Frequently Asked Questions — PIXBAR12H Hire

How many bars do I need?

It depends entirely on the application. For a cyc or backdrop wash on a standard school or corporate stage, two to three bars laid at the base of the cyc cover the full width evenly. For audience blinders across a stage front, two bars end-to-end cover most corporate stage widths. For architectural wall uplighting in a ballroom, one bar per 1.5 to 2 metres of wall length gives even coverage. The Edwards hire team can advise on quantity once the application and venue dimensions are known.

Can I hire just one bar rather than a full case of six?

Yes. The bars are stocked in cases of six for convenience and transport, but you hire the quantity you need. One bar, two bars, or any number up to the full case are all available. If you need more than six, contact the hire team to check availability of additional cases.

Is it suitable for use on camera or in a broadcast event?

The 12,000Hz PWM makes the PIXBAR12H technically flicker-free at any camera frame rate, so flicker is not a concern. The consideration is that RGBWAU colour mixing produces a colour that cameras render differently from white light sources, so it is not appropriate as a primary key light on a presenter or performer being shot on camera. As a background colour wash, cyc light, side light, or audience blinder it is entirely suitable and will not cause flicker issues in the recorded image.

What is the UV channel used for?

The UV element in each cell produces ultraviolet output that makes fluorescent and UV-reactive materials glow. For events with UV-reactive decor, white clothing, or fluorescent set pieces, the UV channel adds a dimension that purely visible-spectrum fixtures cannot produce. The UV output is controllable independently of the visible colours, so it can be blended in at any level alongside the RGBW colour mix.

Can the barndoor be used to restrict the beam?

Yes. The included barndoor attaches to the front of the bar and its four independently adjustable blades control how far the beam travels in each direction. This is useful for audience blinder applications where the beam needs to be kept off the ceiling, for cyc wash applications where floor spill needs to be controlled, and for architectural uplighting where adjacent surfaces need to be kept clean.

Is delivery and setup available?

Yes. At 4.5kg per bar the PIXBAR12H is one of the more manageable fixtures in the fleet for self-collect hires. For events with multiple bars in complex positions, or where the bars are being mounted on totems or overhead, delivery and setup by an Edwards technician ensures correct positioning and DMX addressing. Contact the hire team at hire@edwardsnz.co.nz or (09) 571 0551 to discuss your event.