Manufacturer Spotlight: Ayrton Lighting

Manufacturer Spotlight: Ayrton Lighting

Ayrton Lighting — Precision, Power, and Performance Without Compromise

Some manufacturers follow trends.

Others create them.

Ayrton firmly belongs in the second category.

Founded in 2001 just outside Paris, France, Ayrton was born from a collaboration between lighting professionals, technologists, and industrial designers who shared one goal: push intelligent lighting further than anyone else thought possible. More than two decades later, that mindset still defines the brand and explains why Ayrton fixtures are consistently specified for television studios, theatres, arenas, and high-profile live events worldwide.

At Starlite, we do more than sell Ayrton. We invest in it. Not only do we offer Ayrton as a rental option, but we trust them for our own productions and events. 

A Brand Built on Engineering and Intention

Ayrton’s name and iconic yellow color are a tribute to legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, a nod that feels particularly fitting once you understand the company’s design philosophy. Like elite motorsports engineering, Ayrton fixtures balance raw power with precision control, efficiency, and reliability.

From day one, Ayrton has focused on intelligent LED lighting for entertainment and architectural applications. Their in-house R&D team brings together experts in mechanical, electronic, and software engineering who translate avant-garde concepts into fixtures that are not only innovative, but field-proven.

That is why Ayrton luminaires are a regular presence on productions that demand accuracy, repeatability, and absolute confidence night after night.

Sustainability Through Longevity

Ayrton’s commitment does not stop at innovation. The company places real emphasis on product lifecycle support, offering technical documentation, maintenance guidance, and service training through its distribution network. Even discontinued products remain supported with accessible documentation, helping extend usable life and reduce unnecessary replacement.

In an industry where fixtures are expected to perform for years under demanding conditions, that long-view approach matters.

From EYECOLOR to Rivale: A History of Firsts

Ayrton’s first fixture, the EYECOLOR, debuted in 2002 and immediately set the tone. Equipped with 192 LEDs, it delivered rich color without complex mechanical systems, a radical idea at the time. That same spirit of simplification through smarter engineering has guided the product line ever since.

From early innovations to today’s advanced profile, beam, and wash fixtures, Ayrton has continuously refined effects, optics, color systems, and movement accuracy. The result is a portfolio that does not chase gimmicks, but instead raises the baseline for what professionals expect from intelligent lighting.

Why Starlite Chooses Ayrton

At Starlite, we make it a point to buy into the fixtures we sell. If we are recommending a product to our clients, it is because we believe in its performance, durability, and long-term value. Ayrton checks all of those boxes.

Two fixtures in particular have earned a permanent place in our lighting inventory and on our projects: the Ayrton Veloce Profile and the Khamsin S Profile.

Ayrton Veloce Profile: Precision with Authority

Veloce Profile is a luminaire that feels purpose-built for designers who want control without compromise.

Its proprietary 13-lens optical system delivers a massive 13:1 zoom range, from a razor-sharp 4° beam to a wide 52° field. The 180 mm front lens produces an ultra-intensive beam that cuts cleanly through haze and distance, making it equally at home on large stages and detailed scenic applications.

Color is where Veloce truly shines. The single-layer CMY color mixing system with ultra-fast, high-definition discs delivers saturated, punchy color with exceptional consistency. A progressive CTO allows smooth adjustment from 2900 K to 6500 K, while a seven-position color wheel adds flexibility for creative accents. For applications demanding accurate color reproduction, the CRI can be finely adjusted from 70 to 86.

Add to that an ultra-precise framing module capable of isolating objects anywhere in the beam with surgical accuracy, and you have a fixture that rewards both technical discipline and creative risk-taking.

We proudly send Veloce Profile out on tours and productions through our rental division because we know it performs exactly as expected, every time.

If you are interested in adding Veloce Profile to your next project, our team is ready to help you spec or rent the right solution.

Ayrton Khamsin: Compact Power That Turns Heads

Khamsin is what happens when Ayrton decides to squeeze extraordinary output into a remarkably compact form factor.

By completely redesigning the internal structure and using cast aluminum sides, Ayrton delivered a fixture that packs serious horsepower without excess bulk. The Khamsin S version delivers up to 40,000 lumens with a 7000 K color temperature, while the Khamsin TC version prioritizes color accuracy with a CRI greater than 90 and outstanding TM-30 performance.

The proprietary 13-lens optical system provides an 8:1 zoom range from 7° to 58°, producing an even, flat beam with no hot spots and exceptional image clarity. Whether you are running gobos, prisms, or clean texture, the output remains consistent and controlled.

Khamsin’s effects package is extensive: dual rotating gobo wheels, animation effects, rotating prisms, iris, frost options, and a full CMY color mixing system with variable CTO. Framing shutters allow precise shaping across the entire beam, regardless of fixture position.

Designed for arenas, stadiums, and major event venues, Khamsin is equally impressive in television and broadcast environments thanks to flicker-free source management.

Despite its power, the fixture weighs approximately 87.7 pounds, making it surprisingly manageable for its output class.

A Longstanding Partnership

Starlite has been an authorized Ayrton dealer for many years, and that relationship continues because the product consistently delivers. Whether you are purchasing for a permanent installation, specifying for a touring system, or sourcing fixtures through our rental inventory, our team has hands-on experience with Ayrton’s lineup.

If you are interested in any Ayrton products, from profiles to washes and beyond, we are ready to support you from specification through deployment.

Ayrton is not just a manufacturer we represent. It is a manufacturer we rely on.

And that makes all the difference.

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Allen & Heath Consoles: Why Starlite Trusts Their Digital and Analog Mixers for Rentals & Installations

Allen & Heath Consoles: Why Starlite Trusts Their Digital and Analog Mixers for Rentals & Installations

Manufacturer Spotlight: Allen & Heath – Consoles We Trust

 

At Starlite, we understand that in professional audio, the quality of a mixer defines the entire system’s performance. Whether we’re supporting a live corporate event, equipping a school auditorium, or integrating a new sound system into a performance venue, reliability, flexibility, and sonic transparency are non-negotiable. That’s why Allen & Heath consoles remain a cornerstone of both our rental inventory and our Systems Integration designs.

From their handcrafted analog roots in the London music scene to today’s state-of-the-art digital mixing platforms, Allen & Heath has built a reputation for precision engineering, intuitive user experience, and unmatched build quality. These values align perfectly with Starlite’s mission to deliver excellence in every AV project.

A Legacy of Innovation in Audio

Founded in 1969, Allen & Heath emerged at the forefront of Britain’s audio engineering revolution, building custom mixers for bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, and The Who. These early designs established the company’s reputation for clean signal paths, robust circuitry, and innovative ergonomics, traits that continue to define their modern consoles.

More than five decades later, Allen & Heath remains an industry benchmark. Their digital console range represents a new era in live sound technology, capable of sub-millisecond latency and unparalleled DSP power. Designed, developed, and tested in Cornwall, UK, every console is shaped by real-world engineering feedback from active touring professionals, ensuring performance that meets the demands of both live and installed environments.

Their philosophy, “heritage, innovation, and a mission to just keep doing it better,” continues to drive their evolution from classic analog desks to advanced networked digital systems.

Why Starlite Relies on Allen & Heath

At Starlite, we’ve chosen Allen & Heath for the same reason top touring engineers and integrators do: consistency, versatility, and sound integrity.

In our rental inventory, we feature consoles designed to excel under demanding conditions:

Avantis 64-Input Digital Mixer 

Powered by the 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine, Avantis delivers exceptional sonic performance with ultra-low 0.7ms latency. Its dual 15.6” HD touchscreens and Continuity UI streamline navigation, while the full metal chassis ensures durability on the road. Integrated dLive-class processing, flexible bus architecture, and seamless Shure and Sennheiser RF integration make it a trusted choice for corporate AV, broadcast, and high-end live productions.

SQ Series Mixers

The SQ series bridges touring-grade processing with a compact form factor. With 48 input channels, DEEP processing architecture, 12 stereo mixes, and 64×64 I/O audio networking, these consoles are ideal for mid-scale performance spaces and educational installations. They provide powerful features like multitrack recording via USB and integration with Dante or SLink expanders—enabling scalable, networked audio solutions.

ZEDi-10FX & GL2200

For smaller venues, mobile productions, and hybrid analog setups, the ZEDi-10FX offers a studio-grade preamp design and USB interface capabilities, while the GL2200 remains a touring classic, valued for its warm, transparent analog sound and bulletproof reliability. Together, they showcase Allen & Heath’s commitment to versatility—from compact mixers to flagship consoles.

These systems allow our technicians and clients alike to experience accurate, consistent audio performance whether mixing a theatrical production, a graduation ceremony, or a high-profile corporate presentation.

Designed for Live, Installation, and Education

Beyond live production, Allen & Heath has become a leader in fixed installation audio. The AHM series matrix processors (including the AHM-64, AHM-32, and AHM-16) bring high-end digital signal processing and networked audio control to a variety of environments from schools and houses-of-worship to restaurants, hotels, and boardrooms.

Their consoles and processors integrate natively with Dante, AES67, and Allen & Heath’s ecosystem of expanders and controllers, making them ideal for flexible AV systems. These tools empower integrators to deliver scalable, user-friendly audio systems that can grow with an organization’s needs.

For our integration team, Allen & Heath represents the perfect blend of technical sophistication and practical usability. Educators and operators appreciate the intuitive interface, while professional engineers value the advanced processing headroom and precision mixing capabilities. 

Training, Support, and Community for AV Professionals

Allen & Heath develops exceptional technology and builds a community around it. Their global training programs, certification courses, and in-person workshops help engineers and operators expand their technical expertise. Whether through online tutorials or direct manufacturer support, users gain the confidence to maximize every feature of their console.

This dedication to education mirrors Starlite’s own philosophy: empowering clients with the tools and knowledge to achieve the best results from their AV systems.

Allen & Heath: Learning and Education

Trusted for Rentals, Installations, and Beyond

From the compact ZEDi Series to the flagship dLive and Avantis platforms, Allen & Heath continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in live sound and system integration. At Starlite, we trust their consoles because they’ve proven themselves time and again—delivering stability, sonic excellence, and future-ready flexibility for every project we take on.

Whether you’re managing a performance venue, upgrading a school auditorium, or producing a corporate event, Allen & Heath provides the foundation for reliable, professional-grade sound.

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Manufacturer Spotlight: MA Lighting – Rethinking Intelligent Lighting Control

Manufacturer Spotlight: MA Lighting – Rethinking Intelligent Lighting Control

Manufacturer Spotlight: MA Lighting

In the fast-evolving world of professional lighting control, where artistry intersects with cutting-edge engineering, only a few companies can claim to have true staying power. MA Lighting is one of them. Founded in 1983 by Michael Adenau, MA Lighting has grown from a passionate German start-up into an international powerhouse of innovation. Today, they are the benchmark for lighting control. As specialists in computer-controlled lighting consoles and networking components, MA Lighting has carved out a reputation for building systems that professionals trust with their biggest moments.

At Starlite, we’re proud to be a longtime authorized dealer of MA Lighting products. We don’t just sell MA, we believe in it. We rely on their consoles in our own inventory, recommend their products to our clients, and invest in their ecosystem because it delivers on what our world demands: scale, precision, dependability, and vision.

This spotlight is both a nod to a brand and an acknowledgment of a philosophy — one that’s helping us all reimagine what intelligent lighting control can be.

Beyond the Console: A Philosophy of Innovation

What sets MA Lighting apart is not just the gear — it’s the mindset.

MA Lighting believes that “the whole is much bigger than the sum of its parts.” That mindset isn’t a catchphrase, it’s their company motto. It’s a working principle that radiates through every product, software update, training video, and interaction. It’s what drives them to develop control systems that don’t just keep pace with industry demands, but actively shape them for the human world. 

Their mission is grounded in deep collaboration with lighting professionals around the world. MA Lighting products are built for real-world application: live concert tours, broadcast sets, immersive theatrical experiences, corporate installations, architectural lighting, and more. No matter the venue or vision, the control platform is designed to empower creativity and deliver consistency under pressure.

When we talk about intelligent lighting control, we mean systems that adapt to you, scale with you, and evolve with the craft. That’s why MA Lighting is worth spotlighting — because they don’t just build consoles; they build the future of consoles.

Think MA Lighting technology could elevate your next project? Chat with our team

The GrandMA Legacy: From Pioneer to Industry Pillar

To understand MA Lighting’s impact, you need to understand the legacy of the grandMA series.

Since its inception, grandMA consoles have set the bar for power and reliability in lighting control. Trusted across disciplines — from Broadway to Olympic ceremonies, from stadium tours to television studios — the grandMA name has become synonymous with precision, scalability, and performance.

But in January 2018, MA Lighting launched something more than a product upgrade. They introduced a radical rethink of the entire lighting control experience.

Enter: The grandMA3

grandMA3: A Radical Rethink of What’s Possible

The grandMA3 series was both  new console andan entirely new architecture, purpose-built for a new era of intuitive control.

At its core, the grandMA3 represents a bold reimagining of how lighting professionals interact with technology. From fixture handling to effect generation, everything has been reconsidered with the end-user in mind. The result is a system that is more intuitive, more powerful, and more connected than ever before.

Key Innovations:

 

  • New System Architecture: The grandMA3 platform introduces a unified, scalable system designed to support complex installations and productions. This includes a complete overhaul of fixture, feature, and effects handling for more efficient programming.
  • Enhanced UI & Workflow: The interface features multiple touchscreens, multi-user workflows, and a streamlined approach to task navigation — making even the most demanding shows easier to manage.
  • Vector-Based 3D Visualizer: An integrated 3D visualization tool allows programmers to simulate and adjust in a virtual space, saving time and ensuring accuracy in complex setups.
  • Parameter Power: The grandMA3 full-size console offers up to 250,000 parameters, supporting the largest lighting networks imaginable without breaking a sweat.
  • Backwards Compatibility: MA Lighting knows that no transition happens overnight. The grandMA3 series supports grandMA2 showfiles, giving professionals a smoother learning curve and gradual transition path.

The bottom line? The grandMA3 is about doing it better.

At Starlite, we’ve embraced the grandMA3 platform in our own work. It’s become a mainstay in our inventory because we trust it to deliver consistent results in high-pressure, high-stakes client projects. From corporate keynotes to large-scale productions, we put our name behind the grandMA3 because it meets our standard and surpasses it.

Real-World Scale: MA at the Super Bowl

If there were ever a moment to demonstrate a lighting console’s potential under the world’s gaze, it’s the Super Bowl Halftime Show. And that’s exactly where the grandMA3 proved itself on a global stage.

At the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, produced by Roc Nation, MA Lighting technology once again played a pivotal role in the execution of one of the most-watched live events in the world.

Lighting Designer Al Gurdon and a team of lighting directors utilized multiple grandMA3 consoles to control thousands of fixtures in real time. From broadcast-safe color balances to jaw-dropping pixel mapping, the system’s performance was flawless — a clear testament to its reliability at scale.

Yes, the moment was about big lights and spectacle. But it was also about control, timing, precision, and trust. The same qualities that define every MA product and every decision we make when choosing equipment to put in the hands of our clients.

© MA Lighting

Portable Power: grandMA3 onPC Command Wing XT

Flexibility is everything in today’s production landscape, which is why the grandMA3 onPC command wing XT (hyperlink: for reference) deserves its own spotlight.

Launched in 2020, the onPC command wing XT offers an impressive 4,096 parameters in a sleek, travel-ready footprint. Designed for mobile lighting control, this all-in-one solution features a built-in MA motherboard with grandMA3 onPC software pre-installed. Just plug in a touchscreen monitor, and you’re ready to program.

 

This makes the command wing XT ideal for:

 

  • Corporate events on the road

  • Pre-viz work in studio settings

  • Smaller venues or tight FOH spaces

  • Backup programming and redundancy in large systems

Whether you’re running a small showcase or building cues for a 10-city tour, this unit makes professional-grade lighting control portable and scalable. It’s why Starlite integrates the onPC command wing XT into our rental inventory and recommends it to clients who need power without compromise.

Talk with our team about investing in this technology.

Education, Community, and Commitment

Great hardware is only part of the story. MA Lighting backs its innovation with an expansive knowledge base and strong community engagement.

Their MA University platform features in-depth video tutorials, interactive webinars, and comprehensive user manuals that ensure every operator — from seasoned programmer to new user — can grow with the gear. It’s not just about learning a console. It’s about joining a global network of professionals who speak the same language of light.

And it’s here where MA’s culture shines through. Their commitment to support and education is  generational. They understand that trust is earned by making gear that performs and by standing with their users before, during, and after the show.

At Starlite, we value partners who walk that same path. We’ve built our reputation by putting our clients first, and we align with manufacturers who do the same.

That’s why MA Lighting continues to be one of our most trusted partners in the field.

Why Starlite Invests in MA Lighting

We don’t just talk about innovation, we build with it.

MA Lighting gear is an essential part of our internal inventory and rental division because it performs at the level our projects require. But beyond the tech specs, we believe in the company’s vision.

Whether it’s outfitting an auditorium, building a game show style show, or integrating a control system into a permanent venue, MA Lighting gives us the tools to deliver confidence and creativity in equal measure.

As an authorized dealer, our sales team hand-in-hand with clients to determine the right MA products for their needs, provide training resources, and ensure long-term support. We’re proud to stand behind this brand — because we know they stand behind us.

Lighting the Way Forward

The lighting industry is in constant motion. New challenges, new expectations, new formats. What doesn’t change is the need for control that is smart, scalable, and stable.

MA Lighting continues to lead this charge not just through innovation, but through connection. By listening to their users, investing in education, and redefining the very nature of lighting consoles, they’ve created more than a product line. They’ve built a platform for what’s next.

At Starlite, we’re not just watching that future unfold. We’re building it — console by console, cue by cue, partnership by partnership.

MA Lighting reminds us that in the right hands, technology becomes storytelling. That’s something  we’re proud to be a part of and continue sharing their legacy.

 

Explore MA Lighting with Starlite: 

To learn more about grandMA3 or any MA Lighting products, reach out to our team. We’ll help you find the right control solution for any of your project’s needs.

 

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