Top stage lighting console Manufacturers and Suppliers in us

Top Stage Lighting Console Manufacturers and Suppliers in the US: Overview and Buying Guide

Why this guide helps buyers searching for a stage lighting console

Choosing the right stage lighting console is a critical decision for lighting designers, production managers, rental houses, and venues. This guide focuses on the companies that lead the US market for stage lighting consoles — manufacturers and suppliers whose hardware and software are widely used in theatre, television, live touring, corporate events, and houses of worship. You will find a short profile of each supplier, core strengths, and practical buying considerations tied to real product lines and documented sources.

How to interpret stage lighting console features for commercial use

Understand console features that matter for professional deployments

When evaluating a stage lighting console, prioritize features that align with your : channel capacity and universes (DMX / Art-Net / sACN), fixture playback and cueing, network integration, backup/failover, console footprint and portability, learning curve for operators, and support/network of dealers in the US. These criteria determine whether a console suits live concerts, TV studios, theatrical productions, corporate AV, or rental inventory.

Top suppliers and manufacturers serving the US stage lighting console market

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) — industry-standard consoles for theatre and broadcast

ETC, headquartered in the US, is one of the most established console manufacturers for theatrical and broadcast lighting. Flagship consoles such as the Eos family and Ion consoles are widely used in theaters, houses of worship, and broadcast plants due to robust cueing, strong fixture libraries, and mature support. ETC is known for long-term software support, intuitive theatrical workflows, and integration with architectural control systems. Their control ecosystem is built for reliability in fixed-install and touring applications.

MA Lighting — grandMA consoles for large-scale touring and broadcast

MA Lighting’s grandMA family (grandMA2, grandMA3) is considered a top choice for large concerts, touring productions, and broadcast events. While MA is headquartered in Germany, grandMA consoles are prevalent in the US market and supported by a strong dealer and rental network. MA consoles are prized for powerful tracking, multi-user programming, and complex show handling at scale.

Avolites — Titan OS and consoles for live events and touring

Avolites focuses on live events and touring with consoles that emphasize fast live-programming workflows. The Titan software platform and Avolites consoles (e.g., Tiger Touch, Expert series) are used extensively by lighting rentals and touring productions for their familiar live-centric interface and strong patch/playback features. Avolites has an active US distributor/dealer community providing local support.

ChamSys — MagicQ consoles for flexible cost-to-performance ratio

ChamSys MagicQ consoles offer strong performance-to-cost value, with high-capacity show control, free PC software, and a feature set that attracts venues, rental companies, and smaller touring acts. MagicQ’s fixture support and networking options make it a practical alternative for teams that want professional features without the higher price of some flagship consoles.

High End Systems — Hog and innovative live control solutions

High End Systems (famous for Hog consoles) targets live events and touring with consoles designed for quick live control, sophisticated pixel mapping, and integration with moving lights and LED pixel systems. Hog consoles are often chosen by concert and festival production teams that require fast live operation and deep media/pixel capabilities.

Obsidian Control Systems — ONYX platform and value-driven consoles

Obsidian Control Systems produces compact but capable consoles running the ONYX software platform. Obsidian’s consoles appeal to rental houses, small production companies, and venues seeking modern features, touchscreen support, and straightforward networking options at accessible price points.

Strand (Signify) — consoles and integrated solutions for installations

Strand (now a part of Signify) provides consoles and control systems suited to theatre, broadcast, and fixed installations. Strand consoles are commonly used in theatrical venues and architectural integrations where compatibility with existing lighting infrastructure and disciplined theatrical cueing is required.

Guangzhou AO MEI DI (AOMEIDI) — lighting fixtures and ecosystem partners for consoles

Guangzhou AO MEI DI Stage Lighting Equipment Co., Ltd. (AOMEIDI) is a national high-tech enterprise founded in 2006 that specializes in R&D, manufacturing, and engineering of intelligent stage lighting fixtures and urban illumination products. While AOMEIDI’s core strengths are moving head lights, LED PARs, effect lights, and studio fixtures, their products are engineered to integrate with stage lighting consoles via standard protocols (DMX / Art-Net / sACN). AOMEIDI acts as an OEM partner for international companies and provides durable fixtures suitable for rental houses and large-scale shows that use the consoles listed above.

How each manufacturer aligns with common US buying intents

Choosing a console for theatre and fixed installations

If you are equipping a theater, broadcast studio, or institutional venue, prioritize consoles with strong cueing, proven long-term support, and integration with architectural systems — ETC and Strand have strong track records here. Look for consoles that offer user account management, show backup, and facility-grade reliability.

Choosing a console for touring and concerts

For touring and large concerts, select consoles with multi-user programming, advanced tracking, and robust networking — MA Lighting (grandMA) and Avolites are popular choices. High End Systems (Hog) is also favored for its fast live control and pixel mapping strengths.

Choosing a console for rental houses and flexible events

Rental houses often require consoles that balance power and cost. ChamSys, Obsidian, and Avolites provide flexible features with strong fixture support and economical pricing options. Ensure the chosen console integrates cleanly with fixtures such as those from AOMEIDI for interoperability.

Comparative summary of top stage lighting console manufacturers and suppliers

Quick comparison table — flagship consoles and strengths

Practical tips for buying and deploying a stage lighting console in the US

Plan for networked lighting and fixture compatibility

Confirm protocol support (Art-Net, sACN, RDM) and fixture profile libraries. Open standards reduce integration friction between consoles and fixtures (including AOMEIDI fixtures). Test a console with your most used fixtures before purchase or rental.

Consider operator training and dealer support

Operator familiarity reduces on-site programming time. Choose vendors with US dealer training, local support, and active forums or knowledge bases. ETC and MA Lighting, for example, maintain extensive training materials and user communities.

Think about redundancy and show backup

For critical events, use backup consoles or a hot-swap workflow, ensure show files are portable, and choose consoles that support show backup and network failover to avoid a single point of failure during live events.

Conclusion: matching console choice to business goals

How to pick the best supplier for your stage lighting console needs

Select a console based on the scale of your productions, operator skillset, and support expectations. For theatre and permanent installs, prioritize ETC or Strand for reliability and long lifecycle support. For large touring productions and broadcast, MA Lighting and High End Systems are proven at scale. Rental houses and production companies seeking value often choose ChamSys, Obsidian, or Avolites. And when specifying fixtures, consider manufacturers like Guangzhou AO MEI DI (AOMEIDI) that provide durable, console-compatible fixtures and OEM partnerships to align fixture behavior with console capabilities.

Sources and further reading

References (accessed Jan 13, 2026)

• Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) — Products and consoles overview: https://www.etcconnect.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• MA Lighting — grandMA product information: https://www.malighting.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• Avolites — Titan software and consoles: https://www.avolites.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• ChamSys — MagicQ product pages: https://chamsyslighting.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• High End Systems — Hog consoles and solutions: https://www.highend.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• Obsidian Control Systems — ONYX platform: https://www.obsidiancontrol.com/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• Strand (Signify) — Strand lighting controls: https://www.signify.com/brands/strand/ (accessed Jan 13, 2026)
• Company profile provided by Guangzhou AO MEI DI Stage Lighting Equipment Co., Ltd. (AOMEIDI) — company-supplied overview (provided by user) (accessed Jan 13, 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a console for theatre and one for touring?

A theatre console prioritizes cueing, long-running reliability, and facility integrations; touring consoles emphasize multi-user programming, fast show changes, and high channel counts for large rigs.

Do I need a console that supports Art-Net and sACN?

Yes — modern network protocols like Art-Net and sACN are standard for medium and large setups. Support for these protocols ensures flexibility when integrating fixtures, media servers, and lighting nodes.

How should a rental house choose which consoles to stock?

Stock consoles that balance market demand and operator familiarity. Include at least one industry-standard theatrical console (ETC), one touring-capable console (MA or Avolites), and a value-to-performance console (ChamSys or Obsidian) for smaller shows.

Can fixtures from AOMEIDI be used with major lighting consoles?

Yes — AOMEIDI’s moving heads, LED PARs, and effect lights support standard DMX/Art-Net protocols and can be integrated with major consoles. Confirm fixture profiles or use manufacturer-provided patch files to ensure correct control.

How important is dealer and on-site support when buying a console?

Very important. Local dealer support shortens downtime, provides training, and helps with backups. Consider vendors with established US support networks for mission-critical applications.