How to Use Moving Heads: Basic Functions and Controls Explained

Learn the essential functions and controls of moving heads (MKs and MBKs) in lighting setups. Discover how to adjust color wash, intensity, focus, and movement for creative lighting effects.

By Chris Copeland

In this guide, we'll learn how to control moving head lights, focusing on basic functions like positioning, color wash, and beam focus. We will cover how to use keyboard shortcuts to move the lights and adjust their focus for different effects. This will help you manage lighting for various needs, such as highlighting areas or creating layered color effects.

Let's get started

Okay. Now, our moving heads—all these MKs and MBKs (they're black and have an arrow on them)—have a slightly different function from the others because they can move wherever we need them to.

1
Identify the moving head lights, which are labeled with 'MK' and 'MBK' and have an arrow on them.
Step #1: Identify the moving head lights, which are labeled with 'MK' and 'MBK' and have an arrow on them.
2
Click on the 'MK1' light fixture at the bottom of the stage layout.
Step #2: Click on the 'MK1' light fixture at the bottom of the stage layout.

Here, you will see several different things. We don't use movement and program speed as much.

We mainly use them as a fixed color wash. We can control where the color wash goes and how intense it is, or focus it as a beam.

3
To pull up the control to move the light, press and hold the appropriate key on the keyboard (shift+P)

You'll see this appear. You can click this and move it.

4
Click and drag the point inside the Position widget to maneuver the light.
Step #4: Click and drag the point inside the Position widget to maneuver the light.

I don't like moving it with the widget as much, so I move it with the arrow keys.

If I go left, it goes left. If I go right, it goes right. If it becomes misaligned, you will notice how it moves after fiddling with the arrows to see if the light moves opposite of whichever arrow you're hitting.

5
Press Shift + F to access the focus controls.

You can see the percentages to help you focus. This basically means that you're dictating how wide the beam is.

6
Click and drag the control point on the circular Focus dial to adjust the focus percentage.
Step #6: Click and drag the control point on the circular Focus dial to adjust the focus percentage.
7
To tighten the light beam, drag the control on the 'Focus' dial outwards towards 100%.
Step #7: To tighten the light beam, drag the control on the 'Focus' dial outwards towards 100%.

The wider it is, the higher the percentage of how focused it is. If it gets reversed for any reason, you'll be able to tell, right? If I move it in, you can see both.

8
To widen the light beam, drag the control on the 'Focus' dial inwards, decreasing the percentage.
Step #8: To widen the light beam, drag the control on the 'Focus' dial inwards, decreasing the percentage.

As a general rule, avoid letting it cover the screen if you have graphics. Once you practice, it becomes easy to maneuver.

9
It's fun because you can layer multiple colors with different movers and create cool effects.
Step #9: It's fun because you can layer multiple colors with different movers and create cool effects.