One Fixture. Three Roles.
The Kraken's motorized zoom system (4°–50°) lets you transition between beam, spot, and wash modes from the console. No physical changes, no gel swaps, no fixture swaps — just dial in the look you need.
| Mode |
Zoom |
What It Does |
| Beam |
4° (tight) |
Razor-sharp aerial beams that cut through haze and fog. Concert looks, dramatic sweeps, prism effects. The 480W LED punches through at distance. |
| Spot |
Mid-range |
Gobo projection, breakup patterns, focused specials. 11 fixed gobos + 7 rotating glass gobos + dual prisms for layered projection effects. |
| Wash |
50° (wide) |
Broad, even coverage for stage washes, wall fills, and color sweeps. CMY mixing delivers any color without gel changes. Frost filter smooths the beam edge. |
Why 3-in-1 Matters
A traditional rig might need separate beam fixtures, spot fixtures, and wash fixtures to cover all three roles — that's 3× the fixtures, 3× the weight on truss, 3× the clamps, 3× the cable runs, and 3× the budget. The Kraken consolidates all three into one head. For touring rigs, mobile production, and venues with limited truss capacity, that's a game-changer.
Built for the Show
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Concerts & festivals — Aerial beams through haze, gobo textures on stage, full color washes across the crowd
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Theater & performing arts — Precise spot control for specials, smooth dimming for scene transitions, CMY color for mood shifts
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Corporate & brand events — Custom gobo projection (logo breakups), elegant color washes, professional presentation
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Nightclubs & DJ rigs — Fast pan/tilt, dual prism effects, high-speed strobe, beam shows through fog
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Houses of worship — Soft washes for services, dramatic beams for worship sets, versatile enough for both
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Installed production — 20,000-hour LED means years of operation without lamp changes
Color System
| Feature |
Detail |
| CMY Color Mixing |
Linear Cyan, Magenta, Yellow flags — continuous mixing produces virtually any color with smooth, seamless transitions |
| CTO |
Linear Color Temperature Orange — warm white correction for matching tungsten sources or creating warm washes |
| Color Wheel |
8 dichroic colors + open white — for fast color snaps and split-color effects |
CMY mixing gives you the full color spectrum from the console without carrying gel or color scrollers. The CTO flag lets you warm the output independently — critical for matching other fixtures or lighting skin tones naturally.
Gobo System
| Wheel |
Count |
Detail |
| Fixed Gobos |
11 patterns + open |
Static gobo wheel — breakup patterns, textures, and aerial effects. Fast snap or continuous rotation. |
| Rotating Gobos |
7 glass + open |
High-quality glass gobos with independent rotation (forward/reverse, variable speed). Projectable patterns and custom logos. |
Layer rotating gobos with prisms and CMY color for complex, evolving projection effects that keep the visual interest moving throughout the show.
Prism System
| Prism |
Effect |
| 6-Facet Prism |
Splits beam into 6 rays — tighter spread, cleaner separation |
| 8-Facet Prism |
Splits beam into 8 rays — wider spread, more volume |
| Dual Prism Overlay |
Stack both prisms simultaneously for complex, multi-layered aerial effects |
Both prisms rotate independently (forward/reverse, variable speed). Combine with gobos and zoom for dramatic volumetric effects in haze.
Additional Optics
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Frost Filter — Independent frost effect softens beam edges for wash mode, diffusing hard gobo projections into smooth washes
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Motorized Focus — Linear adjustment from 13 ft to 164 ft — keeps gobos and projections sharp at any throw distance
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Motorized Zoom — 4°–50° continuous zoom, controlled from DMX
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Dimming — 0–100% linear dimmer for smooth fades and precise intensity control
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Strobe — 0–30 Hz variable speed strobe for high-energy effects
DMX512 with RDM
The Kraken runs on standard DMX512 protocol with RDM (Remote Device Management) built in. RDM lets you monitor and configure fixtures remotely from the console — check lamp hours, read temperature, set addresses, and troubleshoot without climbing truss.
Channel Modes
| Mode |
Channels |
Use Case |
| Standard |
23 CH |
Full control with efficient channel count — suitable for most rigs |
| Extended |
25 CH |
Additional fine control channels for maximum precision on 16-bit parameters |
Control Modes
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DMX512 — Full console control via standard 3-pin or 5-pin DMX. Plug into any professional lighting console.
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Master/Slave — Link multiple Krakens together. One unit runs the program, the rest follow. No DMX controller needed for simple synchronized looks.
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Standalone — Built-in auto programs for standalone operation. Set it and let it run — useful for installations and simple events.
16-Bit Precision
Pan (540°) and tilt (270°) operate on 16-bit resolution, delivering ultra-smooth movement with no visible stepping. This is critical for slow, dramatic movements in theater and broadcast where stuttering pan/tilt is unacceptable. The extended 25-channel mode provides 16-bit control on additional parameters for maximum precision.
What does "3-in-1" actually mean?
The Kraken can function as a beam fixture (tight 4° output), a spot fixture (gobo projection with focused output), or a wash fixture (wide 50° soft-edge coverage) — all from the same unit. You switch modes from the DMX console by adjusting zoom, focus, frost, and gobo parameters. One fixture, three jobs.
How does it compare to a discharge lamp fixture?
The 480W LED engine produces comparable output to traditional discharge lamp fixtures in this class, but with major advantages: 20,000-hour LED life (vs. 2,000–4,000 hours for discharge lamps), instant on/off with no strike time, consistent color temperature across the entire lifespan, linear dimming to true zero (no mechanical shutter needed), and no lamp replacement costs.
Can I use it outdoors?
The Kraken is rated IP20 — indoor use only. It is not weather-sealed. For outdoor events, it must be protected from rain, moisture, and direct water exposure. Use it under a covered stage, in a tent, or with IP-rated weather shields.
How heavy is it?
About 50.7 lbs (22.5 kg). Plan your truss loading accordingly — a pair of Krakens on a single truss section is roughly 100 lbs before clamps and cables.
What DMX console do I need?
Any console that outputs standard DMX512 will work. The Kraken uses 23 or 25 channels per fixture. For a rig of 8 Krakens in 25-channel mode, you'll need 200 DMX channels — well within a single DMX universe (512 channels).
Can I project custom gobos?
The 7 rotating glass gobos support custom gobo replacement. You can have custom patterns (logos, textures, breakups) cut on standard-size glass gobos and swap them into the rotating wheel. Contact us for gobo sizing specifications.
How loud is the fan?
The Kraken uses axial fan cooling with electronic temperature monitoring. Fan speed adjusts based on operating temperature. In temperature-controlled indoor environments, fan noise is typical for this fixture class. For noise-sensitive environments (theater, broadcast), position fixtures at distance or use the fixture's fan speed control if available in the DMX channel map.
Does it come in a case?
Yes — the Kraken ships in a protective flight case, ready for touring and transport. At 50+ lbs with precision optics inside, the included case isn't an afterthought — it's essential.
Add Haze — Always
The Kraken's beam and prism effects only become visible in atmosphere. A good hazer turns an invisible beam into a volumetric light show. Without haze, you're lighting the floor — with haze, you're lighting the room. Pair with SurgeFX Haze FX for consistent atmospheric coverage.
Use Both Prisms
The 6-facet and 8-facet prisms can be stacked simultaneously, and each rotates independently. Layer them together with a gobo and zoom out slightly for complex, evolving aerial effects that are far more dynamic than a single prism alone.
CMY for Smooth Transitions
Use the CMY color mixing system (not the color wheel) when you need smooth, gradual color fades — especially during slow songs, worship sets, or theatrical scene changes. The color wheel is for fast snaps; CMY is for elegance.
Frost for Wash Mode
When using the Kraken as a wash fixture, engage the frost filter to soften the beam edge. Without frost, the wash has a defined edge that can look harsh. With frost, you get a smooth, blended wash that merges seamlessly with adjacent fixtures.
Motorized Focus at Distance
The motorized focus range (13–164 ft) is critical for gobo projection. If your gobos look soft or fuzzy, adjust the focus channel from the console — don't assume the fixture is misfiring. Focus needs to be set for the actual throw distance.
RDM for Troubleshooting
Use the RDM function to check fixture status from the console — temperature, lamp hours, errors — without sending someone up to the truss. This saves time during load-in and lets you catch problems during a show before they become visible.
Pair with Your SurgeFX Rig
