US manufacturer of LED tube lights (61–244 cm) with RGBX technology, 1,200–9,600 lumens, flicker-free for high-speed cinematography.
Technical Details
The Signature product line includes tube lights in lengths from 2 feet (61cm) to 8 feet (244cm) with an output of 1,200 to 9,600 lumens depending on the model. The Q-LED X CrossFade Linear Lamps utilize a four-color LED architecture (Red, Green, Blue, Amber/White) for precise color reproduction. The fixtures operate with DMX-512 protocol and offer 16-bit dimming as well as HSI color control. The Rainbow RGBX system achieves a color accuracy of ±150K in white light settings and covers 125% of the Rec.709 color space.
History & Development
Michael Hagerty founded Quasar Science in 2013 after his experience at Kino Flo, aiming to optimize LED technology for cinematographic applications. In 2015, the first Q-LED tubes were released as an alternative to traditional fluorescent tubes. In 2018, CrossFade technology followed for seamless color transitions. The introduction of the Rainbow series in 2020 established RGBX LEDs as a standard for effect lighting in Hollywood productions.
Practical Use in Film
Quasar lights are frequently used as practical light sources in set designs – hidden in mock neon tubes or as direct room illumination. "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) used hundreds of Quasar tubes for its Neo-Tokyo atmosphere, and "The Matrix Resurrections" (2021) employed them for dynamic color changes in office environments. Gaffers appreciate the flicker-free 25,000Hz PWM frequency for high-speed shooting and remote control via apps. Downsides include higher initial costs than fluorescent lighting and limited light output in daylight scenes.
Comparison & Alternatives
Quasar competes with Astera tubes (battery-powered, but lower output) and Digital Sputnik LEDs (higher output, but less compact). Compared to classic Kino Flo tubes, Quasar LEDs offer color changes without filter gels, albeit at a higher cost per lumen. ARRI SkyPanels and Creamsource Vortex are suitable for large-area illumination, while Quasar tubes excel in linear lighting and practical effects.