I'm a big fan of Ape Labs lighting and the arrival of my most recent investment – a new set of Ape Labs Neon Tubes – was eagerly awaited. I already own a set of the brand’s XL Sticks and I absolutely love them, especially in Musicmode (Ape Labs's sound-to-light feature). So, now that I have the Neon Tubes, I'm excited to enjoy them just as much – if not more.

Compared to my XL Sticks, the Neons are larger, longer, thicker and brighter, as well as offering a 14-hour battery life. They take approximately 6 hours to fully charge. And while they are heavier, they do come with various mounting options.

The magnets allow you to easily attach the Neon Tubes to trussing or podiums. An included metal tripod-stand screws onto the bottom of the light for floor placement. And hanging eyelets can be attached to the light for hanging from trussing.

Furthermore, if you already own Ape Labs stands designed for the XL Sticks, you can use them with the Neons, thanks to their compatible fitting. This versatility makes it easy to position the lights around your DJ booth or venue to create a unique ambiance.

While similar to the XL Sticks, the Neon Tubes offer several enhancements. They are longer, measuring 1m in length, and have a substantial diameter of 48mm. The tube itself is constructed from polycarbonate material, while the outer casing is made of metal, ensuring durability and a premium feel.

Additionally, the Neon Sticks are IP65-rated, making them waterproof for both indoor and outdoor use.

To ensure the light from the Neon Tube shines forward onto the dancefloor, rather than illuminating the stage behind, Ape Labs have factored in a 180-degree beam angle. This focused beam allows the Neons to effectively light up the dancefloor without requiring additional wash lights. Unlike the XL Sticks, the frosted outer casing conceals the internal LEDs, creating a more authentic ‘neon tube’ appearance.

Overall, I was impressed by the brightness of the Neons, which feature 90 LEDs to deliver powerful levels of illumination. The light offers a range of colours, including RGB, amber, white, and warm-white, whilst the colour transitions are smooth and seamless, without any abrupt jumps.
Controlling your Ape Labs Neon Tubes is straightforward. You can use DMX to connect them to a lighting desk or Wolfmix controller, although this may limit some of the effects and features available in the Ape Labs app. For more comprehensive control, I recommend using the Connect Plus wireless hub. This hub allows you to connect your Ape Labs lights via Bluetooth and control them using a free app on your smartphone or tablet. Pairing is quick and easy, and the app offers numerous features to enhance your Ape Labs experience.

Ape Labs also includes a remote control for basic functions. While it doesn't offer the full range of features available in the app, you can use it to power the Neons on and off, adjust the brightness in 20% increments (from 0% to 100%), and select from a variety of static colours. These include standard colours like red, blue, and green, as well as newer pastel shades like jade, blush pink, candlelight classic, and seafoam.

The remote also allows you to control the strobe effect and the impressive Musicmode. This feature – Ape Labs's enhanced version of sound-to-light – reacts to audio input and creates dynamic lighting effects.

When Musicmode is activated and the ‘Lights’ tab is selected, the lights will dim to 15% (now adjustable to 0% in the latest update). As each light has its own built-in microphone, they will react to sound individually. This creates a dynamic effect, with lights pulsing and flashing in response to audio cues. Due to their varying distances from the speakers, the lights may react differently, resulting in a diverse and engaging display.

If you prefer all your lights to respond to the same audio source, simply switch the app tab to ‘Connect’. This will cause the lights to react to the sound picked up by the Connect Plus, ensuring synchronised behaviour.

Connect Plus box

Now for some more context around the Connect Plus. Approximately the same size as the Ape Labs Minis, the Connect Plus is a Bluetooth interface that comes in white and includes two antennas and a power supply. With a battery life of around 50 hours, the Connect can control all your Ape Labs lights and is quick to switch on and connect to your Bluetooth devices. The wireless DMX also pairs with your lights in no time.
The Connect box features both DMX in and DMX out ports, allowing you to connect it to your DMX lighting controller. However, doing so does disable the Musicmode feature.

Ape Labs App

Ape Labs has invested significant effort to develop a comprehensive app for both Apple and Android devices. The app offers more functionality than the remote control, giving you control over blackout, strobe effects, and all the colours. You can also update firmware and check the battery level of your lights.

A colour picker allows you to select your desired colour using your finger. And also enables you to program your lights for various behaviours and colour schemes. You can even organise your lights into different groups (A-D) for customised control and effects.

I believe the Ape Labs Neon Tubes will make a fantastic addition your lighting setup. They offer several advantages over the XL Sticks, including increased size, brightness, and that wider beam angle. Additionally, the Neons boast a more premium build-quality and a sleek, professional look. However, it's important to remember that the Neons are not intended as a replacement for the XL Sticks, but rather a complementary product that expands the Ape Labs universe.

It’s worth noting that Ape Labs also offers the Neon Tubes in a touring pack, which includes a charging case, six Neon Tubes, and six mini tripod stands. This package provides a convenient and portable solution for DJs and mobile entertainers.