Astera AX1 PixelTube

Overview

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AX1 and AX1-BTB share the same basic RGBW format, but the BTB revision adds Bluetooth Bridge. An older AX1 requires a separate supported bridge for AsteraApp control. Neither version has wired DMX input, and neither should be described as a Titan-engine tube.

Key specifications

Specification	Details
Order Code	AX1
LED Engine	RGBW
Colors	RGBW
LED Power Draw	16 W
Beam Angle	120°
Field Angle	180°
Pixels	16
Battery Runtime	up to 20 hours
Charging Time (nominal)	7 hours
DC Input	48 VDC – 0.5 A
Wired DMX	No
CRMX Receiver	Built-in
BluetoothBridge BTB	Built in on BTB revision; external supported bridge for original version
IP Rating	IP65 (only with SiliconeCap)
Ambient Operating Temperature	0 – 40 °C / 32 – 104 °F
Weight	1 kg / 2.2 lbs

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Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• Sixteen pixels create chases and gradients along a single visible tube.
• The 1kg housing, screw-in stand and dedicated holders suit quick scenic placement.
• Battery operation and CRMX avoid a power and data cable at each temporary position.

Limitations

• The older RGBW engine is less suited to demanding white-light matching than the Titan-engine alternatives.
• There is no wired DMX input; the charging connection does not provide the Titan Tube’s power/data workflow.
• The IP65 rating requires the specified silicone cap over the connection.

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Practical uses

Setup	Working approach
In-frame set design	Place tubes at repeatable heights and record their orientation. Confirm pixel direction before programming a chase across several fixtures.
Colour accent	Keep the tube close to the receiving surface and judge the colour through the camera. Use flags where the visible line creates unwanted reflections.
Small bounce or fill	Use a nearby neutral surface when the available exposure permits. For skin tones or a mixed white-light package, compare it directly with the proposed Titan or Helios alternative.

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Output and colour

Astera’s current table lists a 16W LED power draw and a 28W total emitter rating. Those describe different quantities. At 5,500K it lists 717 lumens and 253 lux at 1m, with a 120° beam angle and 180° field angle.

The manufacturer’s colour-rendering table lists CRI/TLCI as no greater than 88 over 3,200–6,500K. It is not a ≥96 Titan specification. For a white-light scene, check skin, fabric and production-design colours with the actual camera instead of matching only the displayed colour temperature.

Manufacturer reference	Published output
3,200K, 1m	254 lux / 723 lm
4,000K, 1m	255 lux / 725 lm
5,500K, 1m	253 lux / 717 lm

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Power and batteries

The internal battery supports managed runtime up to 20 hours. That is an output-limited setting, not a promise of 20 hours at the brightest available white. Charge time is nominally seven hours.

AX1 uses a 48V DC charging input with the specified 5.5 × 2.1mm connection and compatible charger. Do not substitute the supply or charging assumptions from a different Astera product. Inspect the end cap and charge socket before an exterior placement.

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Control and camera operation

Both revisions receive CRMX and Astera UHF control and can use an infrared remote. Only AX1-BTB has Bluetooth Bridge built in. A Bluetooth-capable phone cannot directly turn an original non-BTB tube into a bridge.

Patch the selected 16-pixel personality, check pixel order and test any signal-loss look. Adjust the supported PWM setting as needed and test the actual frame rate, shutter and low-level fades before the tube appears in shot.

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Modifiers, mounting and the working package

The tube is approximately 1,035mm long and 43mm in diameter. Dedicated TubeHolders, end mounting points and TubeStand provide different positions; a floor stand is not a substitute for an overhead mounting and restraint system.

Support the tube with its approved hardware and keep clamps off the emitting surface. Inspect holders for cracked plastic and secure the end fittings. Maintain the required silicone cap for the IP65 configuration.

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Alternatives and related fixtures

Fixture	When to compare it
Astera Titan Tube	A similar length with the Titan engine for more demanding photographed white light.
Astera Helios Tube	A shorter Titan-engine tube for confined positions.
Nanlite PavoTube II 30C	A different tube ecosystem when pixel mapping and console requirements allow it.

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What people are saying

Kettner Creative: mounting and operation

Kettner’s hands-on demonstration concentrates on the eye fittings, stand and locking holders that make the AX1 flexible as a scenic light. It covers an older unit, so its bridge arrangement should be read alongside the current BTB documentation. Read the full account.

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Videos

Astera: AX1 PixelTube demonstration

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Rental and used-fixture checks

Identify AX1 versus AX1-BTB on the actual units and include a suitable bridge when needed. Check all 16 pixels, colour consistency, chargers, silicone caps, end fittings, stands and holders.

Run a meaningful battery test after charging. A used tube that operates correctly from its charger may still have poor battery capacity. Confirm that the whole case responds to the selected console profile and that pixel direction matches the plot.

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Documentation and specifications

Official product overview · Technical specifications · User manual · Data sheet · DMX profiles · All downloads

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