ARRI Omnibar LED Bars Unveiled – RGBAM Color, IP65 Build, and Magnetic Optics

Lighting News

by Nino LeitnerMay 5^th, 2026

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ARRI has unveiled Omnibar, its first compact LED bar fixture, available in 2-foot and 4-foot lengths with a built-in battery, IP65 weatherproofing, full-spectrum CRI 98 output, an RGBAM 5-color engine spanning 1700K to 20,000K, and up to 32 individually addressable pixel zones. The modular system pairs magnetically interchangeable optics with daisy-chain power and data via the Omnibase hub, plus onboard, Bluetooth, wired DMX, and TimoTwo CRMX wireless control.

The Omnibar marks ARRI’s most direct move yet into a category where the German manufacturer has been notably absent: compact, battery-powered LED bars for in-camera pixel effects, set design, and continuous illumination. While Aputure INFINIBAR, Astera Titan tubes, the Astera AX2 PixelBar, and NANLITE PavoTube products have shaped this segment for years, ARRI is now stepping in with a distinctly modular approach, full ecosystem integration, and the build quality customers expect at this price tier. The launch comes as ARRI publicly recommits to its lighting business under new owner Thomas Riedel, with managing director Chris Richter telling us in our exclusive NAB 2026 interview that the company intends to claw back lost ground in lighting through a series of new product launches.

A late but ecosystem-driven entry

Omnibar is offered in two sizes: the two-foot Omnibar 2 and the four-foot Omnibar 4. Each is available with either a black or blue/silver housing, mirroring the dual color treatment ARRI introduced for the SkyPanel S60 Pro. According to ARRI, the system is intended to scale from a single bar in the streamlined Creator Set up to dozens of units on a feature production. Up to 12 feet (3.7m) of Omnibar 4 and Omnibar 2 fixtures can be connected in a single daisy-chain through the Omnibase hub, with a total of up to 24 feet (7.3m) supported across two or more chains. The Omnibase consolidates both power and data into a single source, which should reduce cable runs and shorten deployment time on stages and live events.

What’s missing here, by design, is a high pixel density spec. The Omnibar 4 carries 32 pixel zones across its four-foot length, while the Omnibar 2 has 16. That works out to eight pixel zones per foot, which is meaningfully less granular than the Aputure INFINIBAR line, which offers around 24 pixels per foot. ARRI is clearly betting on color quality, system integration, and the modular optics rather than chasing the pixel race, an editorial choice that draws a sharp dividing line between the brand’s typical clientele and creators who specifically buy these tools for granular animated effects.

Color science and the ARRI signal chain

Building on years of full-spectrum LED development, Omnibar delivers CRI 98 at 5600K and TLCI 98, figures that match well with the rest of the current ARRI lighting ecosystem. According to retail listings, the fixture uses an RGBAM color engine (red, green, blue, amber, mint) with a CCT range stretching from 1700K to 20,000K. That puts Omnibar in the same color temperature ballpark as SkyPanel X, although it sits one engine below SkyPanel X’s six-color RGBACL chipset and one above the simpler RGBW SkyPanel S60 Pro. Worth noting: the RGB plus amber plus mint combination mirrors the LED engine that has powered Astera’s Titan tubes for years, which gives Omnibar a familiar color palette in a category where Astera has long been a benchmark.

The fixture is positioned as visually compatible with SkyPanel X, SkyPanel S60 Pro, Orbiter, and the L-Series Plus, so DPs already running ARRI fixtures should see consistent skin tone reproduction when mixing the new bars into a larger package. The 32 and 16 pixel zones can drive in-camera effects (police lights, fire flicker, screen simulation, animated wash) as well as static design elements, although the perceived smoothness of any pixel animation depends as much on diffusion and distance from camera as it does on the pixel count itself.

Magnetic optics for shaping output

The most distinctive part of the Omnibar concept is the optics system. Three magnetically attached, easily interchangeable front modifiers ship as part of the lineup. The Round Diffuser produces soft, tube-like ambient light suited to wraparound illumination and on-camera practicals. The Flat Diffuser delivers controlled, bar-shaped output well matched to in-camera animated effects and live-event work, while the Intensifier focuses output for higher peak brightness and tighter punch. Omnibar can also be operated open-face for maximum output when bouncing into a softbox, into set surfaces, or hidden inside production design. This optics philosophy mirrors ARRI’s modular approach on Orbiter and SkyPanel X, where one core engine is paired with mission-specific front attachments rather than a fixed optical assembly.

Rigging: Omnigrip, Omnipin, and Omniclip

Rigging Omnibar is intended to be fast and largely tool-free. Built-in magnets allow instant attachment to ferrous surfaces in any orientation, and integrated tie-off points accept safety cables or zip ties for strapping the bar to truss, rails, or scaffold. The Omnigrip accessory connects multiple bars end-to-end for continuous illumination across a wider span, and pairs with the Omnipin to mount Omnibar onto traditional rigging hardware such as lighting stands and grip arms. Omniclip mounting brackets affix to almost any surface at three different angles, which is useful for set walls, vehicle interiors, and tight architectural spaces. For production designers and gaffers building permanent or semi-permanent set lighting, the Omniclip system in particular looks promising for repeatable installs.

Battery, weatherproofing, and control

Omnibar carries an IP65 weatherproof rating, putting it on par with much of the category for outdoor and wet-set use, although a step below SkyPanel X’s IP66 specification. The built-in battery delivers a minimum runtime of two hours at full brightness, which is shorter than the headline runtimes published by Astera at lower output levels but is rated honestly at peak draw. ARRI hasn’t disclosed dimming behavior or extended runtime figures at lower output, but the fixture is clearly designed for untethered operation in outdoor and run-and-gun scenarios.

Control is comprehensive. Omnibar accepts input via the onboard interface, a Bluetooth app, wired DMX, and the integrated LumenRadio TimoTwo chip for wireless CRMX. That makes the bars suitable for permanent architectural and set installs as well as location work where cable runs are impractical. CRMX integration also means the fixture slots into existing show-control workflows without third-party transmitters.

For filmmakers building out their lighting craft, our partner platform MZed offers Tal Lazar’s The Language of Lighting course, alongside lots of ARRI Academy titles available exclusively through MZed Pro.

Pricing and availability

ARRI states that Omnibar is shipping now, sold as single sets, multi-unit transport sets that include essential accessories and tools, and a streamlined Creator Set with core accessories aimed at solo creators and small crews. US retail pricing ranges from $850 for the entry-level Omnibar 2 Creator Set up to $11,500 for the eight-bar Combo Kit, with single sets, six-bar production kits, and color housing options sitting between those two ends. Full product information is available on the ARRI Omnibar page, and the complete Omnibar lineup can be ordered through our retail partners B&H Photo and CVP via the buy links below.

What’s your take on ARRI’s first LED bar? Is the modular optics system enough to compete with INFINIBAR and Astera, or has ARRI arrived too late? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!