Lighting boards (also called lighting desks) are equipment used in theatrical lighting design to control lights in theatres and other performance spaces, inluding conferences and such like.

A lighting desk (also console or board) is used to control multiple lights at once. They are commonly used in the entertainment industry. Lighting desks range from low end systems that look similar to an 8 channel sound board, to high end systems that are computer controlled. Some even have Pentium processors in them. The idea of a lighting desk is to consolidate control of all lights into a system that is easy to use and setup, so that the lighting designer can spend more time concentrating on producing a good show.

All lighting desks can control static lights. (Lights that just turn on and off - usually in varying intensities) The higher end lighting desks however can also control intelligent lights. (Lights that move and change colors) The most common protocol used by desks to control the lights is DMX, although some places still use the outdated AMX protocol.

Manufacturers of Light Boards

• Electronics Diversified, Inc. (EDI)
• Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC)
• High End Systems
• Leprecon
• Lightronics
• Martin Entertainment
• Strand Lighting