Last updated: 2025-10-26
If you’ve worked an ADE Friday, you know the rhythm: doors at six, three changeovers before midnight, and a booth full of phones. The job is to deliver a professional laser show that looks big on camera without smoking out the room. Below is the checklist we actually use—how to get camera-clean beams in tight clubs, how to keep glare down, how a true five-minute reset works, and how to tie lights/video/laser with timecode so the hits land together. For distributors and rental houses, we’ve also added the bits that scale—OEM/ODM touches and batch packaging that make multi-venue nights predictable.
1) ADE reality: low ceilings, close audiences, fast turnovers
1.1 Make low ceilings feel taller
Wide, slow fans shout “low room.” Tighten the vertical scan zone, leave some width, and you’ll lift the sightline without toasting signage or HVAC. The goal isn’t “bright everywhere”—it’s “sharp where phones point.”
1.2 Camera-clean beams in close quarters
On phones, too much haze turns to cloud fast. Trim peak power a touch, bump scan speed ~10–15% to dodge banding, and aim for “visible, not foggy.” Save two presets for the booth camera so you can swap when the room fills.
1.3 Turnovers set the tone
A honest five-minute reset changes the whole night. Pre-wire, pre-label, and tape a one-page reset card inside the flight case lid. If a guest LD can’t follow it, simplify it.
1.4 Small wins that save the room
Short, high-impact cues beat long, full-power sweeps—same reaction, less heat. Combine deliveries and cap haze per set; the venue’s HVAC (and neighbors) will like you for it.
2) “Camera-clean” beams & glare control (what phones actually see)
| Preset | Use Case | Laser Settings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Beam A | Close audience, low ceilings | Narrow divergence, slightly faster scan, trimmed peak | Avoid eye-height lines; frame with 2–4 moving head laser light units |
| Clean Beam B | “Big room” sweeps | Wider beam, soft highlights | Let the show laser projector do signatures; movers add depth |
| Clean Beam C | Phone HDR & short-form | Even power curve, anti-glare baffles | “Just visible” haze is enough; white-outs kill clips |
2.2 Glare control
Glare comes from metalwork and dirty glass. Baffle the offenders, cant mirrors away from eye-height, and clean lenses often. A greasy lens turns into a starburst on TikTok—skip it.
2.3 Haze & airflow
Think of haze and fans as a pair. Low haze duty cycle, steady “1” on fans. You want texture that reads, not a weather system.
2.4 Frame with movers
Two to six moving head laser light units outline the stage and fake depth; one show laser projector paints the hero strokes. On camera it reads like a bigger venue without a truck of gear.
3) Fast rigging: pre-wired racks & the 5-minute reset
| Step | Action | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power cycle: control → distro → fixtures | All network lamps green |
| 2 | Load dated, versioned showfile | DMX/Art-Net/sACN universes match |
| 3 | Laser alignment card (two marks) | Hero angles locked for the laser light show |
| 4 | Haze baseline (about 60s) | Beams visible, not blown out |
| 5 | Spare pack check (QR batch list) | Jumpers, lens wipes, O-rings ready |
3.1 Pre-wired control rack
Put power (True1/PowerCON), network (EtherCON), distro, and laser control in one flight case. Label once, lock the layout, and stop reinventing the patch every night.
3.2 A patch anyone can follow
Use a standard DMX/Art-Net/sACN layout so a guest LD can drop a DMX laser layer and hit the same Color/Beam/FX order. Same logic, fewer questions.
4) Timecode & console linking
Run SMPTE LTC as backbone; use MTC/MSC or network MIDI for markers and nudge points. If the DJ rig is a wildcard, record a guide in rehearsal and run semi-locked: big hits on code, groove by hand. It still feels live—just lands cleaner.
5) Green Rider in small rooms
- Low-power cues: short punches instead of long full-power sweeps—same wow, lower draw.
- Haze quotas: a small ml/min target per set. Fewer filter changes, happier HVAC.
- Logistics: combine drops; reusable totes; easy to scale for batch rentals.
- Outdoor spillovers: queues/terraces need IP65 laser light or covers. Compact outdoor laser lights and a laser light projector outdoor keep the look consistent outside.
6) Starshine “Small Room, Big Look” packages
Club-S (100–200 pax)
- 2× show laser projector (tight signatures)
- 4× moving head laser light (frame & depth)
- Pre-wired rack + matched haze/fan pair
- One-card five-minute reset SOP
Club-M (200–350 pax)
- 3× show laser projector + 6× moving head laser light
- Two “Clean Beam” families (horizontal vs vertical focus)
- Timecode markers for drops; manual fills for grooves
ADE quick-swap service (distributors & rental)
We prep showfiles, link consoles/timecode, and train crews on the five-minute reset. For dealers: OEM/ODM faceplates, I/O layouts, language packs; the factory bundle includes FAT photos and serial logs so your ERP stays honest while crews hop rooms.
7) Buyer’s checklist (rental or purchase)
- Optics: beam diameter/divergence, scan speed, peak shaping for camera-clean looks.
- Control: DMX/Art-Net/sACN, timecode support, remote diagnostics.
- Mechanical: quick-clean lens access, filters, case sizes that fit narrow stairs.
- Compliance & safety: shielding angles, audience-avoid scans, reliable blackout macro.
- Running costs: haze oil per week, filter cycle, batch spare pricing.
- Support: showfile templates, patch matrix, reset card, timecode notes.
8) Pricing & scheduling for ADE week
Split equipment (e.g., a club laser light bundle) from services (install, timecode, op). AP pays faster when the lines are clean. Route cases in venue order and use QR batch lists so any tech can scan and load in the dark.
- Pick 2–3 “money moments” per track; rehearse 8–12 s loops.
- Keep a neutral DMX laser layer so you don’t fight the LED wall palette.
- Test iPhone and Android HDR—set beam density to flatter both.
Real-world notes from our team
- Phones are the cameras: design for HDR phones first; the broadcast lens is a bonus.
- Reset beats re-patch: fastest swap = power cycle + known-good showfile.
- Framing trick: two movers fake a proscenium; the projector paints the hero strokes.
- Sustainability sells: proof of low draw and haze discipline wins tight-permit rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we get camera-clean beams in a low-ceiling club?
Can we link the rig to DJ or lighting via timecode?
We need fast swaps—how “five minutes” is five minutes?
Do you offer OEM/ODM and batch packaging?
Do I need IP gear for queues or terraces?
Which fixtures are a good start for DJs?
Next steps
About the author
Starshine Project Team — nine ADE seasons in basements, rooftops, and rooms that shouldn’t hold that much energy. We design for phones first, train crews for fast resets, and build around people. Factory FAT, batch serial logs, OEM/ODM tweaks—we bake them in so your IP65 laser light, DMX laser, and moving head laser light projects get paid and play without detours.