\\
In a busy room, what people notice first is contrast and timing. A well-set DJ laser—the classic club lasers look—draws ruler-sharp lines right when the drop hits. To get there, you need sensible laser control software, tidy wiring (DMX/ArtNet/ILDA), and a few guardrails. Below is the playbook we use: real settings for QuickShow and BEYOND, wattage by room size, safe mounting angles, and a handful of recipes (fans, tunnels, liquid sky) you can copy tonight with any modern laser show projector. We’ll keep it practical and skip the fluff.
Table of Contents
| Section | Anchor |
|---|---|
| 0) TL;DR & Two Quick Checks | #tldr |
| 1) Optical Advantages (With Numbers) | #optics |
| 2) Control: QuickShow vs BEYOND, DMX/ArtNet/ILDA | #control |
| 3) Programming Recipes (BPM-Aware) | #recipes |
| 4) Rig Design by Venue Size | #rig |
| 5) Haze & Visibility | #haze |
| 6) Safety & Compliance | #safety |
| 7) Color Matching & Consistency | #color |
| 8) Networking & Channel Maps | #network |
| 9) Troubleshooting Sheet | #troubleshoot |
| 10) Buying Guide & CTA | #buy |
| FAQ (collapsible) | #faq |
0) TL;DR & Two Quick Checks
Short answer: If you want quick, musical control on 2–6 units, start with QuickShow. If you’re syncing laser with video/LED across a larger rig, move to BEYOND.
Wattage sanity check: Bars (≤150 pax) 2–3 W × 2–3 units; 300–500 pax 3–6 W × 4–6; big rooms 5–10 W × 6–10. Multiple moderate projectors beat one cannon—better symmetry, smoother coverage.
1) Optical Advantages (With Numbers)
- Beam divergence: club-grade RGB laser sits around 1.0–1.5 mrad (full angle). At ~20 m throw that’s a 20–30 mm line—still tight on a laser display system.
- Scan speed: 30–40 kpps @ 8° is a good graphics zone. If graphics chatter, reduce scan angle first, then tweak speed.
- Why it reads better than LEDs: narrow lines, high contrast, and content that “locks” to music instead of washing over it.
2) Control: QuickShow vs BEYOND, DMX/ArtNet/ILDA
QuickShow is the fast lane—live pads, BPM tools, QuickFX, and a simple timeline. BEYOND adds zones, SMPTE timecode, OSC, full ArtNet, and 3D tools for bigger nights.
| Feature | QuickShow | BEYOND |
|---|---|---|
| BPM / QuickFX / Timeline | Yes (fast and direct) | Yes (multi-track) |
| Zones / Multi-projector | Basic | Advanced (large rigs) |
| DMX / ArtNet / OSC | DMX / basic ArtNet | Full DMX / ArtNet / OSC |
| SMPTE / Video / LED | Limited | Native timecode + multimedia |
| 3D / Mapping | Basic | Full toolset |
| Master/Slave Licensing | — | Yes (cost-efficient scaling) |
Desk control: Run DMX or ArtNet from the lighting console with a printed universe map. Prefer unicast; use a dedicated gigabit switch and static IPs (10.10.0.x/24). Keep show control off public Wi-Fi. ILDA is a dependable analog fallback if the network gets messy.
3) Programming Recipes (BPM-Aware)
House template: one page per song—Intro / Verse / Break / Drop. Label buttons with BPM. Keep a one-tap Safe Scene (low power, slow rate) and a Blackout within reach.
QuickFX chain that stays musical: Color cycle → Size breathe → Gentle warp → Rotate. Sync LFOs to ½ or ¼ BPM (e.g., 128 → 0.5/1/2 Hz). Cap movement so you don’t exceed the scan angle.
Text & logos without shimmer: Vector (SVG/AI) → QuickTrace → trim corner points 10–20%. Use heavier strokes and ~15–20° graphics angle.
| Effect | Settings | Safety Note |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Sky | Plane above sightline; LFO 0.5–1 Hz; width 60–80%; Z-offset for depth | No audience scanning |
| Fans/Tunnels | Origin above DJ; phase-mirrored pairs; rotation ≤10°/s | Mask walkways/FOH |
| Drop Hit | Size spike +10–15% master ≤1 beat, then settle | Don’t sit at 100% |
4) Rig Design by Venue Size
| Room (pax) | Projectors | Power / unit | Control | Budget Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small bar (≤150) | 2–3 | 2–3 W | QuickShow / DMX | Entry |
| Mid club (300–500) | 4–6 | 3–6 W | ArtNet / QuickShow | Pro |
| Large club (800+) | 6–10 | 5–10 W | BEYOND + SMPTE | Install |
Mounting & sightlines: Lens height ≥3.0–3.5 m with a 20–30° down-angle. Never scan at eye level. Draw no-shoot masks for walkways, bar, FOH, and windows before placing content.
5) Haze & Visibility
Water-based haze is kinder to gear and perfect indoors; oil-based hangs longer outdoors. Feed haze from upwind and use baffles if it’s gusty. The sweet spot: beams are crisp, but faces are still readable in photos.
6) Safety & Compliance (Non-Negotiable)
- No audience scanning unless you’re certified and have documented exposure calculations (IEC 60825-1 / local rules).
- Hardware basics: key switch, interlock, physical E-stop, solid grounding. Use IP65 covers for patios.
- Power: separate circuits for lasers vs haze/amps; put the control PC and switch on a UPS.
7) Color Matching & Consistency
Run palette training and save a project LUT, then push it to every unit (including mixed batches like KVANT/Clubmax). Drive overall brightness from a single master so operators aren’t fighting each other.
8) Networking & Channel Maps
ArtNet tips: unicast to each projector; dedicate a gigabit switch; use static IPs; label ports and cables; keep guests off the show net. Example DMX personality: Ch1 MasterCh2 Color/PaletteCh3 FX SelectCh4 SpeedCh5 X SizeCh6 Y SizeCh7 RotationCh8 Safety/Blackout.
9) Troubleshooting Sheet
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Flicker or jitter | Reduce scan angle → simplify paths/dwell → heavier fonts → ~30–40 kpps @ 8° |
| Color mismatch | Retrain palette + LUT; manage master brightness from one control |
| ArtNet delay | Use unicast; isolate show network; check switch/IGMP; use static IPs |
| Jagged logos | Vectorize; QuickTrace; trim corner points 10–20%; graphics at 15–20° |
| Mapping looks off | More mesh subdivisions; feather masks; avoid single-vertex stretching |
10) Buying Guide & CTA
- Starter (resident DJ): 2–3 × 2–3 W DJ laser, FB4, water-based hazer, clamps/case, QuickShow. Ask for price, quote, warranty, lead time, and training.
- Club kit: 4–6 × 3–6 W + one graphics unit; ArtNet switch; QuickShow or BEYOND Core. Useful words: purchase, upgrade, support, spares.
- Pro install: 6–10 × 5–10 W; BEYOND Advanced; zones + SMPTE; masks at the project level. Ask for a project quote and a service plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many watts do I actually need?
Bars: 2–3 W. 300–500 pax rooms: 3–6 W. Big rooms: 5–10 W. Two or more moderate units beat one big cannon for balance and coverage.
QuickShow or BEYOND for a club install?
QuickShow is the quickest way to play a musical show on smaller rigs. Choose BEYOND when zones, timecode, or multimedia enter the picture.
DMX vs ArtNet vs ILDA—what’s practical?
ArtNet scales cleanly and routes better. DMX still works on small rigs. ILDA is a reliable backup when the network misbehaves.
Can I sync with Rekordbox/Serato/Resolume?
Yes—use MIDI/OSC or timecode. Keep two or three “improv” scenes on pads so you can react to the room.
Are patio lasers okay?
Use IP65 or covers, mind the wind with your haze, and keep no-shoot masks on roads and residences. Safety first, always.
How fast can I get parts and support?
Ask for lead time with your quote. Keep spare interlocks, clamps, and a PSU. We offer training, warranty options, and ongoing support.