Which RGB Laser Bar to Buy? DMX 19-Channel Fast Setup Guide

You’ve got a new toy and a dance floor to light. This guide gets your 19-channel DMX show running on a coffee-break timeline— from first cable to first tunnel. For small venues and mobile rigs, a well-placed B4 RGB Laser Bar delivers big-room looks without big-show headaches. Let’s plug in, power up, and press play.

• DMX controller (or software + USB/Art-Net node)
• 3-pin or 5-pin DMX cables + one terminator
• Power cables and safety hardware (clamps, safeties)
• Address stickers/tape pen
• Haze machine (light, even haze = visible beams)

Pro tip: label both ends of your first three DMX lines today. Future-you will send thanks.

Goal: three units in a line over the booth for clean fan and tunnel looks.

• Unit A → Address 001
• Unit B → Address 020 (001 + 19)
• Unit C → Address 039 (001 + 19 + 19)

Cabling: Controller → A → B → C → Terminator.
Mount height: 2.2–2.8 m, slight down-angle (10–20°), outer two bars fanned slightly outward.

If you’re new to the format: an RGB laser bar shines when you scale horizontally. Add more bars = wider, smoother coverage—no pan/tilt wrestling.

Every manufacturer maps channels a little differently, but this typical 19-ch logic gets you rolling fast (always check your manual for exact values):

1. Mode/Dimmer Enable
2. Effect / Macro Select
3. Effect Speed
4. Strobe / Shutter
5. Color / Pattern Group
6. Color / Pattern Speed
7. Eyes/Sections on–off (7–12)
8. —
9. —
10. —
11. —
12. —
13. Y-Swing (Bar Tilt) / Angle Macro
14. Y-Swing Speed / Range
15. Auto Program Select
16. Auto Program Speed
17. Sound-Active Sensitivity
18. Function / Reset / Blackout
19. Reserved / Fine / Special

Starter looks
• Warm-up Fan: Ch2 mid, Ch3 slow, Ch4 open, Eyes 1–6 all on, tiny Y-swing.
• Tunnel for the Drop: Ch2 tunnel macro, Ch3 medium, Eyes 1–6 on, Y-swing centered.
• Strobe Chase: Ch4 strobe 6–8 Hz, Eyes 1–6 alternating (7–12 step), slight Y-swing.

1. Put Unit A in Master (Auto or Sound).
2. Put B/C to Slave (DMX off).
3. Daisy-chain signal like normal; keep the terminator on the last unit.
4. Dial sensitivity so kicks trigger but vocals don’t.

Use it when you need synced movement without programming time.

• Sound-active: set sensitivity, give it a steady kick source, keep haze light.
• Auto: pick a slower program for open hours, a faster one for peak.

These modes are your “set-and-smile” safety net—great for bars with staff doing triple duty.

• No response: wrong address/Universe, or last fixture forgot to terminate.
• Random flashes: cables > 100 m total, or mic cables instead of DMX.
• Only some eyes work: you disabled a section (Ch7–12). Re-enable one by one.
• Tunnel looks mushy: too much fog. Use light, even haze.
• Overheating: direct sun + closed cover. Add airflow or shade, not just rain protection.

Fixture,Address,Mode,Notes
Bar A,001,19ch,Center
Bar B,020,19ch,Left
Bar C,039,19ch,Right

Cue,Look,Notes
1,Warm-up Fan,Slow speed low Y-swing
2,Build,Add alternating eyes
3,Drop,Tunnel macro medium speed
4,Break,Static fan no strobe
5,Peak,Strobe chase 6-8Hz

If you want the shortest path from setup to fan/tunnel magic, build your rig around the B4 RGB Laser Bar first, then scale: one today, two next month, three for the holiday crush. Your crowd won’t know how easy it was—you will.