How to Begin with Lasers in Your Stage Lighting

[@audiblecreations1]

Thank you so much for all of the knowledge you have shared with our community. Your videos have made my bands live show exponentially better and I directly attribute our success to the enhanced live performance we provide.. in which, you have helped create through your knowledge and willingness to share. We are a top tier cover band and we can't thank you enough!

[@HairyScaryMark]

Thanks for the video. I'd never really seen any particularly helpful videos about lasers until now.

[@numberonespacexfan3715]

Unless you are from New York State, unfortunately, they have a draconian policy of requiring you to have a separate state license which is just not necessary for an entertainer to maintain safety. You must pass a NYS test that they don't allow you to study their criteria. Ironically, passing that test qualifies you for a job as an industrial laser operator which pays at least 80k. A federal variance is all that should be required for entertainers. That law needs to change.

[@JoeDarnell-dk7fh]

Thanks for the video David

[@victorwarner319]

its a racket my friend why else would they do it like taht

[@saint.cricri]

I like this guys energy 👍

[@LearnStageLighting]

Thanks!

[@danquay9504]

Great advice, I have few basic lasers.. for mobile DJ , as I love ❤️ lasers, I always point the lasers away from iPhone screen or sky or ceiling and I do that above people just for safety

[@satanmessenger361]

Very interesting video I love using laser but in my living room it's good to know what to buy and what is safe to use

[@versatilecomfort]

Very good video! Really went in depth !

[@boasfonsdal405]

Really good video. Such a good work😀 know much more about lasers now😀

[@kiltacular280]

Step one: be rich 😂

[@mills1540]

Or slowly invest in yourself and stop complaining 🤷‍♂️

[@joeysconspiracycorner]

Seriously. Start with one at a time. Don't buy more unless you're getting gigs with one. It's not more expensive than buying a lighting collection or a couple sticks of truss

[@kiltacular280]

@@mills1540 I wasn’t complaining but go off king I guess

[@LDProOSU]

Yes

[@joeysconspiracycorner]

But I do agree, being rich would be nice because I want a large collection of them and have to save to even buy one because life, especially with a family is expensive, at least where I live

[@victorwarner319]

what portable dmx console do you recommend?

[@garrettwright6431]

Anyone know where I could start to learn how to build lasers?

[@MrMetalpunx]

skip to 20:00

[@glivingston38]

I went to X lasers site. I am not a DJ and I do not want to put that kind of cash into a hobby. I do what I do for the fun and not to make money. So basically, it means this is out of my territory. That is a shame. Overall, I liked the video, very informative video. I do the outdoor holiday lights, and this would be cool for Halloween. It be cool projecting this out of my third story attic room which is well above anyone.

[@bilbofloggins7713]

Get a laser cube

[@F1reb1ad3]

I’d like to see you review the laser cube by x laser

[@LearnStageLighting]

I did! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4iahGqKa7aAh6M , the newer ones are brighter and networkable, but the concept and control is the same.

[@F1reb1ad3]

@@LearnStageLighting thanks for replying, perfect! 🙌🏻

[@matlightfxproductions]

Just got a scorpion dual rgb

[@JonGarcia1990]

Will lasers from Temu work? They claim to have DMX

[@Sk8buzz]

Awesome video

[@LearnStageLighting]

Thanks!

[@satanmessenger361]

I'm a big fan of lasers

[@scottadkin541]

Always superb videos

[@LearnStageLighting]

Thank you so much 😀

[@optoluxprime7892]

Great vid

[@MatthewJohnson8]

Still don’t know how to patch this laser or anything. Just talked about the safety and what a laser can do.

[@MatthewJohnson8]

Couldn’t tell if wanted to be a tutorial or a safety guide

[@TheKingdomSecrets]

Hey so since I can’t find a lot of answers for my interests I wonder if you know So I’m starting off in laser shows and I want to do a crazy laser light show for people to enjoy. Of course there’s the good lasers with ILDA softwares and those cost a good amount. I’m wondering how much can you program with DMX. I wanna buy a DMX controller to program some basic lasers. But what I’m confused about is that can I pre program a show with DMX or if I want to do a show would I have to be behind the controller at all times controlling it as the song goes?

[@LearnStageLighting]

The answer to this depends on (2) factors: 1) You need to have a capable DMX controller. On the cheaper end, that usually means a piece of software, NOT a cheap little lighting board. For what you're doing, I recommend ONYX or LightKey (Mac). ONYX is better, but the learning curve is a little higher. 2) The laser itself. Most cheaper DMX lasers offer little customization and control via DMX. You can turn them on and off, select from some patterns of movement, and that's generally it. Forget smooth fades and transitions, they may not be possible. If you truly want to make a nice laser show, you should look at $2000+ lasers that feature a programming engine like X-Laser's Mercury OR Pangolin's FB4. These allow you to get real, solid control from a DMX controller.

[@TheKingdomSecrets]

Learn Stage Lighting .com thank you so much for this information you really helped me out a lot! I will absolutely look into the onyx softwares but I did see that there are touch controllers for the software would that be better? And about the lasers themselves I would absolutely no disagree with getting a laser that has so many more options but the problem is that as much as I’d want to get one that strong I’m scared of getting it because there always would be a chance your programming it and it goes right for your eyes. Laser goggles work of course but they are usually super dark red and it’s hard to see the beauty of it. I bought a cheap DMX controller just to see how a controller works for them since I’ve never used one might as well start there and continue from there. Even 1w lasers might be too much just to start off from but ILDA connections are def a must.

[@originalfallinggirl]

Get an ilda DAC. DMX sucks with lasers.

[@mikey38632]

If I shoot a cheap laser at a rear projection screen (so, facing the audience) will this be dangerous? What about with stronger lasers? I'm concerned about the laser beaming through into the audience since the screen obviously is not completely opaque. I want patterns on the screen without a computer-connected projector in this case.

[@mikey38632]

Events where I would use this are relatively small "school dance" type (i.e. not a real "rave" but similar) events where the screens are set up all weekend for various reasons (they are weekend conventions and we clear audience chairs from the room). I can't hang anything from the ceiling in the venue we are renting. I am limited to putting everything on the floor/stands/carts/tables etc. and there will be folks dancing and moving about the floor. So since the screens will be there I want to rest the projectors and shoot interesting laser patters at the screens.

[@LearnStageLighting]

With lasers in the US, you are required to have someone with eyes on the laser and a safety switch at all times. I say this because this person could then be watching in case anything would happen. But as long as the screen material is thick enough (like a projection screen) to stop the laser, it should be find. I would try to engineer it so that the laser was low and pointing upwards, so that by time it leaves the front of the screen (which it won't), it is over people's heads. And of course, the area between the laser and the screen will be a no-entry zone. Laser Disclaimer - this in no way is a full set of safety information, always follow all manufacturer and federal instructions and guidance, and be safe!

[@mikey38632]

@@LearnStageLighting Great advice! I already do the things you advised and thought it will be OK, I just wanted a second opinion. I definitely will be finding more information on all the details. Thank you!

[@cono4949]

You are a robot bro

[@stufigol]

Do when you say DMX control, do you need to connect the laser to the mixer? I was gifted a skywriter hpx and have no clue how to get it to work. Can I turn it on without DMX or ilda?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Yes - put it in "Mercury" mode, the simplest mode (basic, 1 builder) is only 28 DMX channels - x-laser.com/pages/mercury-laser-control-system

[@stufigol]

@@LearnStageLighting Thanks for your reply. My projector does not have the digital menu screen on it. I got the projector to work and I am guessing the random functioning is the default mode where it just switches from pattern to pattern. Correct?

[@jessicahamby4715]

Are you from GA?

[@LearnStageLighting]

TN

[@RobertKoszewski]

How do the laser rules work when the aim is to do people scanning?

[@KumaBean]

Lower powered lasers (suited to the size of the venue), fast scanning speed so the laser doesn’t sit pointing at one spot for extended periods, and fog to dissipate the laser beam, making the beams less intense by the time they reach the audience (obviously this also greatly adds to the effect, but there’s no point in having lasers without fog anyway, or at least haze, imho, but you most likely already knew this, lol) All the best Brother 🤝 🍻

[@KumaBean]

To add, I’m British; Laws, rules, and regulations may differ in other places.

[@CR38TR]

What? A laser is NOT a "super bright LED"

[@joeysconspiracycorner]

The fact that you had to even say "im not trying to be political here" is really sad.

[@originalfallinggirl]

I use my laser to light my cigarettes

[@LearnStageLighting]

That's one way to do it.

[@johnayala2011]

You don't even have a laser in the video dice..

[@MatthewJohnson8]

Not very helpful

[@originalfallinggirl]

Why do you hate China?

[@glivingston38]

Hating Chine is irrelevant, but we all know there is a lot of stuff sold on Ebay, Amazon etc. from China that should not because it breaks our rules.

[@originalfallinggirl]

@@glivingston38 there’s a lot of stuff I circuit bend in my own workshop that would “break a rule” if I sold it. Most people seeking these powerful diodes have an understanding of their dangers. And, honestly, it net benefit to society by permitting these powerful components to be sold on eBay far exceeds to realistic dangers that are also inherent. For example I have a friend who is a hobbyist like me but works extensively with rf. The components he purchases are prohibited by the fda. BUT recently he developed a method that is Al is as precise as gamma knife that WILL eventually allow rural hospitals to remove tumors in patients who would certainly die otherwise due to lack of expensive equipment like gamma knife.

[@mluterancik]

Be careful with lasers if you dont want to end up with his hairline.

[@LearnStageLighting]

Hahaha! Fortunately that hairline pattern runs in my family!

[@TuffEnuffIII]

screw the government. just use what works for your show and be careful