How do I synchronise lasers, audio and stage lighting for live concerts?
- Share
- Issue Time
- Sep 9,2026
Direct answerUse timecode, DMX and ILDA together. Laser cues and animation scenes are programmed in advance, then triggered in line with music beats, vocal performance and lighting changes.
How Each Control Layer Works
| Layer | Function |
|---|---|
| Timecode | Locks laser cues to the playback track frame by frame |
| DMX512 | Places laser actions inside the lighting console cue stack |
| ILDA | Carries the graphic, animation and beam content itself |
| Manual override | Lets the operator follow the band when the set changes |
Programming Sequence That Works
- Agree the set list and track timings before programming begins
- Build laser cues against the rehearsal recording, not a studio mix
- Leave a manual trigger group for improvised sections and encores
- Test the full show with the band once before the first public performance
Programming against a fixed timeline and rehearsing with the band prevents the small timing shifts that make a laser show look off-beat.