WHAT LASER CONTROL HARDWARE IS RIGHT FOR YOU
To create and run a laser show, you need a laser control system. A laser control system is a combination of laser control hardware and software. The software allows you to design and create your desired laser shows and effects, and the hardware plays that content back across the laser projector. In order to create laser shows like the ones shown above, you need to have a laser control system.
When you are new to lasers, an important thing to consider when purchasing a laser control system and laser projector is “how” you want to run your show - literally meaning how do you want to physically setup and run everything. Below we will discuss the most commonly used laser control hardware systems, and explain how you can setup them up in a real world scenarios. This will provide you with a better understanding of what laser show hardware setup is right for you.
FB3QS - SIMPLE, PLUG-AND-PLAY, LASER CONTROL HARDWARE
Protocols supported: USB, ILDA (DMX and ArtNet through Pangolin software with Enttec)
The FB3QS hardware is a simple and easy to use laser control hardware, great for people who are new to lasers. It connects to your PC via USB, and then to the laser projector using an ILDA cable. Pictures of the FB3QS hardware, as well as diagrams showing the basic setups available with this laser show hardware, are below.
Basic diagram showing FB3QS and laser setup
NOTE: Here we have PC running Pangolin software. It connects to the FB3QS via USB, and then to the laser projector using an ILDA cable run. You can also control this setup from a DMX console if you desire. But it requires the use of a third party DMX hardware, called the Enttec. In addition, it is recommended that you do not run the ILDA cable longer than 150ft (~45m).
FB4 INSIDE - THE FUTURE OF LASER PROJECTORS
Protocols supported: Network, DMX, ArtNet, Stand-alone, ILDA
- Network and ArtNet in/out (ethercon available)
- Full color display (controls colors, safety, geometry and more)
- Real Time Clock (for stand alone operation - i.e. auto-mode)
- SD Memory System (up to 64GB)
- DMX in/through
- ILDA in/through
The latest technology on the market now, is having the FB4 media server entirely integrated with your laser projector. This setup offers a wide variety of advantages, as it dramatically simplifies the control setup, reduces cabling, and makes control of multiple projector laser shows so much easier. Not only that, but it allows lighting professionals to integrate lasers into multimedia setups, in a much more convenient way. Currently most professional laser projectors have the ability for FB4 to be integrated, and in time, all laser projectors will operate in this manner. It truly is, the future of laser show technology in that regard.
When working with FB4, there are three powerful, yet easy to use setups, for controlling your laser show. These are outlined below.
HOW TO USE FB4 INSIDE YOUR LASER
PC mode - Simply run a network cable from your PC to your laser projector with FB4, and you are setup and done. It’s just that simple.
Lighting console mode - Lasers with FB4 support both the DMX and Art Net protocols. And as mentioned above FB4 also has on board SD card memory. This makes it easy to control a laser with FB4, from any lighting or DMX console. Simply create your laser content in software (QuickShow or BEYOND), and save it to FB4. Then, you can run a DMX or ArtNet feed to the laser projector with FB4 and you are setup and done. You can then control your laser with FB4 from any lighting or DMX console of your choice.
Stand alone operation (RTC) - All lasers with FB4 inside support a standard called “RTC” or real time clock. We also call this “stand alone operation” or “auto mode”. When using a laser with FB4 in this setup, you can create your content in laser design software (like QuickShow or BEYOND), and then save it to the memory system on the FB4. FB4 has a built in clock, so that you can tell the system to play the show or content you created back, at a specified date and time. And you do not need to have a PC, console or anything connected, to trigger the playback. Just run power to the laser, and you are setup and done. The show will run itself automatically, without the need of for PC or console, to trigger and start the show.
You can also update content on the laser with FB4, over a network cable. Making it very easy to change and edit content, when you need to.
- .. Let’s say you programmed a show, and you want it to run every Friday evening at 20:00 hours (8:00pm). You can create that content in laser design software like QuickShow or BEYOND, save it to FB4, and then set the clock on FB4 to play it back automatically at that specified date and time. As long as the laser projector with FB4 inside has power, the show will run automatically at the date and time you specified. And no PC or console needs to be used to trigger this.
Step 1 - Program your content in software, and save to FB4 inside your laser.
* NOTE - You can also send content to the memory of FB4 on your laser, over the network
Step 2 - Set the clock on FB4, to display that content at a given date and time.
Step 3 - Your show will run itself automatically, at the date and time you specified. No PC or console needed to trigger this. It is truly automatic, in that regard.
FB4 EXTERNAL - AN EXTERNAL MEDIA SERVER, FOR LASER SHOWS
Protocols supported: Network, DMX, ArtNet, Stand-alone, and ILDA
FB4 is a laser show hardware media server for laser shows. It is a network based control system with support for all major lighting protocols (network, DMX, ArtNet, stand-alone and ILDA). It features a full color display, as well as an onboard SD card memory system. When using an external FB4 device, you open up a few more control possibilities. These are briefly described below.
HOW TO USE FB4 EXTERNAL WITH YOUR LASER
PC mode - Simply run a network cable from your PC to the FB4 external hardware, and then from the hardware, run an ILDA cable to the back of the laser.
Lighting console mode - FB4 supports both the DMX and ArtNet protocols and as mentioned above it has on board SD card memory. When operating in lighting console mode, you can create your content in software (QuickShow or BEYOND), and save it to FB4. Then, you can run a DMX or ArtNet feed to the FB4 external hardware, and then an ILDA cable to the laser projector. You then control the content on FB4, from the lighting or DMX console of your choice.
Stand alone operation (RTC) - All FB4 devices support a standard called “RTC” or real time clock. We also call this “stand alone operation”. When using FB4 external in this setup, you can create your content in laser design software (like QuickShow or BEYOND), and then save it to the memory system on the FB4. FB4 has a built in clock, so that you can tell the system to play the show or content you created back, at a specified date and time. And you do not need to have a PC, console or anything connected, to trigger the playback. Just run power to the FB4 External and laser show projector, and the show will run itself automatically, without the need of a PC or console, to trigger and start the show.
Example... Let’s say you programmed a show, and you want it to run every Friday evening, at 20:00 hours (8:00pm). You can create that content in laser design software like QuickShow or BEYOND, save it to FB4, and then set the clock on FB4 to play it back automatically at that specified date and time. As long as the FB4 External and laser projector have power, the show will run automatically at the date and time you specified. And no PC or console needs to be used, to trigger this.
Step 1 - Program your content in software, and save to FB4
Step 2 - Set the clock on FB4, to display that content at a given date and time
Step 3 - Run your show in standalone mode (no PC or console required)
As long as the FB4 external laser show hardware and laser have power, your show will run at the specified date and time you define. You can also update content on the FB4, over a network cable
