Step 1
Connecting a Projector
DeckBeam needs an external display to show the crowd-facing visual — your phone's own screen stays a private preview and control panel throughout the set. A projector is what gives the laser-beam effect; a regular TV works too, just as a flat beat-reactive visual instead of beams in the room.
Wired — HDMI
Connect your iPhone or iPad to a projector or TV using a Lightning/USB-C to HDMI adapter. DeckBeam detects the external display automatically and starts mirroring the visual to it.
Wireless — AirPlay
Open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring, then select an AirPlay-capable TV or receiver on the same network. DeckBeam sends the same visual output over AirPlay as it does over HDMI.
Grant microphone access
The first time you start audio capture, iOS will ask for microphone permission. DeckBeam needs this to listen to the room — allow it, or beat detection can't run.
Step 2
Getting the Laser Look
DeckBeam isn't a real laser — it's a video projector, and its patterns are built to read as laser-style beams once there's haze or fog in the air to catch the light. Without haze, the same patterns still display, just as a flat projected image rather than beams cutting through the room.
Run a small haze machine
A basic haze/fog machine is enough — you don't need heavy theatrical fog, just a light, even haze in the air between the projector and where the beams will land.
Confirm the venue's haze policy
Some venues restrict fog or haze machines because they can trigger smoke detectors. Check this the same way you'd confirm anything else on your gear list, separately from any laser-specific rules — DeckBeam itself isn't a laser, so laser certification and venue laser variances don't apply.
Angle the projector across the room
Beams read best when the projector is angled across open space rather than straight at a nearby wall — give the fanned beams room to travel through the haze before they land.
Step 3
Choosing & Managing Patterns
DeckBeam ships with 9 built-in, audio-reactive patterns. Tap any pattern in the control panel to preview it, and check the Auto box on any pattern you want included in rotation.
| Pattern | Feel |
|---|---|
| Scanner | A sweeping line that snaps on hits |
| Derby | Layered rings pulsing outward |
| Laser Burst | Sharp radiating beams on kicks |
| Moonflower | A blooming ring of petals |
| Polygon | Rotating geometric shapes |
| RGB Spot | Classic moving-head spot look |
| Raindrops | Scattered drops triggered by hits |
| Snowstorm | Dense particles drifting and flaring |
| Spinner | Arcs spinning faster with the beat |
Auto mode
Every checked pattern rotates automatically, roughly once a minute, so the visual keeps evolving through a long set without you touching your phone.
Manual mode
Tap a specific pattern to lock onto it — useful for matching a pattern's color and motion to a specific track or moment.
Silence dimming
When the room goes quiet — between tracks, during a mic break — the visual dims automatically instead of flashing on leftover noise.
Live thumbnails
Each pattern in the control panel shows a real captured thumbnail, so you know what you're picking before you commit mid-set.
Step 4
Adding Your Own Photo or GIF
Tap the add-pattern button
In the control panel, tap the photo/GIF picker to open your library.
Pick an image or animated GIF
Choose a logo, event flyer, or any animated GIF. DeckBeam decodes both static images and animated GIFs through the same import flow — no separate steps.
It's added to your pattern list
Your custom pattern appears alongside the built-ins, reacts to the beat the same way, and is saved on your device — it'll still be there the next time you open DeckBeam.
Step 5
Starting & Monitoring a Set
Tap start to begin listening
DeckBeam starts capturing audio from your selected input and immediately begins driving the current pattern on both screens.
Check the status bar
A silence indicator and the current mode (Auto/Manual) are always visible at the top of the control panel, so you can see the pipeline is live at a glance.
Switch inputs if needed
If you have multiple microphones available (built-in, headset, external), you can choose which one DeckBeam listens through from the input selector.
Screen stays awake
DeckBeam keeps your phone's screen from locking during a set, so the pipeline never pauses because iOS put your phone to sleep.
Reference
Settings Reference
Input selection
Choose which microphone DeckBeam listens through — useful if you have an external mic connected instead of relying on the built-in one.
Auto checkbox per pattern
Controls which patterns are eligible for automatic rotation. Uncheck any pattern you don't want showing up unattended.
Remove a custom pattern
Long-press or use the delete control on any photo/GIF pattern in the control panel to remove it from your library.
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