Laser Show Formats
All recorded laser imagery is technically very similar. But the differences in voltages, timing, scan rate, and track assignments keeps them from being interchangeable.
Pangolin BEYOND
In 2016 Laser Fantasy began distributing shows in the BEYOND format for play back on a PC running software developed by Pangolin Laser Systems. The BEYOND format allows for editing of shows & playlists, live performance, and show creation.
Recorded formats for ADAT or HD24:
Laser Fantasy XYI
This is the original Laser Fantasy recorded laser show format. It is designed for live performance systems where a Laserist manually performs all color control from a console. These shows have two channels of 12k imagery with blanking.
Track assignments = XYIXYILR
Laser Fantasy 1 ch RGB
This format contains the Red, Green, and Blue signals for a full color show. These shows have one channel of 24k colorized imagery.
Track assignments = XY_RGBLR
Laser Fantasy 2 ch RGB
Mainly used for road shows or installations. This format consists of two channels of colorized imagery, plus the X and Y signals for beam effects and a timecode track. This format uses 16 digital tracks from 2 adats or an HD24.
Track assignments = XYXRGBLR, XYYRGB_D
Laser Fantasy Hybrid
This format bridges the XYI performance format with the 1 ch RGB format. Two channels of abstract imagery are recorded in XYI for live performance and the animations are 1 ch RGB.
Track assignments = XYIXYILR switches to XY_RGBLR
ILDA
The ILDA format was developed to create a standard across the laser show industry. Laser Fantasy shows in the ILDA format have one channel of 24k RGB imagery.
Track assignments = XYRGBDLR
Omniscan
Developed by AVI for full dome projections. Laser Fantasy shows in the Omniscan format are one channel of 24k RGB imagery. Some animations are reduced in scale for easier viewing, the abstracts fill the dome.
Track assignments = XYRGBBLR
Skylase
Developed by AVI for full dome projections, with ILDA standard color timing. Laser Fantasy shows in the Skylase format are one channel of 24k RGB imagery. Some animations are reduced in scale for easier viewing, the abstracts fill the dome. (Beam programming on 16 track version available on request)
Track assignments = XYRGBBLR
Key:
12k, 24k, 30k etc = Scan rate, ie. 12,000 points scanned per second
X = Horizontal axis
Y = Vertical axis
I = Intensity (blanking)
R = Red
G = Green
B = Blue
D = Data (usually smpte timecode)
L = Left audio
R = Right audio