Quick Start: Live Visuals in 30 Minutes
Get audio-reactive visuals running at your event with this streamlined setup process.
Install REACT
Download REACT from Compeller.ai. Available for Windows and macOS. The free tier includes all features needed for live events.
- Download: ~500MB
- Installation: 5 minutes
- No account required for free tier
Connect Audio
Connect your audio source to REACT. Options include line-in from the venue mixer, USB audio interface, or system audio capture.
- Use "Audio Input" dropdown in REACT
- Select your audio source
- Verify levels show activity
Output to Display
Connect your output to projectors, LED walls, or streaming software. REACT supports HDMI, NDI, and Spout protocols.
- HDMI: Connect to secondary display
- NDI: Enable in settings for network output
- Spout: Use with OBS or Resolume
Need more detail? Continue reading for comprehensive setup instructions.
Equipment Requirements
What you need for professional live event visuals, from budget setups to high-end productions.
Club/DJ Setup
$500-1,500
Computer
- Any laptop from 2020+
- 16GB RAM minimum
- Integrated or dedicated GPU
- Windows 10/11 or macOS 11+
Audio Input
- 3.5mm line-in cable ($10)
- Or: Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($120)
Output
- HDMI to venue projector
- Or: HDMI to portable projector ($200-500)
Best For
Club nights, DJ sets, small venues, house parties, personal practice
Professional Setup
$2,000-5,000
Computer
- Intel i7/Ryzen 7 or better
- 32GB RAM
- NVIDIA RTX 3060+ or AMD equivalent
- SSD for smooth operation
Audio Input
- Professional audio interface ($200-400)
- Direct box for clean mixer feed
- Backup: system audio capture
Output
- NDI for network distribution
- Multiple HDMI outputs
- Spout for software integration
Best For
Touring bands, festival stages, corporate events, professional VJ work
High-End Production
$10,000+
Computer
- Workstation-class machine
- 64GB+ RAM
- NVIDIA RTX 4080/4090
- Redundant backup system
Audio Input
- Multi-channel interface (8+ inputs)
- Dante/AVB network audio
- Isolated audio feeds per instrument
Output
- Media server integration
- Direct LED wall protocols
- 4K/8K output capability
- Multi-screen synchronized output
Best For
Major tours, stadium shows, broadcast productions, permanent installations
Concert Visuals Software Options
Compare the leading software options for live event visuals.
| Software | Type | Price | Audio-Reactive | Learning Curve | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REACT (Compeller.ai) | AI Audio-Reactive | Free tier / $99/mo | Native | Easy | Audio-reactive visuals, automated shows |
| Resolume Arena | VJ Software | $799 one-time | Plugin | Medium | Manual VJ control, video mixing |
| TouchDesigner | Visual Programming | Free / $600 | Custom | Hard | Custom installations, advanced users |
| VDMX | VJ Software | $349 one-time | Plugin | Medium | Mac users, modular workflow |
| MadMapper | Projection Mapping | $449 one-time | Limited | Medium | Projection mapping, spatial design |
Why We Recommend REACT
REACT is purpose-built for audio-reactive visuals. While other software requires manual triggering or complex audio analysis setups, REACT handles it natively with zero configuration. The free tier is genuinely usable for professional events.
Audio Configuration
Getting clean audio into your visual software is crucial for responsive visuals.
Connection Methods
1. Direct Line-In (Recommended)
Get an aux send or direct out from the venue's mixing console. This provides the cleanest signal without crowd noise.
- Ask the sound engineer for an aux send
- Use a 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter if needed
- Connect to your audio interface or laptop line-in
2. USB Audio Interface
A dedicated audio interface provides better quality and more routing options.
- Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($120) - Great starter
- Native Instruments Komplete Audio ($150) - DJ-focused
- MOTU M2 ($200) - Professional quality
3. System Audio Capture
Capture audio playing on your computer using virtual audio cable software.
- Windows: VoiceMeeter (free) or VB-Cable
- macOS: BlackHole (free) or Loopback
- Good for streaming or when playing from same computer
Optimization Tips
Ideal Audio Levels
Keep your input levels peaking around -12dB to -6dB. This gives headroom for transients while maintaining strong signal.
Gain Staging
- Start with input gain at 50%
- Play the loudest part of a typical track
- Adjust until peaks hit -6dB
- Check both quiet and loud songs
Avoid These Common Issues
- Clipping: Turn down input if you see red/orange meters
- Weak signal: Visuals won't respond to quiet audio
- Ground loops: Use DI box or ground lift adapters
- Latency: Use ASIO drivers on Windows
REACT-Specific Settings
REACT includes automatic gain adjustment, but for best results:
- Enable "Auto Gain" for varying volumes
- Use "Sensitivity" slider to tune reactivity
- Set "Smoothing" lower for punchy music, higher for ambient
Display & Output Setup
Configure your visual output for projectors, LED walls, or streaming.
HDMI/DisplayPort
Direct connection to projectors, monitors, or LED processors.
- Extend display (not mirror)
- Set resolution to match output
- 60fps minimum recommended
NDI (Network)
Send video over Ethernet to multiple destinations.
- Enable in REACT settings
- Receives via NDI-capable devices
- Ideal for multi-screen setups
Spout/Syphon
Share video between applications on same computer.
- Spout (Windows) / Syphon (Mac)
- Zero-latency transfer
- Use with OBS, Resolume, etc.
Live Streaming
Capture visuals for Twitch, YouTube, etc.
- Use Spout output to OBS
- Or: Window/display capture
- Overlay on camera feeds
Resolution Quick Reference
| Use Case | Resolution | Aspect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Projector | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | Most common, widely compatible |
| 4K Display | 3840×2160 | 16:9 | Requires powerful GPU |
| Wide LED Wall | 3840×1080 | 32:9 | Custom resolution in REACT |
| Portrait Screen | 1080×1920 | 9:16 | Rotate output in settings |
| Streaming Overlay | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | Match stream resolution |
REACT Configuration Guide
Detailed walkthrough of setting up Compeller.ai's REACT for your live event.
Download & Install
Visit compeller.ai/react and download the installer for your platform.
- Windows: Run the .exe installer, follow prompts
- macOS: Open the .dmg, drag to Applications
- Launch REACT after installation
Select Audio Input
Click the audio input dropdown in the top toolbar.
- Select your audio interface or line-in device
- For system audio: Select your virtual audio cable
- Watch the level meter—it should show activity when music plays
Choose Visual Preset
Browse the preset library or start with a genre-optimized template.
- EDM/Electronic: High-energy particles, geometric shapes
- Rock/Metal: Fire, lightning, aggressive movement
- Hip-Hop: Typography, glitch effects, urban aesthetics
- Ambient: Flowing, organic, smooth transitions
- Corporate: Subtle, professional, brand-friendly
Adjust Reactivity Settings
Fine-tune how visuals respond to your specific audio.
- Sensitivity: How much audio affects visuals (start at 50%)
- Smoothing: Lower = punchy response, Higher = flowing
- Frequency Focus: Emphasize bass, mids, or highs
- Beat Sync: Enable for tempo-locked animations
Configure Output
Set up your display output method.
- Fullscreen: Press F11 or use View → Fullscreen, select display
- NDI: Enable in Settings → Output → NDI
- Spout: Enable in Settings → Output → Spout
- Resolution: Set in Settings → Display to match your output
Go Live!
Your audio-reactive visuals are now running. REACT will handle everything automatically.
- Visuals react in real-time to every beat and frequency
- No manual triggering required
- Adjust settings live if needed
- Use keyboard shortcuts for quick changes during performance
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Quick fixes for the most common live event visual problems.
- Check audio input selection in software
- Verify audio levels show activity on meter
- Increase input gain or sensitivity
- Try a different audio source to isolate issue
- Restart audio engine in settings
- Lower output resolution (try 1080p instead of 4K)
- Close other applications using GPU
- Update graphics drivers
- Use performance mode in settings
- Check CPU/GPU temps—may be thermal throttling
- This is usually a ground loop—use a DI box with ground lift
- Try a different USB port (avoid hubs)
- Use balanced cables if possible
- Move laptop power away from audio cables
- Try running laptop on battery temporarily to isolate
- Check cable connections
- Ensure display is set to "Extend" not "Mirror"
- Select correct display in fullscreen settings
- Try different resolution settings
- Test with another source to verify display works
- Ensure both devices are on same network/subnet
- Check firewall isn't blocking NDI (port 5960+)
- Verify NDI is enabled in REACT settings
- Try NDI Studio Monitor to test visibility
- Restart NDI service in both sender and receiver
- Update to latest version of REACT
- Update graphics drivers
- Reduce visual complexity (fewer particles, lower resolution)
- Check available RAM—close other apps
- Contact support with crash logs from AppData/Compeller/logs
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about live event visuals and concert visuals software.
Recommended: Intel i7/Ryzen 7, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3060+.
REACT is optimized to run smoothly on mid-range hardware, but higher specs enable 4K output and more complex visuals.
1) Line-in from mixer/soundboard using 3.5mm or 1/4" cable
2) USB audio interface for professional-grade input
3) Virtual audio cable software for capturing system audio
REACT supports all three and includes automatic gain adjustment.
Ready to Transform Your Live Events?
Join thousands of event producers creating stunning audio-reactive visuals with REACT.
Questions? Contact our team