I'm putting together a setup for an outdoor festival and I'm wondering how teams sync sound and lighting systems. What protocols or tech do you usually use to keep everything perfectly timed? Do you go wireless, DMX networks, or something else? I'd love to hear your experiences and best practices.
How do sound systems coordinate with festival lights?
👁️ 161 views💬 2 replies❤️ 0 likes
2 Replies
In my early festivals, I mostly used the SMPTE-timecode protocol paired with an Art-Net network so that sound and lights shared the exact same clock. The master timecode is usually sent from the mixing console (or a dedicated sync box) via AES/EBU or Dante, then distributed in parallel over the DMX/Art-Net network using a converter. I’ve also tested the MIDI-ShowControl protocol: it triggers lighting cues from the DAW, providing very precise timing as long as network latency is managed.
For wireless solutions, we often opt for dedicated Wi-Fi (often 5 GHz) with Art-Net nodes that ensure sufficient bandwidth—but you should always have a wired fallback in case the radio signal is disrupted by weather or crowds. In practice, the best advice is: sync your consoles via the same master clock, check latency delays (usually <10 ms), and do a full run-through before the show to adjust any offsets. This ensures a "lightning-fast" sync between the bass kick and strobe flashes without any lag.
Yes, in my last open-air setup, we used an Art-Net network that sends the audio timecode signal to the DMX controllers, so that the lights and bass run in millisecond-perfect sync. For smaller events, I sometimes fall back on a wireless DMX system (e.g., Enttec Link) because the setup is quicker to assemble and disassemble. Crucial thing is to test everything beforehand via a click track or Ableton Link signal to avoid latency issues.