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Overview

VRSL integrates deeply with AudioLink to create music-reactive lighting effects. AudioLink fixtures respond to audio frequencies in real-time, creating dynamic lighting that pulses, strobes, and moves with the music.
AudioLink v0.3.0 or newer is required for VRSL. The integration uses shader-based AudioLink for minimal performance overhead.
AudioLink is a VRChat system that analyzes audio in real-time and makes that data available to shaders and scripts. It divides audio into frequency bands (Bass, Low Mids, High Mids, Treble) that can drive visual effects.
  • Real-time frequency band reactions
  • Color Chord support (colors sync with music)
  • AudioLink Theme Color integration
  • Texture sampling for custom color patterns
  • Delay and sensitivity controls
  • Minimal CPU overhead (GPU-accelerated)

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Prerequisites

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Required

  • VRSL package installed via VPM
  • AudioLink 0.3.0+ package
  • VRChat SDK3 for Worlds
  • UdonSharp
  • A music/audio source (USharpVideo, ProTV, etc.)
  • PostProcessing Stack V2 (for bloom effects)
  • Basic understanding of audio frequency bands

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Installation Steps

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  • Add the AudioLink repository to VCC if not already added
  • In your VRChat Creator Companion:
    • Open your project
    • Navigate to “Manage Packages”
    • Find “AudioLink” and click Add
  • Wait for Unity to import
    • 4
  • In Unity, navigate to VRSL > Control Panel
  • In the Control Panel window, find “AudioLink Spawns” section
  • Click “Spawn AudioLink (VRSL Edition)” for the VRSL-configured version
    • Alternatively, click “Spawn Standard AudioLink” for the default version
  • The AudioLink prefab appears in your scene at origin
    • 5
    The VRSL Edition AudioLink prefab includes pre-configured settings optimized for stage lighting. The Standard version gives you more manual control.
    7
  • In VRSL Control Panel, under AudioLink Spawns
  • Click “Spawn AudioLink Controller (VRSL Edition)”
  • This adds the UI panel for controlling AudioLink settings in-world
  • Position it near your DJ booth or control area
    • 8
    Configure Audio Source
    9
  • Select the AudioLink prefab in your hierarchy
  • In the Inspector, find the AudioLink component
  • Connect your audio source:
    • Drag your video player GameObject into the “Audio Source” field
    • Or assign the AudioSource component directly
  • Adjust AudioLink settings:
    • Gain: Overall audio sensitivity (start at 1.0)
    • Bass/Treble/etc: Individual band multipliers
    • Theme Colors: Set up to 4 colors for theme color mode
    • 11
  • Open VRSL Control Panel
  • Navigate to the “Spawns” section
  • Choose your fixture type and select the AudioLink variant:
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Spotlight
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Washlight
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Blinder
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Flasher
    • VRSL-AudioLink-PAR
    • VRSL-AudioLink-LightBar
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Discoball
    • VRSL-AudioLink-Laser
  • Place fixtures in your scene

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    Basic Settings

    Select an AudioLink fixture and examine the VRStageLighting_AudioLink_Static component: Audio Link Settings:
    • Enable AudioLink: Master toggle for AudioLink reaction
    • Band: Which frequency band to react to
      • Bass (0) - Low frequency, kick drums
      • Low Mids (1) - Bass guitar, lower vocals
      • High Mids (2) - Vocals, guitars
      • Treble (3) - Hi-hats, cymbals
    • Delay: Frame delay (0-127) for creating trailing effects
    • Band Multiplier: Sensitivity (1.0-15.0), higher = more reactive
    General Settings:
    • Global Intensity: Master brightness (0-1)
    • Final Intensity: Maximum brightness limit
    • Light Color Tint: Base emission color

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    Advanced Color Settings

    Color Chord:
    • Enable Color Chord to sync fixture color with AudioLink’s Color Chord
    • Colors automatically change based on musical key/chords
    • Great for creating cohesive color schemes across all lights
    Theme Color Sampling:
    • Enable Theme Color Sampling to use AudioLink’s preset theme colors
    • Theme Color Target: Choose which theme color (1-4)
    • Set theme colors in the AudioLink prefab inspector
    • Useful for maintaining consistent venue branding colors
    Texture Sampling:
    • Enable Color Texture Sampling to sample colors from a texture
    • Set Texture Sampling Coordinates (UV coordinates 0-1)
    • Configure sampling texture in VRSL Control Panel
    • Traditional Sampling: Use full RGB color instead of white-to-black conversion
    • Great for creating complex color patterns synced to music
    Combine Color Chord with low Band Multiplier (2-4) for subtle, musical color changes. Use high multipliers (8-15) for intense strobe effects.

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    Movement and Effects

    Target Following:
    • Assign a Transform to Target To Follow
    • Moving head fixtures will track the target
    • Great for performer spotlights or dynamic effects
    • Can be combined with AudioLink intensity modulation
    Projection Effects:
    • Enable Auto Spin: Automatic gobo rotation
    • Spin Speed: Rotation speed (-10 to 10)
    • Select GOBO: Choose projection pattern (1-8)
    • Spin speed can pulse with audio when AudioLink is enabled
    Cone/Beam Settings:
    • Cone Width: Beam spread (0-5.5)
    • Cone Length: Beam distance (0-10)
    • Max Cone Length: Volumetric mesh length (0.275-10)
    • These can be modulated by audio intensity

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    Component-Based Intensity Control

    Available in VRSL 2.6.2+
    Control individual fixture components separately:
    1. Enable Final Intensity Component Mode
    2. Set individual intensities:
      • Final Intensity Volumetric: Light beam brightness
      • Final Intensity Projection: Projected gobo brightness
      • Final Intensity Fixture: Housing/body brightness
    3. Useful for creating depth and preventing oversaturation

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    Creating Music-Reactive Scenes

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    Frequency Band Strategy

    Bass Band (Kicks, Sub-bass):
    • Use for impactful effects
    • Large wash lights for stage wash
    • Blinders for impact hits
    • Disco balls for rhythmic sparkle
    • Low multiplier (2-4) for subtle pulse
    Low Mids (Bass guitar, lower vocals):
    • Medium-intensity effects
    • Side/back fill lighting
    • Complementary colors to bass band
    • Medium multiplier (4-6)
    High Mids (Vocals, guitars):
    • Detailed, expressive reactions
    • Front spotlights on performers
    • Accent lighting
    • Higher multiplier (6-10)
    Treble (Hi-hats, cymbals):
    • Quick, flashy effects
    • Strobes and blinders
    • Laser effects
    • Highest multiplier (8-15) for maximum impact

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    Example Configurations

    Subtle Ambient Lighting: 
    Fixture: Washlight
Band: Bass
Multiplier: 2.0
Delay: 0
Color Chord: Enabled
    Aggressive Strobe: 
    Fixture: Blinder  
Band: Treble
Multiplier: 12.0
Delay: 0
Color: White
    Trailing Effect: 
    Fixture: Spotlight (multiple copies)
Band: High Mids
Multiplier: 5.0
Delay: 0, 5, 10, 15 (different per fixture)
Color Chord: Enabled
    VRSL uses Custom Render Textures (CRTs) to interpolate AudioLink data smoothly:

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    Accessing CRT Settings

    1. Open VRSL Control Panel
    2. Navigate to Options > CRT Materials
    3. Select “AudioLink Interpolation”
    4. View/edit the interpolation material properties

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    Interpolation Settings

    • Smoothness: Controls how quickly lights react to audio changes
    • Lower values = faster response, more jittery
    • Higher values = slower response, smoother motion
    • Default is usually optimal

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    Local UI Control Panel

    The VRSL Local UI Control Panel provides in-world controls for AudioLink fixtures: Users can locally adjust:
    • Master intensity (affects all lights)
    • Fixture intensity (light bodies only)
    • Volumetric intensity (light beams)
    • Projection intensity (gobos)
    • Disco ball intensity
    • Laser intensity

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    Quality Settings

    Players can adjust rendering quality:
    • Volumetric quality (High/Medium/Low)
    • Projection quality (High/Low)
    • Disco ball quality (High/Low)
    • 3D noise toggle (for volumetrics)
    Lock quality modes in the Control Panel inspector to prevent users from changing them if you want to maintain consistent visuals.
    You can use both DMX and AudioLink fixtures together:

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    Hybrid Lighting Design

    Use DMX for:
    • Precise, programmed lighting cues
    • Moving head positioning and color
    • Timed sequences
    • Performer spotlights
    Use AudioLink for:
    • Reactive background/fill lighting
    • Audience area effects
    • Dynamic color changes
    • Strobe/impact effects

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    Example Setup

    Stage Layout:
- 4x DMX Moving Heads (Front truss, programmed)
- 8x AudioLink Wash Lights (Back/side, bass reactive)
- 4x AudioLink Blinders (Upstage, treble reactive)
- 2x AudioLink Lasers (Overhead, high-mid reactive)
- 1x DMX Disco Ball (Center, programmed rotation)
    1
    Test in Unity Editor
    2
  • Enter Play Mode
  • Play audio through your audio source
  • Watch the AudioLink prefab inspector:
    • Audio waveform should be visible
    • Frequency bars should react to audio
  • Observe fixtures reacting to audio
    • 3
    Adjust Sensitivity
    4
  • If lights barely react:
    • Increase AudioLink Gain
    • Increase fixture Band Multiplier
    • Check audio source volume
  • If lights are oversaturated:
    • Decrease AudioLink Gain
    • Decrease fixture Band Multiplier
    • Lower Final Intensity
    • 5
    Test Different Music Genres
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  • Electronic/EDM: High treble content, strong bass
  • Rock: Balanced across bands
  • Hip-Hop: Heavy bass emphasis
  • Classical: Dynamic range, subtle reactions
    • 7
    Adjust band assignments and multipliers based on the music style your venue will feature.

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    Common Issues

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    Fixtures Not Reacting

    Check:
    • AudioLink prefab has audio source assigned
    • Audio is actually playing
    • “Enable AudioLink” is checked on fixtures
    • AudioLink CRTs are enabled in Control Panel
    • AudioLink package is correctly installed

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    Lights Always On or Flickering

    Solutions:
    • Lower Band Multiplier
    • Reduce AudioLink Gain
    • Check for audio clipping
    • Verify audio source is in Linear mode (not logarithmic)

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    Colors Look Wrong

    Verify:
    • Color Chord is configured correctly in AudioLink prefab
    • Theme Colors are set if using Theme Color Sampling
    • Light Color Tint is not too heavily colored
    • No competing color sources active

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    Performance Issues

    Optimize:
    • Reduce number of AudioLink fixtures
    • Lower volumetric quality settings
    • Disable 3D noise on volumetrics
    • Use lower resolution meshes
    • See Performance Optimization guide

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    Advanced Techniques

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    Delay-Based Effects

    Create cascading or wave effects:
    1. Duplicate an AudioLink fixture multiple times
    2. Arrange in a line or grid
    3. Set increasing Delay values: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20…
    4. Result: Light wave travels across fixtures

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    Theme Color Choreography

    Program color changes for specific song sections:
    1. Use Udon to change AudioLink Theme Colors
    2. Set fixtures to Theme Color Sampling mode
    3. Change theme colors at key moments (chorus, drop, etc.)
    4. All fixtures change color simultaneously

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    Texture-Based Color Palettes

    1. Create a texture with your color palette
    2. Assign to Control Panel Video Sample Target Texture
    3. Enable Color Texture Sampling on fixtures
    4. Set different UV coordinates per fixture
    5. Result: Coordinated colors from a single texture

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    Best Practices

    For Music Venues:
    • Start with lower Band Multipliers (2-5) and increase until reactive
    • Use Color Chord for cohesive look
    • Reserve treble band for impact effects (strobes)
    • Place bass-reactive lights for maximum visual impact
    • Test with multiple music genres
    Performance:
    • Limit to 30-50 AudioLink fixtures total
    • Use Final Intensity Component Mode to fine-tune brightness
    • Allow users to adjust quality via Local UI Control Panel
    • Disable AudioLink on fixtures during non-music times
    Workflow:
    • Group fixtures by frequency band in hierarchy
    • Name clearly: “AudioLink-Bass-Wash-L”
    • Document your band assignments
    • Create “scenes” with different band/multiplier presets
    • Use Udon to switch between lighting scenes

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    Next Steps

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    Resources

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