Skip to main content
This guide will walk you through setting up your first VR Stage Lighting fixture and understanding the core concepts of the system.

​
Project Setup

1

Create a New Scene

Start with a clean scene or open one of the included example scenes.
File → New Scene → Basic (Built-in Render Pipeline)
Save as: Assets/MyVRSLScene.unity
VRSL works with the Built-in Render Pipeline. URP support was added in version 2.8.0 but Built-in is recommended.
2

Add a Directional Light for Depth

VRSL requires a depth texture for its projection and volumetric effects.Option A - Use VRSL Prefab (Recommended):Drag the prefab into your scene:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/
└── Directional Light (For Depth).prefab
Option B - Configure Manually:
  1. Create: GameObject → Light → Directional Light
  2. Set Shadow Type to “Soft Shadows” or “Hard Shadows”
  3. Enable shadows (required for depth texture generation)
Without a depth-casting light, VRSL volumetric and projection effects will not work. This is the most common setup mistake.
3

Add AudioLink (For Audio-Reactive Lights)

If you plan to use audio-reactive lighting:
  1. Navigate to: Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/AudioLink/
  2. Drag AudioLink-VRSLEdition.prefab into your scene
  3. Add an audio source with music (optional for testing)
The VRSL Edition of AudioLink includes optimizations and features specific to stage lighting. You can also use the standard AudioLink prefab.
4

Add the VRSL Control Panel (Recommended)

The Local UI Control Panel provides user controls for light intensity and settings.Drag into scene:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/
└── VRSL-LocalUIControlPanel.prefab
Features:
  • Per-light-type intensity control
  • Master brightness slider
  • Bloom intensity control
  • Global DMX strobe toggle (accessibility)
  • Depth light and 3D noise toggles

​
Your First Lighting Fixture

Let’s start with an audio-reactive spotlight - the easiest way to see VRSL in action.
1

Choose a Fixture Type

AudioLink fixtures are located in:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/AudioLink/
Common fixture types:

Spotlight

VRSL-AudioLink-Mover-Spotlight.prefabMoving head spotlight with gobo projection and volumetric beam.

Wash Light

VRSL-AudioLink-Mover-Washlight.prefabWide beam wash light for flooding areas with color.

Par Light

VRSL-AudioLink-Static-ParLight.prefabStatic RGB par can for general stage lighting.

Laser

VRSL-AudioLink-BasicLaser.prefabAnimated laser effect that reacts to audio.
2

Place the Fixture

Drag VRSL-AudioLink-Mover-Spotlight.prefab into your scene.Position it above your play area:
  • Position: (0, 5, 0)
  • Rotation: (45, 0, 0) - angled downward
Moving head fixtures (Mover-Spotlight, Mover-Washlight) can pan and tilt. Static fixtures only change color and intensity.
3

Configure the Fixture

Select the fixture in the Hierarchy and examine the Inspector.Key Settings in the VRSL_AudioLink Component:
  • Band: Which frequency band to react to (Bass, Low Mid, High Mid, Treble)
  • Delay: Timing offset for the audio reaction
  • Intensity Multiplier: Overall brightness scale
  • Color Tint: Base color for the light
  • Use Theme Colors: Use AudioLink’s color chord system
  • Color Chord Slot: Which theme color to use (0-3)
  • Pan Tilt Target: Optional transform to point at
  • Movement Range: How much the light can move
  • Movement Speed: Speed of pan/tilt motion
  • Fixture Mesh: Brightness of the fixture housing
  • Projection: Brightness of the projected light cone
  • Volumetric: Brightness of the volumetric beam
These replace the legacy “Final Intensity” slider in version 2.6.2+
4

Add a Pan/Tilt Target (Optional)

For moving head fixtures, add a target to follow:
  1. Drag PanTiltTarget.prefab into the scene
  2. Position it where you want the light to point
  3. Assign it to the fixture’s Pan Tilt Target field
The light will automatically aim at this target.
5

Test in Play Mode

Press Play in Unity and play some music through your audio source.What to expect:
  • Light intensity pulses with the selected frequency band
  • Colors may shift if using theme colors
  • Moving heads will pan/tilt toward their target
  • Volumetric beams visible in the scene
If you don’t see anything, check that:
  1. AudioLink is in the scene and receiving audio
  2. The directional light has shadows enabled
  3. Your camera can see the light’s output

​
DMX Fixtures (Video-Based Control)

For advanced users who want real-time control via DMX512/Artnet.
DMX fixtures require additional setup including video players and the VRSL Grid Node application. AudioLink fixtures are recommended for beginners.
1

Choose a DMX Mode

VRSL supports three DMX grid orientations:
  • Horizontal Mode (recommended for most setups)
  • Vertical Mode (legacy compatibility)
  • Legacy Mode (deprecated)
Prefabs are organized by mode:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/DMX/
├── Horizontal Mode/
├── Vertical Mode/
└── Legacy Mode/
2

Add a DMX Grid Reader

The grid reader decodes video into DMX data.For Horizontal Mode:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/DMX/GridReader/
└── VRSL-DMX-TekOSCGridReader-H.prefab
TekOSC is the default DMX reader in VRSL 2.5.0+. Video player-based readers (VideoTXL, ProTV) are available as separate packages.
3

Place a DMX Fixture

DMX fixtures come in various channel configurations:
  • 13-Channel: Full control (color, intensity, movement, gobo, strobe)
  • 5-Channel: Simplified (color, intensity, basic features)
  • 1-Channel: Intensity only (flashers, disco balls)
Example - 13CH Moving Spotlight:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Prefabs/DMX/Horizontal Mode/
└── VRSL-DMX-Mover-Spotlight-H-13CH.prefab
4

Configure DMX Addressing

Select the fixture and set its DMX Channel in the inspector.
  • Each fixture needs a unique DMX start address
  • 13CH fixtures use 13 consecutive channels
  • Maximum ~500 channels per universe (depends on grid resolution)
The VRSL Manager Window (under the VRSL menu) provides tools for managing DMX patches and exporting patch data to MVR, JSON, or PDF.

​
Understanding VRSL Components

​
Light Fixture Anatomy

Each VRSL fixture consists of up to three visual components:

Fixture Mesh

The physical light housing
  • Emissive material
  • Shows fixture is “on”
  • Controlled by Component Intensity slider

Projection

The projected light on surfaces
  • Screen-space or surface shader
  • Shows where light hits geometry
  • Supports gobos and patterns

Volumetric

The visible beam in air
  • 3D mesh with volumetric shader
  • GPU-instanced for performance
  • Optional 3D noise texture

​
Shader Types

VRSL uses custom shaders for maximum performance:
  • No real-time Unity lights - all effects are shader-based
  • GPU instancing - efficient rendering of multiple fixtures
  • Batching compatible - reduces draw calls
  • Hardware-accelerated - computation happens on the GPU
This is why VRSL can render dozens or even hundreds of fixtures with minimal performance impact compared to traditional Unity lighting.

​
Common Workflow: Building a Light Show

1

Plan Your Layout

Sketch out where lights will go:
  • Front lights (audience POV)
  • Back lights (behind performers)
  • Side lights (wings)
  • Top lights (overhead wash)
2

Choose Fixture Types

Select appropriate fixtures:
  • Movers for dynamic movement
  • Pars for static washes
  • Strobes for impact moments
  • Lasers for energy and atmosphere
3

Position and Aim

Place fixtures in your scene:
  • Use PanTiltTargets for movers
  • Angle static fixtures manually
  • Test coverage in Play mode
4

Configure Audio Reaction

Set up reactive behavior:
  • Bass → strobes, impacts
  • Low Mid → rhythmic elements
  • High Mid → melodies
  • Treble → cymbals, hi-hats
5

Adjust Colors and Intensity

Fine-tune the look:
  • Use AudioLink theme colors for cohesion
  • Adjust component intensities
  • Balance volumetric visibility
6

Optimize Performance

Use the VRSL Control Panel:
  • Disable depth light for Quest compatibility
  • Toggle 3D noise if performance is low
  • Use lower-poly volumetric meshes if needed

​
Tips for Success

Begin with 3-5 AudioLink fixtures before adding complexity:
  • 2x spotlights
  • 2x wash lights
  • 1x strobe or laser
This teaches the basics without overwhelming your scene.
Always include the VRSL-LocalUIControlPanel in your scene:
  • Players can adjust brightness to their preference
  • Accessibility features (strobe disable)
  • Performance toggles
Unity Editor performance ≠ VRChat performance:
  • Test in VRChat (local test builds)
  • Check various PC specs
  • Test with Quest if targeting cross-platform
The included example scenes show best practices:
Packages/VR Stage Lighting/Runtime/Example Scenes/
├── AudioLink-Scenes/          ← Start here!
├── DMX-EditorViaOSCScenes/
└── DMX-AvatarTesting/
Use the VRSL menu utility to generate unique materials:VRSL → Utilities → Generate Unique VRSL MaterialsThis prevents your settings from being overwritten during VRSL updates.

​
Next Steps

Fixture Types

Learn about all available fixture types and their capabilities

AudioLink Integration

Deep dive into audio-reactive lighting setup

DMX Control

Set up real-time DMX control via Artnet

Performance

Optimize your lighting setup for best performance

​
Troubleshooting

Most common causes:
  1. No depth light: Add the Directional Light prefab with shadows enabled
  2. AudioLink not working: Ensure AudioLink prefab is in scene and receiving audio
  3. Component intensity too low: Check the Fixture/Projection/Volumetric sliders
  4. Looking from the wrong angle: Volumetrics are directional - view from the side
Possible fixes:
  1. Check that only ONE directional light has shadows enabled
  2. Ensure depth texture is being generated (Camera depth mode)
  3. Verify all VRSL CRT (Custom Render Texture) assets are present
  4. Check for AudioLink errors in the console
Optimization steps:
  1. Reduce number of active fixtures
  2. Disable 3D noise via Control Panel
  3. Use lower-poly volumetric meshes (VRSL Manager Window)
  4. Disable depth light if not needed
  5. Reduce component intensities (less visible = less expensive)
Check these:
  1. Ensure a PanTiltTarget is assigned
  2. Movement Range is not set to 0
  3. For DMX fixtures: verify grid reader is working
  4. For AudioLink: check that audio is playing and being detected

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us