What you need
- A laptop running macOS or Windows, plugged in for the whole night.
- An HDMI cable, plus a USB-C to HDMI adapter if your laptop has no HDMI port. Bring a spare.
- A display: a projector, a TV, or an LED wall. LED walls usually take video through a controller box (the LED processor); you plug the laptop's HDMI into that box.
- An audio path: a cable or sound card from the laptop into the mixer or the venue's speakers.
- Content: music-reactive visuals, plus the venue's logo and any event photos or clips.
Connecting the screen: mirror or extend
| Mode | What the big screen shows | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Mirror | Exactly what's on your laptop | Bars, parties, small events; the fewest surprises |
| Extend | A separate desktop | You're used to arranging windows across two screens and have time to rehearse |
For bars and small events, mirror: the big screen shows exactly what you see, and you never have to guess which screen a window ended up on.
- On macOS: open System Settings ▸ Displays, select the external display, and set it to mirror.
- On Windows: press Win + P and choose Duplicate.
- Resolution: match the big screen, usually 1920 × 1080, so the picture isn't letterboxed or stretched.
Choosing content for the venue
| Where | What to show |
|---|---|
| A bar, background music all night | Visuals that change style every few minutes, with the bar's logo in between |
| Parties and events | Visuals that fit the mood; event or sponsor photos and clips between sets |
| A music livestream | Waveform, spectrum, and visuals in one frame, with the current track name always visible |
| Weddings and birthdays | A slideshow of the guests of honor while the music plays |
Livestreams: in your usual streaming software, add a screen or window capture source, and take the audio straight from the computer instead of a microphone. It sounds far cleaner, and viewers hear the original track.
Look tips: dark, heavy tracks suit minimal styles; bright tracks suit color. Match the color scheme to the venue's lighting so the LED wall and the room feel like one piece. Want to turn it into a clip later? See how to make music visuals for videos.
Pre-show checklist
- Turn off sleep and the screen saver so the big screen doesn't go dark mid-set.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb so message notifications don't pop up on the big screen.
- Pick the right audio output in the app, and test at a low volume first.
- Run a 15-minute rehearsal with the actual playlist and the visual styles you'll use.
- Turn on playlist repeat so the music never stops at the last track.
- Visuals black or flickering on this computer? Turn off Render visuals on the GPU in Settings ▸ Appearance.
FAQ
Do I need professional VJ software?
Not for bars, parties, or small events. Professional VJ software earns its keep when you build scenes for each part of a show, combine several screens, or sync with stage lighting. For visuals that move with the music, a player with full-screen visuals is enough.
Will the visuals follow music from my DJ gear or mixer?
Taxonomy DJ's visuals react to the track playing in the app itself, so they shine when the app handles the music: background music at a bar, parties, music livestreams. When you mix on separate DJ gear, switch to the Image or Video view to show your logo and clips.
Can I show the bar's logo instead of visuals?
Yes. In the Image view, add the logo and venue photos; images switch on their own, and you can turn on a blurred background behind pictures that don't fit the screen shape. Videos play muted while the music keeps going.
Does it cost anything?
The Free plan includes full screen, the Image and Video views, and 30 visual styles each time you open the app, picked at random. Premium unlocks all 80 visual styles and 50 spectrum styles.
Do it fast with Taxonomy DJ
Spectrum and visuals in Taxonomy DJ are made for the big screen:
- Drop a music folder onto the Playlists tab and the app creates a playlist named after it. Double-click a track to play; the music flows nonstop from one track to the next.
- Pick the Visual view: 80 styles driven by the beat, spectrum, and waveform, with 12 effects like Stage fog and Shockwave. Turn on Auto switch to change styles on their own. Need a logo or clip? Pick Image or Video and add files with Add images / Add videos, or drag in a whole folder.
- Press F for full screen. The full-screen button's menu lets you show visuals alone or with the waveform and spectrum, and always show the current track name.
- Click the eye button in the title bar to hide every button and readout. Leave the mouse alone for a few seconds and the controls and cursor disappear, leaving just the picture. Press Esc to exit.
Click the palette icon to pick one of 15 color schemes that matches the lighting. Download Taxonomy DJ for free, or see Premium to unlock every visual style.