Installation Guide

BeamCommander is available for macOS. Follow the steps below to get started.

macOS Installation

Option 1: Download Release Binary (Recommended)

  1. Download the latest BeamCommander.app from the Releases page
  2. Extract the downloaded archive
  3. Move BeamCommander.app to your Applications folder
  4. Double-click to launch the application

First Launch

On macOS, you may need to grant permission for the app to run:

  1. Right-click on BeamCommander.app
  2. Select "Open" from the context menu
  3. Click "Open" in the security dialog

Building from Source

Prerequisites

Build Steps

git clone https://github.com/oliverbyte/BeamCommander.git
cd BeamCommander
./build.sh

The build script will:

  1. Set up the OpenFrameworks project structure
  2. Compile the application
  3. Create the BeamCommander.app bundle

Initial Setup

1. Run BeamCommander

Double-click BeamCommander.app or run from terminal.

2. Configure Laser Hardware

On first launch, you'll see the configuration interface:

  1. Add Laser - Click to detect your DAC device (EtherDream, Helios, etc.)
  2. Create Zones - Set up at least one output zone
  3. Test Output - Verify laser output before performance
  4. Save Settings - Configuration is saved automatically

Control Options

Option A: MIDI Controller (Akai APC40)

  1. Connect your Akai APC40 via USB
  2. Launch BeamCommander - controller is automatically detected
  3. LED lights illuminate to confirm connection
  4. Use knobs and buttons for real-time control

See the MIDI Controller Reference for complete button/knob mappings.

Option B: Open Stage Control Web Interface

  1. Install Open Stage Control on your device
  2. Load the provided configuration files:
    • open-stage-control-server.config - Server settings
    • open-stage-control-session.json - Touch interface layout
  3. Access the web interface from any device on your network
  4. Control lasers from iPad, tablet, smartphone, or desktop browser
    5. </ul>

    Option C: Custom OSC Client

    Integrate BeamCommander with your own software:

    • Send OSC commands to localhost:9000
    • Use any OSC-compatible software (Max/MSP, TouchDesigner, Processing, etc.)
    • See the Documentation for complete OSC API reference

    Compatible Hardware

    BeamCommander supports a wide range of laser DAC hardware:

    Tested Hardware

    • EtherDream - Industry-standard Ethernet laser DAC ✅

    Supported Hardware (via ofxLaser)

    • Helios - High-performance USB laser DAC
    • LaserDock - USB and Ethernet laser projector system
    • LaserCube - Compact wireless laser projector
    • Riya - USB laser DAC with multiple output channels
    • ILDA - Standard ILDA test patterns and protocols

    Note: Only EtherDream DAC has been tested. Other DACs are supported by ofxLaser but may require additional setup.

    Prerequisites

    • macOS 15.6.1 or later
    • Compatible Laser DAC hardware (EtherDream recommended)
    • Laser projector connected to DAC
    • Optional: Akai APC40 MIDI controller
    • Optional: Device with web browser for Open Stage Control

    What's Included

    • BeamCommander.app - Main application
    • Configuration Files - Pre-configured for immediate use
    • Open Stage Control Templates - Ready-to-use web interface layouts
    • Documentation - Complete OSC API reference and MIDI mapping

    Next Steps

    1. Download BeamCommander from the Releases page
    2. Follow the Installation Guide
    3. Configure your laser hardware
    4. Start creating laser visuals!
    Download Now
    </div>