Pondering a home show setup
Thanks to Chad, Buffo and Jon for giving me a little insight into laser responsibility. It makes me more eager to want to learn more about lasers, and I realize it's never too early to plan. I am helping one of my bosses at her home by installing a Sonos system. That's an audio system that gives wireless music in every room (info at http://www.sonos.com/).
I've only installed speakers in 2 rooms so far. Later, we will have outdoor music and such, and each zone can have it's own music. Well, she is excited about the audio so far. When I finish she will be ecstatic. She's also pouring some major bucks into the home audio.
Later, I may consider adding in laser effects to the music. They would be overhead. She has an elevated ceiling in the exercise room (pictures are here: http://www.cnetworksllc.com/Rosemary/RoseMary_Home.html)
I was thinking something like 10mW of green or enough to be cool in the dark (she isn't tech savvy, so anything with a green beam would look nice). I haven't run this by her, since I am just in thinking mode right now.
So, it will be a unit for the home with primarily beam effects. I can use a cheap, replaceable laser if that's a better option. She always likes the suggestions I give, and I thought this would be a way of adding further value to her already expensive audio setup ($2000 for 3 rooms). She has Polk Audio speakers which don't distort at the volume we're using, even when loud. Even when hooked to the computer, the Sonos Zoneplayer 100 does not produce any hum through the speakers, so it's got built in ground-loop isolation (or the sound card does the filtering).
I would set some tiny mirrors in the home as well to allow a couple of beam paths, like jumping from one beam to another to a certain beat. Maybe include some laser fanning as well. If the beams are overhead, and out of reach, maybe I can go higher power than 10mW.
This will be single color, and a semi-permanent install. What I mean is, the room will be setup (if she goes for that after a demo) to allow for the laser, but the laser could be moved to another room.
The exercise room has the highest ceiling, and it's got a great location, sunk down from the rest of the home. I won't need show creation software. Just something that can playback. She doesn't want to go cheap on the sound, but I have to see about the laser system. If it's something she doesn't decide to go for, I can use it myself. However, then I'd have to spend the money, which isn't really in my budget now.
So after the audio system is done, I will need a cheap demo before I do a slightly better install.
