A music visualizer for your TV, with no app to install

What you need

• A laptop or desktop with Chrome, Edge or Brave.
• A TV or projector. Any with an HDMI port, or one that takes AirPlay or Cast.
• Music. From a speaker in the room, a record player, a DJ setup — or playing on the laptop itself.

That's all. There's no app to install on the TV and nothing to sign in to; the free version runs without an account.

With a cable (the most reliable way)

1. Plug an HDMI cable into the laptop and the TV. If your laptop only has USB-C ports, most work with a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
2. Switch the TV to that HDMI input with its remote.
3. Use the TV as a second screen, not a mirror. On a Mac: System Settings → Displays → select the TV → use it as an extended display. On Windows: press Win + P and choose Extend.
4. Open dancyants.com and press Send to Screen 2. If the browser asks to manage windows on your displays, allow it — that's how the picture lands on the TV. Click the picture on the TV and it goes full screen (F switches it on and off).
5. Play music. The picture starts moving with it.

A cable adds the least delay, so the picture stays tight to the beat. It's what to use for anything that matters.

Wirelessly

Wireless is your laptop's job, not the TV's, so it depends on which laptop you have. Expect a short delay between the sound and the picture — fine for a living room, noticeable for a DJ.

Mac to Apple TV, or a TV with AirPlay

Open Control Centre → Screen Mirroring and choose the TV, then pick the option to use it as a separate display. Now Send to Screen 2 works exactly as it does with a cable. Apple TV takes AirPlay, and so do many recent Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio and Roku models — look for “AirPlay” in the TV's settings.

Chrome to Chromecast or Google TV

In Chrome's menu, choose Cast, pick the TV, and choose to cast your screen. Casting mirrors what the laptop shows, so the TV gets the whole screen rather than a second one. It works; a cable or AirPlay as a separate display is tidier.

Windows to a TV, Roku or Fire TV

Press Win + K and choose the TV. This uses Miracast, which many TVs and Roku devices accept, and some Fire TV devices do too — support varies by model. Then press Win + P and choose Extend.

By brand

Every TV below works over HDMI. The wireless column is about what's common, not guaranteed — your model's settings menu has the final word.

Getting the sound in

Dancy Ants needs to hear the music. There are two ways, and you pick in the app.

• The microphone — for music from a speaker, a record player, a DJ or a band. Keep the laptop in the room with the music, and press Recalibrate (Setup → Response → More) once before the music starts, so it learns how quiet the room is.
• Listen to this computer — for music playing on the laptop itself, like the Spotify app or a YouTube tab. Share the tab with its sound, or the whole screen with system sound (Windows, and macOS 14.2 or later with a recent Chrome or Brave).

Either way the sound is analysed on your laptop and never uploaded.

If something doesn't work

The TV stays black

Check the TV is on the right input, and that the laptop is set to extend to the TV rather than mirror it. Then press Send to Screen 2 again.

“The browser blocked the output window”

Allow pop-ups for dancyants.com — there's an icon at the right of the address bar — and press the button again.

The picture doesn't react

Allow the microphone when the browser asks (or in the address bar), and check the right input is chosen. If the music is playing on the laptop, use Listen to this computer and tick the box to share audio.

The picture is late

Usually that's the wireless link — use a cable. If it's still late, take the sound straight from the laptop (Listen to this computer) or an audio interface instead of the microphone.

Questions