StageDesigner
The software in every FXServer: mapping, soft edge, playlist with scheduler and control via DMX, OSC and network. Open media, set up the output, set the schedule, let it run. In continuous use for more than ten years.
StageDesigner in brief
- What
- Software for playout and media control of video, audio, text and lighting
- For whom
- Integrators, exhibition designers, media artists, agencies, festivals, universities
- Principle
- Playlist (flow) and preload (media) are separated
- Operating systems
- Windows, Linux, macOS; 64 bit, OpenGL
- Outputs
- as many as the graphics card provides; up to 16 in the FXServer
- Control
- MIDI, DMX, Art-Net, OSC, CITP, NDI, TCP/UDP, JavaScript, keyboard
- Price
- PRO €149, MAX €279, free demo; discounts for education, artists and freelancers
- Current
- Version 7.0.14
| Video | H.264, H.265, MPEG-2, HAP/HAP Q, ProRes, QuickTime, AVI; 4K and more |
|---|---|
| Other media | Images, PDF, rich text, subtitles, live camera, NDI streams, screen capture |
| Audio | up to 64 channels, WAV/MP3/AAC, ASIO and WASAPI |
| Mapping | Keystone, perspective, soft edge, black level, masks, bitmap masks, LUT, animation |
| Playlist | Tabular cue list, fades, triggers, templates, time control |
| Protocols | MIDI, DMX, Art-Net, OSC, CITP, NDI, TCP/UDP, HTTP, JavaScript |
| Systems | Windows 10/11, Ubuntu, macOS; 64 bit, OpenGL graphics card |
| Editions | Demo (free, watermarked), PRO, MAX, FX (in the FXServer) |
Version 7: a freely customisable interface
Since version 7 the user interface can be freely modified and scaled. In a few steps you focus the UI on the essentials, keeping the playlist in view, for example, or providing a preview. Individual parts can be detached, moved and scaled. Multi-monitor setups are used to the full.
Cues for video, audio and lighting in one table
In the playlist you create your cues in a clear, tabular system that can be expanded by rows and columns as desired. Unique: media (preload) and show flow (playlist) are explicitly separated and can be developed independently of each other. A new film for the special exhibition is swapped in without rebuilding the show, and once a playlist has been built it becomes a template for the next room. The principle as a diagram
Output adjusted precisely to your surface
With the mapping tool you intervene in the settings at any time and adjust the mapping exactly. Settings can be saved and reused as templates. Developed for over a decade: field-proven, mature, highly accurate.
- Scale, rotate, flip, colourise and mask
- Perspective distortion onto walls
- Soft edge for panoramic projections
- Black level for homogeneous dark areas
- Animation tool for moving elements and exhibits
- Bitmap function: mask organic surfaces by freehand drawing
The software reads everything, from a stick to 4K
From the product loop on the trade-fair stand to high-resolution, projector-spanning image sequences: StageDesigner plays H.264 and MPEG-2 up to 4K and beyond, HAP for large-format video, NDI streams, any live camera, captions, rich text, PDF and audio with up to 64 channels. The playback speed of video cues can be controlled dynamically. LUT filters ensure consistent colour looks across all outputs.
Dozens of protocols connect StageDesigner with your equipment
MIDI, DMX, Art-Net
Control via lighting consoles. Fixture files for common consoles are prepared. Art-Net in the wiki
CITP
Read out media libraries on the lighting console and preview them. CITP in the wiki
OSC
Connect Streamdeck, smartphone or your own sensors via the network protocol. OSC in the wiki
NDI & live camera
Video sources from the network or via certified input cards. NDI in the wiki
JavaScript
All control impulses can be interpreted and integrated into the show sequence. Scripting in the wiki
Scheduler
Start and stop shows by time of day, switch projectors, weekly plans for opening hours. After a power cut the plan carries on.
StageDesigner
What does StageDesigner cost?
StageDesigner PRO costs €149, StageDesigner MAX €279. The demo is free and unlimited in time, with a watermark on the output. Educational institutions, artists and freelancers receive discounts. The licence is included in the FXServer and GastspielServer.
Which operating systems does StageDesigner run on?
Windows 10 and 11, Ubuntu Linux and macOS, each 64 bit with an OpenGL-capable graphics card. On ordinary PC hardware from laptop to workstation.
What does the separation of playlist and preload mean?
Media are loaded once in the preload. The playlist contains only the flow with references to the media. A clip can be swapped without changing the flow, and the flow can be rebuilt without reloading media.
Can I control StageDesigner from the lighting desk?
Yes, via DMX, Art-Net or MIDI. Fixture files for common consoles are available. Via CITP the desk shows the media library with thumbnails.
Which video formats does StageDesigner play?
H.264, H.265, MPEG-2, HAP and HAP Q, ProRes, QuickTime and AVI up to 4K and beyond, plus images, PDF, text, NDI streams and live cameras.
Does StageDesigner run automated on a schedule?
Yes. The playlist holds time cues: start the show at 10:00, switch the projectors on, shut down at 18:00, weekly plan for opening hours. After a power cut the server boots, loads the project and resumes the plan.
Is training available?
Yes. Free online trainings on basics, playlist and mapping, two-day personal trainings mostly in Weimar, an open consultation hour and video tutorials on YouTube. Training
StageDesigner runs on standard hardware
From laptop to high-performance workstation. The demo is a free download, and the same installation becomes the full version with a licence from the shop. Or get to know the software in one of our free online trainings.
Downloads
Demo and full version in one installation, the licence comes from the shop. FXServer images on request to contact@mxwendler.net.