showstack / software / capture
Capture
Lighting design, documentation and visualisation software that renders a rig in real time from live DMX. It covers lighting, video, laser, moving scenery and water effects in one model.
Protocols it speaks
| Protocol | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| art-net | in | One of the two recommended network DMX inputs. |
| sacn | in | |
| citp | bidirectional | Adds DMX talkback, selection sync and patch exchange with consoles that implement MSEX. |
| osc | bidirectional | Documented as supporting DMX talkback with ETC Eos consoles. |
What to watch for
Editions are capped by universe count. Solo is one universe, Duet two, Quartet four and Symphony unlimited, and the cap applies to documentation as well as visualisation, so a small licence limits the paperwork too.
CITP/MSEX gives selection sync and patch exchange, but only with consoles that implement it. On everything else you are back to plain Art-Net or sACN and manual patch matching.
Wi-Fi is explicitly advised against for the console link. Run a cable, or expect visualisation that lags the desk under load.
Typical use
- Offline programming against a rendered rig before the fixtures arrive
- Producing plots and reports that update with the design
- Selling a look to a designer or client before load-in
- Checking beam angles, focus and coverage in a modelled venue
Sources
- Capture — Overview — Capture Visualisation AB primary
- Capture — Console Connectivity — Capture Visualisation AB primary
- Capture — Pricing and editions — Capture Visualisation AB primary
- Capture 2026 Reference Manual — Universes Tab — Capture Visualisation AB primary
Understand the mechanism
Something wrong, or missing?
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