showstack / software / companion
Bitfocus Companion
Turns a Stream Deck or similar button surface into a control panel for switchers, playback software and broadcast gear, using community-written modules. It is the standard way to give an operator physical buttons.
Protocols it speaks
| Protocol | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| osc | bidirectional | Companion can be controlled over OSC on a configurable listen port, and modules send OSC out. |
| art-net | in | Companion can be controlled over Art-Net by setting a universe and start channel in settings. |
What to watch for
Modules are community maintained and versioned separately from Companion itself. A module that worked on the last tour can lag behind a major Companion release, so freeze versions before a run rather than updating on site.
Remote control listeners are all off by default and each has its own listen port set in settings. Nothing accepts TCP, UDP, OSC, RossTalk, Ember+ or Art-Net until you enable it.
A surface plugged into the show machine is claimed exclusively. Elgato's own Stream Deck application must not be running at the same time.
Typical use
- Button surface for a video switcher or playback machine at front of house
- Bridging one control protocol to another without writing code
- Remote surfaces over a network using Companion Satellite
Sources
- bitfocus/companion source repository — Bitfocus AS primary
- Companion licence (MIT) — Bitfocus AS primary
- Companion user guide — Settings — Bitfocus AS primary
Understand the mechanism
Something wrong, or missing?
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