Motion
Lighting
Interactivity
Media
Advanced Device & Media Support
All Weigl, sACN and Art-Net devices- sACN, Art-Net recording, editing and playback
- OSC support
- Timecode support
- USB joysticks/Keyboard recording support
- USB MIDI consoles and DAW surfaces
- Full timeline media editing and physical asset synchronization
- Advanced playback engine to combine media rich show elements
- Support for Weigl WEM | Script scripting logic
- sACN, SMPTE, DMX, Analog & Digital I/O via Weigl devices
Link Hardware
Dynamic visual setup
Map and scale track data to any supported hardware device or direct network protocol. Output options include:
- Digital I/O (NPN/PNP/Relay)
- Analog I/O (0-10vdc, -10/+10, 4-20ma)
- DMX In/Out
- sACN/Art-Net
- CANOpen
- EtherCAT®
- Servo/PWM
- Dynamixel/RS-485 motor control
Input Capture
Capture direct to timeline for external sources
Real-time programming from the following supported input devices:
- Joystick (USB)
- Game Controllers (USB/Network)
- Art-Net (Network, Weigl Devices)
- DMX (Weigl Devices)
- Analog Inputs (Weigl Devices)
- Digital Inputs (Weigl Devices)
- OSC (Network)
Dynamic Timeline Editing
Edit your show in familiar timeline fashion
Edit data points within envelopes, shift in time or use plot view to finesse data points in relation to other project assets. Data formats include:
- Digital Data Tracks
- Analog Data Tracks
- Lighting capture by Universe (Art-Net/DMX/sACN recordings)
- Audio
- Video
- Logic Markers/WEM | Script commands
Deployment & Stand-Alone Playback
Export shows to run stand-alone on Weigl hardware.
Supported trigger/playback methods:
- UDP/TCP network triggers
- Art-Net/DMX level changes
- Digital Inputs
- Analog Inputs (start at 30%, 50% etc.)
- IR input/remote
- RS-232/RS485
- RFID/Barcode
- EtherCAT®
- MTC/PTP/SMPTE/FSK TimeCode trigger and sync
Keep Your Eye On The Show
Showforge® introduces a new way to program complex animation, lighting and media based shows. Through our unique Console Mode, traditional recording production methods such as latch, touch, record, live and play are used to quickly program or record data from external sources to the timeline. Once data is established in the tracks, Edit or Plot modes provide rich timeline and curve editing of data for maximum precision. Change modes on the fly, show/hide data while you work and more.
Working on a complex show? Create multi-channel tracks or groups by universe or other hierarchy. Record, build and edit hundreds of channels without being concerned with individual channel data until needed. Unique DMX/Art-Net/sACN range channels allow locked universe envelope editing, with up to 32x Universes of Art-Net/sACN or DMX lighting per ProCommander® (X-Series) controller. When sending data directly from Showforge® via sACN, there are virtually no limits beyond the computer hardware itself.
Console Mode
Console mode targets the device outputs, allowing the focus to be heads up on the stage, figure or CharacterView™ emulation. Hide timeline or point level view to use the keyboard, joystick or other user input devices during heads-up workflow process. Use keyboard shortcuts, stream-deck device and group modes to move rapidly through show sequences.
Play Plays back pre-recorded data within envelopes on your track. |
Record Utilize live inputs to overwrite data in your timeline.' |
Touch Your data remains in playback until you “activate,” the input, switching that envelope to record mode. |
Live Live mode ignores all track data and allows a “scratch track,” either with or without the timeline running. |
Latch In combination with the Master Record button, this “forces,” record over all envelopes within that track. |
Edit Mode
Advanced Plot Editing & Tweening Tool
Select individual, multiples or groups of points within envelopes and edit values dynamically. Delete, manually enter values and create points from within each envelope for complex editing or precision editing needs. Using digital outputs, but have imported or recorded analog data? Showforge® automatically applies a 50% filter for high/low and preserves your data points for later use. Use our new tweening tool to smooth, match and replace rough recorded data in your show.
Quick Draw: Line and Curve Tools
Create curves and straight lines between points without the complexity of individual point creation and manipulation. Strike through incorrect live programming, connect/bridge envelope gaps and more with this rapid content creation tool. Have an iPad Pro? Use sidecar with an Apple Pencil and draw curves direct on the screen. (click image on left to view demo)
Plot Mode
Unique to Showforge®, view and edit your data curves real-time in reference to other tracks, envelopes, groups or media data. Simply select which tracks you wish to view and edit and range select to modify groups of data, or turn on point editing to batch edit key frames within a single interface. Our fastest and most powerful workflow ever and available in live conjunction with envelopes and console programming modes, providing the best of all production and non-linear editing modes. Simply the fastest and most powerful workflow ever created for motion control & timeline show production.
Play and Record Ranges
Showforge® allows for “punt and run,” play and record range selection, using standard SMPTE timecode references, or visual range markers on the timeline itself. Set the playback and recording range and looping parameters, then shift your focus to your tactile programming tool of choice. Short cut keys and integrated Stream Deck support assigned to these functions allow for rapid movement throughout the interface, minimizing mouse or trackpad usage during live show programming.
Download: Stream Deck Template (Medium)
Download: Stream Deck Template (XL)
Take Control of Your Output
Digital, Analog, Servo and DMX/Art-Net/sACN, CANOpen & EtherCAT® outputs are controlled through your choice of keyboard, mouse, USB joystick, OSC, DMX/network capture or MIDI console while providing optional onscreen display of the data and any live take over abilities. See your programming in real-time or manipulate with external hardware. Up to 16-bit resolution is supported throughout the architecture.
Easy setup of real-world hardware devices in relation to their actual Weigl outputs provides a unique path for setup of your animated figure, lighting or show action device.
Inputs
Outputs
Output Device Examples
Devices_ProComm_2-3
Devices_ProComm_ES
Devices_ProComm_LX-LX2
Devices_ProComm_PHX-PHX2
Devices_ProIO_Analog8
Devices_ProIO_Dig32
Devices_ProIO_Servo_8-16
Connect Visually
Connect visually to your show through real-time graphic displays of connected outputs and devices. Verify wiring through easy to understand Weigl device profiles or Art-Net/sACN outputs, even connect to common servo and motion control platforms directly (Dynamixel and other devices coming soon). Built from the ground up for animated figure and lighting programing, Showforge® provides unparalleled simplicity and ease of use.
Deployment
Showforge® is based on the secure document structure in MacOS. Audio, timelines, lighting, animation, video and more are tracked and organized as a project for easy deployment and archiving. Re-arrange shows, rapidly change their organization within a single project and apply Weigl WEM | Script™ logic (Weigl devices only) for interactivity and more.
When you are finished, simply deploy to the onboard storage (Weigl devices only) and take the Showforge® timeline with you.
(click video on left to view demo).
Integrated Media Editing Workflow
When using Weigl ProVP™ and ProCommander®VX controllers. Import and manipulate up to 4 tracks of video within a full screen or windowed preview while animating, recording lighting or building your show. Sync via network to the VP/VX or timecode and ensure frame accurate playback, even prior to export.
Additional manipulation and editing capabilities are continually being added to Showforge® to help a fully integrated media and show control workflow. When using the full license on the VP/VX, use 4 video tracks concurrently to help create and preview complex interactive functions.
Drag and Drop Timeline Interactivity
Interactivity wasn’t meant to be static and ‘event based.’ Showforge® allows timeline based live manipulation of video clips and interactive logic during playback for unparalleled media interactivity. Using Weigl video playback hardware? Simply move the event markers to change the timing. For basic interactivity such as looping, fading, following and basic background logic, simply choose from the drop down markers catered to the VP/VX devices.
Just using Showforge® or standard lighting/media workflows? Use the HDMI output(s) of your Mac to display full screen video with edits on the fly without exporting or other intermediate steps.
Showforge® Support:
Showforge® projects (please compress/zip first) may be sent to support@motalab.com for remote support during business hours. We will connect with you or return the project with the requested changes, usually within 1 business day.
For Weigl hardware related support, please visit: Downloads & Training for additional information regarding Showforge® & Weigl hardware integrations.