A Comprehensive Guide to VJ Software & Live Visuals Tools

https://vjun.io/page/vj_software gets an update :)

This guide provides a detailed list of software, tools, and technologies for VJing, live visuals, projection mapping, and interactive installations.

VJ & Live Performance Software

These applications are designed for the real-time mixing, manipulation, and performance of visuals.

• Resolume: Industry-standard VJ software for live video mixing, projection mapping (Arena version), and media server control.
• VDMX: A highly modular and customizable VJ application for macOS, allowing artists to build their own performance interface.
• CoGe Vj Software: A semi-modular VJ environment for macOS, designed for real-time video mixing and compositing.
• Arkaos Grand VJ: User-friendly VJ software for live video mixing, popular with DJs and musicians for its straightforward interface.
• Modul8: A flexible live video mixing and compositing tool for macOS with extensive customization options.
• Mix Emergency: Professional video mixing software that integrates tightly with Serato DJ for audio-synced visuals.
• Synesthesia: A modern application that generates audio-reactive visuals from any sound source using built-in scenes.
• Nestdrop v2: A music visualizer and VJ tool that provides thousands of real-time, audio-reactive visuals.
• Neuromixer: A suite of tools including AV-mixer Pro, designed for live audiovisual mixing.
• FLxER: A free, web-based VJing software and community platform for creating and sharing live visual performances.
• FreeJ: An open-source and versatile instrument for live video manipulation and performance on Linux.
• Veejay HQ: A command-line based visual instrument and real-time video sampler for Linux.
• Magic Music Visuals: A modular platform for creating interactive and audio-reactive music visualizations in real-time.
• GifSlap: A VJ tool focused on the quick and easy mixing of animated GIFs with effects.
• Fragment:Flow: A live-coding environment for creating real-time visuals with GLSL shaders.
• Bazik VJ: A VJ software that syncs visuals to the beat and frequencies of music.
• Cathodemer: A real-time video production instrument that simulates the workflow of old-school video synthesizers.
• GLMixer: An open-source tool for real-time graphics and video mixing.
• vimix: A free live video mixer and sampler for Linux, built upon GLMixer.
• Lumen App: A software video synthesizer for macOS that allows for creating visuals through patching and modulation.
• GoVJ app: An intuitive VJ app for iOS devices, allowing for mixing clips and effects on the go.
• DJVJ app: An app for mixing visuals and music simultaneously.
• Andrei Jay Creative Coding: A collection of custom creative coding projects and visual tools.
• signalculture: apps club: A repository of experimental and artist-made applications for media manipulation.
• MXR: A platform for creating and experiencing live music shows in virtual reality.
• [Other Tools]: AVVX, Romanesco, TouchViz, Mother Processing, Neon v2, Gephex, Visual Jockey, VJamm, Lives, GRoK, Kraken, Moonster, 2v-p, VIDIFOLD, Lyric Video Maker, Chromatose, Circulation, Arrast VJ, elektronika.

Live Performance & Generative Tools

Node-based and creative programming environments for creating complex, interactive visuals from scratch.

• TouchDesigner: A powerful node-based visual programming environment for real-time interactive 3D content and generative art.
• VVVV: A multipurpose toolkit with a visual programming interface for real-time motion graphics, data visualization, and interactive installations.
• Smode: A real-time 2D/3D creation, compositing, and video mapping platform.
• Notch: A real-time motion graphics and VFX tool that integrates directly into media server workflows.
• Max/Jitter: A visual programming environment for multimedia; Jitter is its component for real-time video, matrix, and 3D graphics processing.
• VUO: A real-time visual programming language for macOS for creating interactive media.
• Isadora: A graphic programming environment for interactive control over digital media in live performance.
• Unity 3D: A real-time 3D development platform used for creating interactive visuals and VR/AR experiences.
• Unreal Engine: A high-fidelity real-time 3D creation tool for photorealistic visuals and immersive experiences.
• PureData: An open-source visual programming language for real-time music and multimedia.
• Praxis Live: An open-source, hybrid visual programming environment for live coding visuals and sound.
• Wire - Now Resolume: A modular node-based environment from Resolume for creating generative sources, effects, and video mixers.
• Moldeo: An open-source platform for developing interactive audiovisual projects.
• [Other Tools]: Quartz Composer, Scratch, Flarentic, Tooll, Visor Live, Zoom OSC, BrainModular, BlitzTag.

Projection Mapping Tools

Specialized software for mapping video onto physical surfaces, from simple objects to complex architecture.

• millumin: A comprehensive macOS application for creating audiovisual shows and complex video mappings.
• HeavyM: User-friendly projection mapping software with ready-to-use visual animations.
• Mapio Pro: A powerful solution for projection mapping, including 3D object mapping and edge blending.
• VPT8 (VideoProjectionTool): A free, multipurpose real-time projection software for macOS and Windows.
• MapMap: An open-source, free software for video mapping.
• Blendy Dome VJ: A tool specifically designed for real-time dome projection and 360° content warping.
• Madrix LED: Professional LED lighting control software, often used for pixel mapping on LED installations.
• [Other Tools]: Grand Media Pro, Mapstard, SPARCK, Modulo Pi, Dynamapper, Mapping Matter.

Professional Media Servers

High-end, reliable hardware and software systems for large-scale events, concerts, and installations.

• Disguise: A leading solution combining 3D pre-visualization, show design, and powerful media server playback.
• Modulo Pi: A versatile line of media servers with an intuitive workflow for complex video playback and mapping.
• Green Hippo (Hippotizer): A powerful media server range offering real-time media playback and 3D mapping.
• Christie Pandoras Box: A comprehensive media and show control system for real-time 3D compositing and interactivity.
• Smode Station: The hardware-based media server version of the Smode platform.
• Dataton Watchout: A production and playback system for multi-display applications.
• MXWendler: A real-time video processing software and media server system.
• Ventuz: A real-time 3D graphics content creation, authoring, and playback control software.
• Avolites: Known for lighting consoles, Avolites also offers integrated media server solutions (Ai).
• [Other Servers]: Arkaos-Studio-Server, Vioso, VYV, Barco Media Servers, 7th Sense, Avstumpfl, Dynamic Projection, Lightact-systems, LiveEdit Producer, MuxLab, Picturall/Analog Way, Pixelwix, Pro Systems Group, Screenberry Media Server, Xenon.

Media Preparation & Utility Tools

Essential tools for video conversion, analysis, and system management.

• Shutter Encoder: A powerful and free video conversion tool, excellent for creating VJ-friendly files (DXV, HAP).
• OBS (Open Broadcaster Software): Free software for video recording and live streaming, often used to capture application outputs.
• Media Info: Provides detailed technical information about video and audio files for troubleshooting.
• Virtual Dub 2: A versatile video capture and processing utility.
• [Other Tools]: Video Spec, Switch Res X, VideoInspector, piXap, XNview.

Protocols, Codecs & Core VJ Utilities

The underlying technologies and helper applications that connect the ecosystem.

• NDI (Network Device Interface): A protocol for sending high-quality, low-latency video over a standard computer network.
• Syphon (macOS): An open-source technology for sharing video frames between applications in real-time on the GPU.
• Spout (Windows): The Windows equivalent of Syphon for real-time, GPU-based video sharing between applications.
• HAP Video: A GPU-accelerated video codec designed for high-performance, real-time playback.
• DXV3 codec: Resolume's proprietary GPU-accelerated codec for optimal performance in their software.
• TouchOSC: An app for creating custom control interfaces on mobile devices via OSC.
• Chataigne: A powerful open-source show control software for orchestrating software and hardware.
• Mitti: A modern, reliable video cue application for live events.
• QLab: An industry-standard cue-based show control software for macOS.
• Vezer App: A MIDI, OSC, and DMX timeline and sequencing tool.
• [Other Tools]: TCPSpout, Jokyo HAP encoder, Syphon Recorder, Spout Recorder, Lemur, VideoSync, OSSIA, Central Control, Posi Stage.

Creative Coding Frameworks

Libraries for artists and developers to build their own visual tools from the ground up.

• Processing: A flexible software sketchbook and language for learning to code within the context of the visual arts.
• OpenFrameworks: A C++ toolkit for creative coding, providing a simple framework for experimentation.
• LibCinder: A C++ library for professional-quality creative coding.
• ThreeJs: A cross-browser JavaScript library and API used to create and display animated 3D computer graphics in a web browser.
• [Other Frameworks]: Polycode, MLTFramework.

NDI Tools

A collection of utilities for sending, receiving, and managing NDI video streams across a network.

• NDI Tools: The official suite of free NDI applications from NewTek, including Studio Monitor and Scan Converter.
• NDI Central: A community and resource hub for NDI users.
• Zenvideo NDI: NDI tools and solutions for broadcast.
• Media Looks - Products: Professional broadcast-grade NDI software tools.
• Dicaffeine - NDI Streamer: A solution for streaming NDI content over the internet.
• [Other Tools]: UE4 NDI, Media Looks - Transport, Free NDI Tools by Sienna, PPT NDI, NDI Broadcast Tools, NDIstuff.

Syphon-Specific Tools (macOS)

Utilities designed to work with the Syphon framework for inter-application video sharing.

• Syphoner: An app to capture and share any application window or the entire screen as a Syphon source.
• TCPSyphon: Sends Syphon streams over a network.
• Black Syphon: A utility to share video from Blackmagic capture cards as a Syphon source.
• VLCSyphon: A plugin to output video from VLC Media Player via Syphon.
• [Other Tools]: Canon 2 Syphon, SyphonFaceSubstitution, Syphon Virtual Screen, aesyphon, ScreenCaptureSyphon, GifToSyphon, IPCAM2SYPHON.

The Linux Visual Ecosystem

A curated list of software for visual performance, creation, and production on the Linux operating system.

• VJ/Performance: FreeJ, VeejayHQ, Moldeo, FlXer, Praxislive, vimix, modV.
• Video Editing & Compositing: Blender, Kdenlive, Blackmagic Fusion, Natron, Shotcut.
• Generative & Creative Coding: Pure Data, Processing, OpenFrameworks, Kodelife, Fluxus.
• Mapping & Utilities: MapMap, Mapio for Linux, Open Stage Control, QLC+.
• Full List: A vast array of other tools are available, including AVLinux, BitWig, Cinelerra, Flowblade, GIMP/Krita, Houdini, Lightworks, LoopDrop, Ossia, ProjectM, RunwayML, Synfig Studio, Unity3D, and many more from the original list.

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Appendix: Spout Integration & Development Resources

This section details plugins, libraries, and open-source projects for integrating Spout (real-time texture sharing on Windows) into various development environments.

Unity

• keijiro/KlakSpout - Unity plugin for Spout.
• sloopidoopi/Spout4Unity - Spout2 support for Unity3D.
• anome/Unity-VideoOutput - Share camera using NDI or Syphon-Spout.
• Theoriz/Shared-Texture-Unity - Syphon Spout Funnel plugin for Unity.
• fuku02/SpoutSyphon - Cross-platform sharing for UnityEditor, Unity Apps, and TouchDesigner.

Unreal Engine

• AleDel/Spout-UE4 - Spout Plugin for Unreal Engine.
• backspacetokyo/UE-Spout2 - Updated plugin working with UE5.
• ZimaXXX/SpoutUE4 - A crossover of several Spout UE4 plugins.

Python

• Off-World-Live/pyspout - Spout2 implementation for sending OpenGL textures and raw pixel data.
• spiraltechnica/Spout-for-Python - A modified Spout library using Boost::Python.
• jlai/Python-SpoutGL - A Python wrapper for Spout using pybind11.
• AleDel/Spout-numpy - Send NumPy bytes image.

Processing

• leadedge/SpoutProcessing - Processing library for Spout texture sharing.
• n1ckfg/kinect_syphon - Processing app to send Kinect v1 depth map via Syphon or Spout.
• CatmanJunior/ProcessingKinectResolume - A Processing sketch connecting Kinect data and video to Resolume.

OpenFrameworks

• leadedge/ofSpoutDemo - Spout Demo program for OpenFrameworks.
• elliotwoods/ofxSpout - Implementation of Spout v2 for sharing textures.
• Kj1/ofxSpout2 - Wrapper for Spout2.

Cinder

• brucelane/Cinder-Spout - Cinder version 0.9.1 block for Spout.
• brucelane/SpoutWarp - Spout receiver with a warping visualizer.

Other Platforms & Integrations

• Max/Msp: robtherich/SpoutJitter - Jitter externals for Spout textures.
• OBS: Off-World-Live/obs-spout2-plugin - Spout2 Plugin for OBS Studio.
• NDI Bridges: michaelpalumbo/ndi_spout - NDI to Spout utility.
• Blender: maybites/blender.script.spout - Spout addon for Blender.
• After Effects: benkuper/Spout-AfterEffects - After Effects plugin for sending textures.
• JUCE: benkuper/juce_sharedtexture - A JUCE Module for Spout/Syphon texture sharing.
• Virtual DJ: leadedge/SpoutVDJ - Spout plugins for Virtual DJ.
• WinAmp: leadedge/BeatDrop - Standalone Winamp player with Spout output based on Milkdrop.
• Godot: you-win/spout-gd - Godot 4.1.1 bindings for Spout.
• Rust: virtual-puppet-project/rusty-spout - Spout bindings for Rust.
• Electron: cnSchwarzer/electron-spout - Share Electron's offscreen window frame to Spout.
• C# / .NET: Ruminoid/Spout.NET - C# .NET Implementation for Spout2.