Video · Practical guide
Choose playback software around the running order and destinations
Start with what needs to happen on screen: who calls each video, what continues during a pause and which destinations need different pictures. A draft running order and sketch are enough to begin comparing workflows.
Three questions to guide the choice
Called cues or fixed timing? Record which videos depend on a person and which sequences follow agreed timings. Define clip endings, holding backgrounds, pause, return and audio; “play a list” does not yet describe those behaviors.
Which pictures must be independent? Separate audience displays, confidence monitors and preview. Two physical monitors may show the same picture; two simultaneous pieces of content need identified routes. Add resolution, frame rate and useful areas without automatically treating them as connector counts.
Is there a live source? Record origin, format and destination for each capture as well as the files. If switching or streaming is also needed, scope that with its operator; choosing playback does not define the whole system.
Compare tasks rather than ranking brands
| Task to prepare | Starting guides | What determines the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Videos called by cue | Mitti · QLab video | End behavior, background, audio and audience/preview relationship. |
| A Windows playlist | PLAYDECK | Edition, output channels and actions at clip end or stop. |
| Layers, sequences and destinations | Millumin · PIXERA · WATCHOUT · Disguise | Timeline, surfaces, asset handover and each machine’s role. |
| Content areas and surfaces | Resolume · MadMapper | Content region, mask and destination. LED cabinet mapping is defined separately. |
| Capture and processing in TouchDesigner | Input · Output | Build, device, format and path to the receiver. |
System, edition and licensing affect the scope
Mitti, QLab 5 and Millumin V5 are prepared on macOS; PLAYDECK and WATCHOUT 7 on Windows. Check the reference version and official requirements in each guide. For other candidates, confirm the operating system and specific combination before reserving equipment. A screenshot does not establish compatibility.
Check the edition, license valid for the intended use, plugins, interfaces and outputs before finalizing the proposal. Equipment rental, operation and licensing are separate items. Edition capacity does not guarantee performance on every computer.
Proposed scenario: an opening, two areas and a live presentation
First establish whether the two areas share a canvas or need independent content, who supplies the presentation and whether capture is involved. For simple calls, start by comparing cue workflows; for related timing and surfaces, also review timelines and mapping. You can complete these details before choosing a brand.
Prepare the same sample for the remaining candidates: opening, pause, content change and closing. Record file, cue, picture per destination, audio and stop/return behavior. Check the physical path and retain outstanding rehearsal items. Use that sample to compare workflows and record the results you observe with the planned configuration.
References for each program
Each linked guide identifies official documentation, its reference version or build and the limits of the material consulted. Use those sections to check the actual installation and retain the manuals for the agreed version.
Resolume · Disguise · TouchDesigner · PIXERA · Mitti · QLab · Millumin · WATCHOUT · MadMapper · PLAYDECK
Prepare your project
Start with photos, a sketch or a draft running order, even before models or dimensions are final. Tell us which pictures and audio are needed at each destination and which files or equipment you already have. GLMedia can help compare workflows and plan equipment rental or purchase, integration and technical support. Add the date, city and preparation or operating team if known.
Discuss the project