Outputs

FXCanvas can send your visual content to multiple destinations simultaneously. Whether you need to stream over your network, share textures between applications, or output directly to a display, the output system provides flexible options for any setup.

---

What Are Outputs?

Outputs are the destinations where FXCanvas sends your rendered visuals. Think of the render canvas as your main creative surface—outputs then capture regions from this canvas and send them to various destinations.

Key concepts:

• Render canvas — The master surface where all your sources and effects render
• Output mapping — Each output samples a rectangular region from the render canvas
• Multiple destinations — Send the same visuals to different places simultaneously
• Independent configuration — Each output can have different resolutions and settings

---

Output Types

FXCanvas supports four output types, each designed for different use cases:

Type	Platform	Description	Best For
NDI	All	Stream video over your local network	Broadcast workflows, distributed setups, LED walls
Spout	Windows	Share textures between Windows applications	VJ setups, single-computer workflows
Syphon	macOS	Share textures between macOS applications	VJ setups, single-computer workflows on Mac
Display	All	Output directly to a monitor or projector	Projection mapping, direct LED connections

NDI (Network Device Interface)

NDI allows you to stream video over your local network to any NDI-compatible software or device.

Use cases:

• Capture in OBS for streaming or recording
• Feed LED walls via media servers
• Send to lighting consoles for pixel mapping
• Share with other computers on your network

How it works:

When NDI is enabled, FXCanvas broadcasts video streams that any NDI receiver on your network can discover and use. Each NDI output appears as a separate source in receiving software.

Advantages:

• Works across different computers on the same network
• Industry-standard protocol supported by many professional tools
• Low latency suitable for live performance
• No additional hardware required

Network Requirements

NDI works best over wired Ethernet connections. Use Gigabit networking for HD streams and 10GbE for multiple 4K streams. Avoid WiFi for reliable performance.

Spout

Spout enables ultra-fast texture sharing between applications on the same Windows computer. Instead of encoding and transmitting video, Spout shares GPU textures directly.

Use cases:

• Send to Resolume Arena/Avenue for mixing
• Feed TouchDesigner for additional processing
• Capture in OBS (with Spout plugin)
• Integrate with other Spout-compatible VJ software

How it works:

Spout uses DirectX shared textures to transfer images between applications without copying pixels through system memory. This means near-zero latency and minimal CPU usage.

Advantages:

• Ultra-low latency (GPU-to-GPU transfer)
• Minimal performance overhead
• No network configuration required
• Works with many Windows creative applications

Windows Only

Spout is a Windows-only technology. It won't appear as an option on other platforms.

Syphon

Syphon is the macOS equivalent of Spout — it enables fast texture sharing between applications on the same Mac. Like Spout, it shares GPU textures directly without encoding overhead.

Use cases:

• Send to Resolume, VDMX, or MadMapper for mixing
• Feed Processing or other Syphon-compatible creative tools
• Integrate with macOS-based VJ and media server workflows

How it works:

Syphon uses IOSurface-backed textures to share frames between applications via the GPU. This avoids CPU-side pixel copies and provides low-latency, high-performance texture sharing.

Advantages:

• Low latency GPU-to-GPU transfer
• Minimal performance overhead
• No network configuration required
• Supported by many macOS creative applications

macOS Only

Syphon is a macOS-only technology. On Windows, use Spout for equivalent functionality.

Display

Display output sends video directly to a monitor, projector, or LED wall connected to your computer.

Use cases:

• Projection mapping onto surfaces
• Direct connection to LED processors
• Preview on secondary monitors
• Fullscreen output for installations

How it works:

FXCanvas creates a separate window on your chosen display and renders the output region to it. You can run this window fullscreen or in a resizable window mode.

Advantages:

• Direct output with no intermediate software
• Works with any connected display
• Supports fullscreen and windowed modes
• No additional software or drivers needed

---

Output Mapping Editor

The Output Mapping Editor is your visual workspace for configuring outputs. It shows how your outputs map to the render canvas and lets you position, resize, and manage them.

Opening the Editor

Open the Output Mapping Editor using one of these methods:

• Menu: View → Output Mapping Editor
• Settings: Click "Open Mapping Editor" in the Output settings tab
• Keyboard: Use the assigned shortcut (check View menu for current binding)

Understanding the Canvas View

The editor displays a scaled representation of your render canvas:

Element	Description
Canvas area	Gray background showing the full render resolution
Output rectangles	Colored boxes showing where each output samples from
Grid lines	Reference grid at 100-pixel intervals
Labels	Each output shows its name and resolution

Visual indicators:

Visual	Meaning
Blue fill	Output region
White border	Unselected output
Gold/yellow border	Currently selected output
Type icon	NDI, Spout, or Display indicator

Creating Outputs

To add a new output:

1. Click the Add Output button (or use the + icon)
2. Select the output type (NDI, Spout, Syphon, or Display)
3. Configure the output settings:
   • Name — A descriptive name (appears in receiving software for NDI/Spout)
   • Resolution — Width and height in pixels
   • Position — Where on the canvas this output samples from
   • Type-specific settings (display selection, alpha channel, etc.)
4. Click Add to create the output

The new output appears on the canvas and immediately starts sending (if that output type is enabled).

Positioning Outputs

Drag to reposition:

1. Click and hold on an output rectangle
2. Drag to the desired position
3. Release to confirm

Resize using handles:

1. Select an output by clicking it
2. Drag the corner or edge handles to resize
3. The output resolution updates to match

Precise positioning:

1. Select an output
2. Edit X, Y, Width, and Height values in the details panel
3. Values update immediately

Understanding Output Regions

Each output samples a rectangular region from your render canvas:

• Position (X, Y) — Top-left corner of the region on the canvas (0,0 is top-left)
• Resolution (Width × Height) — Size of the captured region in pixels

You can:

• Have outputs that overlap (both capture the same area)
• Have outputs that cover different areas (split screen)
• Have one large output covering the entire canvas
• Mix different resolutions and positions

Layout Examples

• Single output: One output matching the canvas resolution
• Side by side: Two outputs each covering half the canvas
• Picture in picture: Small output overlapping a larger one
• Multi-display: Different regions for different physical displays

---

Managing Outputs

Output List

The left side of the Mapping Editor shows all configured outputs:

• Click an output to select it
• Selected output details appear in the panel below
• Status indicators show if outputs are active

Editing Output Properties

With an output selected, you can modify its properties in the details panel:

Property	Description
Name	Identifier shown in receiving software
Type	NDI, Spout, Syphon, or Display (cannot change after creation)
Resolution	Output dimensions in pixels
Position	X, Y mapping coordinates on canvas
Alpha	Include transparency channel (NDI/Spout/Syphon only)
Display	Target monitor (Display outputs only)

Changes apply immediately—you'll see the result in real-time.

Duplicating Outputs

To quickly create a similar output:

1. Right-click an existing output
2. Select Duplicate
3. The new output appears with the same settings
4. Reposition and rename as needed

This is useful when setting up multiple outputs with similar configurations.

Deleting Outputs

To remove an output:

1. Right-click the output in the list or on the canvas
2. Select Delete
3. Confirm the deletion

Or select the output and press the Delete key.

---

Output Presets

Output configurations are saved as presets, separate from your shows. This allows you to:

• Reuse the same output setup across different shows
• Quickly switch between configurations for different venues
• Share output configurations with others

How Presets Work

• Output presets store all your outputs and the render resolution
• Presets are saved in your Documents/FXCanvas/Presets/Outputs folder
• The last-used preset is automatically restored when you launch FXCanvas
• Changing shows does not change your output configuration

Preset Dropdown

At the top of the Output Mapping Editor, you'll find the preset controls:

Control	Function
Preset dropdown	Select from saved presets
Save	Save changes to current preset
Save As	Save as a new preset with a new name
Delete	Remove the current preset

Creating a Preset

1. Configure your outputs as desired
2. Click Save As
3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Club XYZ Setup" or "Dual NDI 1080p")
4. Click Save

Loading a Preset

1. Click the preset dropdown
2. Select the preset you want to load
3. Your outputs update immediately

note

Loading a preset replaces all current outputs. If you have unsaved changes, you'll be prompted to save first.

Preset Tips

• Name presets by venue or purpose — "Main Stage", "Practice Room", "Streaming Setup"
• Create presets for different scenarios — One for rehearsal, one for performance
• Keep a simple default — A single full-canvas output is a good starting point

---

Enabling and Disabling Outputs

You have two levels of control over output activity:

Master Enable (Per Output Type)

In Settings → Output, you can enable or disable each output type globally:

Setting	Effect
Enable NDI Outputs	All NDI outputs start/stop streaming
Enable Spout Outputs	All Spout outputs start/stop sharing
Enable Syphon Outputs	All Syphon outputs start/stop sharing
Enable Display Outputs	All Display windows open/close

When disabled, outputs of that type consume no resources.

Status Bar Indicators

The status bar at the bottom of the window shows output status:

Indicator	Meaning
Green badge with count	Active outputs of that type (e.g., "NDI: 2")
Gray badge	Output type is disabled

Click a status badge to quickly open the Output settings.

When to Disable Outputs

Consider disabling outputs when:

• Testing visuals — Disable all outputs to focus on preview
• Saving resources — Turn off unused output types
• Troubleshooting — Isolate issues by enabling one type at a time
• Different workflows — Only enable what you need for the current session

---

Output Settings

Access output settings via Edit → Settings → Output tab.

Render Canvas Settings

The render canvas is the master resolution at which your visuals render:

Setting	Description
Preset buttons	Quick select 720p, 1080p, or 4K
Width/Height	Custom resolution (128 to 7680 pixels)

Resolution Affects Performance

Higher resolutions require more GPU power. Start with 1080p and increase only if needed. For lighting console pixel mapping, lower resolutions (500×500) often work better.

Output Type Settings

Each output type has its own section:

NDI Outputs:

• Enable/disable all NDI streaming
• View count of configured NDI outputs

Spout Outputs (Windows):

• Enable/disable all Spout sharing
• View count of configured Spout outputs

Syphon Outputs (macOS):

• Enable/disable all Syphon sharing
• View count of configured Syphon outputs

Display Outputs:

• Enable/disable all display windows
• View count of configured Display outputs

Open Mapping Editor Button

Click Open Mapping Editor to launch the visual editor for detailed output configuration.

---

Tips and Best Practices

Getting Started

Start Simple

Begin with a single output matching your render resolution. Add more outputs as your needs grow.

Network Outputs (NDI)

• Use wired Ethernet — WiFi introduces latency and dropped frames
• Same network segment — Keep all NDI devices on the same subnet
• Descriptive names — Use names like "Stage Left" or "LED Wall" so you can identify streams easily
• Check firewall settings — NDI requires specific ports; firewalls can block discovery

Local Sharing (Spout / Syphon)

• No setup required — Spout/Syphon sources appear automatically in compatible apps
• GPU matters — Performance depends on your graphics card
• Texture format — Enable alpha only if you need transparency
• Platform-specific — Spout on Windows, Syphon on macOS

Direct Output (Display)

• Dedicated GPU output — For best performance, use a separate graphics output
• Match native resolution — Set output resolution to match your display's native resolution
• Fullscreen mode — Use fullscreen for clean output without window borders

Performance

Recommendation	Benefit
Disable unused output types	Saves CPU and GPU resources
Use appropriate resolutions	Higher isn't always better
Limit simultaneous outputs	Each output adds overhead
Monitor frame rate	Check performance in the status bar

Troubleshooting

NDI output not appearing:

• Verify NDI is enabled in Settings
• Check that both computers are on the same network
• Temporarily disable firewall to test
• Restart NDI discovery in receiving app

Spout/Syphon output not appearing:

• Verify Spout (Windows) or Syphon (macOS) is enabled in Settings
• Ensure the receiving app supports Spout/Syphon
• Check that both apps are using the same GPU

Display output issues:

• Verify the correct monitor is selected
• Check display cable connections
• Try windowed mode first, then fullscreen

Poor performance:

• Reduce render resolution
• Disable unused output types
• Close unnecessary applications
• Check GPU utilization

---

Related Topics

• Sources — Visual patterns that render to the output canvas
• Video Inputs — Use external video feeds as sources
• Effects — Post-processing applied before output
• Getting Started — Overview of FXCanvas basics