Resolume to Lights

Send Resolume Arena or Avenue compositions to Spectralite via NDI for video-reactive lighting effects.

Overview

Resolume is VJ software used for live performances and installations. Spectralite receives Resolume's NDI output and reacts to the video in real time.

What you'll need

• Resolume Arena or Avenue (NDI output requires Arena 7+ or Avenue 4+)
• Network connection between Resolume and Spectralite
• Spectralite running on the same network

Quick start

1. Enable NDI output in Resolume.
2. Connect the stream in Spectralite.
3. Create reactive effects using the NDI input.
4. Perform with synchronized visuals and lighting.

Setting up NDI in Resolume

Step 1: Enable NDI output

1. Open Resolume Preferences (Cmd+,).
2. Go to the Output tab.
3. Locate the NDI Output section.
4. Click Add NDI Output.
5. Choose a name (e.g., "Resolume Main").
6. Set the output resolution (720p recommended for performance).

Step 2: Configure output settings

In the NDI Output settings:

• Name: use a descriptive name (e.g., "Resolume-Main-Output").
• Resolution: 1280x720 or 1920x1080. Lower resolutions perform better.
• Frame Rate: match your composition (30fps typical).
• Source: select your output (Screen 1, Screen 2, etc.).

Step 3: Verify output

1. Look for the NDI indicator in Resolume's interface.
2. It should show as active or transmitting.
3. You may see network bandwidth usage.

For complete NDI configuration details, see Resolume's NDI documentation.

Connecting to Spectralite

Enable NDI in Spectralite

1. Open Spectralite.
2. Go to Edit > Inputs > NDI.
3. Enable NDI input enabled and Auto-discover sources.
4. The Resolume source is picked up automatically. This dialog does not show a source picker; sources are used by nodes and layers that reference NDI.
5. Open an effect in the Node Editor and drop in an NDI Input node, or add a new layer with the built-in NDI Input effect.

Using Resolume video in Spectralite

There are two ways to use Resolume's video output in your lighting.

Quick start: built-in NDI layer

For immediate use, add an NDI layer directly to your timeline:

1. In the Timeline panel, click + Add new layer.
2. Select the built-in NDI Input effect.

Resolume's output now drives your fixtures.

Advanced: custom effects with NDI nodes

For custom control over how Resolume drives lighting:

1. Open the Node Editor.
2. Create a new effect or edit an existing one.
3. Add an NDI Input node to sample video data from Resolume.
4. Connect it to other nodes to create custom reactive effects.

Performance tips

Lower the Resolume NDI output to 720p, disable unused layers, and use the NDI HX codec where available. 30fps is usually enough for lighting. On the network side, prefer wired gigabit Ethernet, keep both machines on the same subnet for auto-discovery, and use a dedicated network for large shows. In Spectralite, sample NDI at a lower resolution in effect nodes and keep the NDI-driven effect graph simple.

Common workflows

One OSC or MIDI router drives both Resolume and Spectralite, so cue changes affect visuals and lighting together. Pre-made clips in Resolume give Spectralite color and brightness to sample from. Generative Resolume effects applied to blank layers double as control patterns for abstract lighting.

Troubleshooting

Stream not appearing

1. Verify NDI output is enabled in Resolume preferences.
2. Check that both applications are on the same network.
3. Check firewall settings (allow NDI discovery).
4. Restart NDI output in Resolume.

Poor performance

1. Reduce NDI output resolution in Resolume.
2. Lower the frame rate if real-time isn't critical.
3. Use a wired network in place of WiFi.
4. Close unnecessary applications.

Latency

1. Switch to wired Ethernet.
2. Reduce video resolution in Resolume.
3. Simplify effect graphs in Spectralite.
4. Monitor network congestion.

Color mismatch

1. Check color space settings in both applications.
2. Verify gamma settings match.
3. Calibrate monitors if needed for visual reference.

Advanced setups

Multiple outputs

Send different Resolume outputs to Spectralite:

1. Configure multiple NDI outputs in Resolume (e.g., Screen 1, Screen 2).
2. Add each as a separate source in Spectralite.
3. Create effects that use different streams. For example, use the main output for color and a secondary for brightness.

Alpha channel effects

Use transparency data from Resolume:

1. Enable the alpha channel in Resolume output.
2. Sample alpha in Spectralite to control intensity.
3. Create layered lighting effects based on transparency.

Resources

• Resolume NDI Documentation: official Resolume NDI guide.
• General NDI Setup: generic NDI workflow.
• Node Editor: create NDI-reactive effects.

Related guides

• TouchDesigner to Lights
• VDMX to Lights