Unlocking Your Stage Potential: The Best QLab Alternatives
QLab stands as an industry-leading cue system, a popular choice for lighting professionals who demand precision and control for live shows and stage lighting. However, the world of stage production is diverse, and specific needs surrounding gear and stage settings mean that a single solution rarely fits all. While these highly focused tools are predominantly desktop-based (primarily Windows and Mac, with some Linux support), and mostly commercial, a few free and open-source gems exist. If you're exploring options beyond QLab, you've come to the right place.
Top QLab Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option, specific video mapping capabilities, or a more intuitive interface, there are fantastic QLab alternatives out there. Let's dive into some of the most compelling options for your next production.
Show Cue System
The Show Cue System is a commercial Windows-based application designed specifically for playback of sound cues in live theatre. It allows users to meticulously assemble cues, setting individual levels, pan, length, and speaker selection, making it a robust QLab alternative for audio control. Its Midi feature further enhances its versatility for professional sound engineers.
Isadora
Isadora is an award-winning commercial interactive media presentation tool available for both Mac and Windows. It's an excellent QLab alternative for those focused on visual programming and real-time interactivity, offering features like a built-in video mapper, Javascript scripting, motion tracking, and real-time processing to help artists and designers bring their visions to life.
MadMapper
MadMapper is a commercial tool for Mac and Windows that simplifies video-mapping projections and LED mapping. It demystifies the complex process of mapping textures to physical objects in real-time, making it a strong QLab alternative for artists and designers who prioritize ease of use and creative content creation over extensive cueing features.
Go Button
Go Button is a unique QLab alternative, offering professional audio playback for live shows directly on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. This freemium mobile app ($$, $) provides a self-contained show control system, ideal for scenarios where a desktop setup isn't practical, ensuring consistent and precisely timed music and sound cues.
MapMap
MapMap stands out as a free and open-source video mapping software available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. This projection technology allows users to turn irregularly shaped objects into display surfaces for video projection, offering a powerful and accessible QLab alternative for those interested in spatial augmented reality without a commercial license.
Resolume Avenue
Resolume Avenue is a commercial application for live video performances, available on Mac and Windows. As a QLab alternative, it excels in visual aspects, allowing users to trigger video clips, Flash files, and pictures, apply real-time effects, and generally act as a comprehensive VJ tool with robust video editing capabilities.
HeavyM
HeavyM is a freemium video mapping software (pricing tiers $$ $) available for Mac and Windows. It's a compelling QLab alternative for adding visual dimensions to events, focusing on intuitive video mapping without requiring deep technical knowledge, making it accessible for a wider range of users.
TABULA FaçadeSignage
TABULA FaçadeSignage is a commercial Windows-based projection mapping and media server software. This easy-to-use QLab alternative allows users to quickly 'dress' any physical object or architectural structure with digital media, facilitating the creation of projection mappings and installations in minutes by drawing surfaces in real-time and assigning media files.
VPT 7
VPT (VideoProjectionTool) 7 is a free, multipurpose real-time projection software for Mac and Windows. Created by HC Gilje, this is a versatile QLab alternative suitable for projecting video on complex forms, adapting projections to specific spaces, combining recorded and live footage, and even interactive installations. It has gained popularity in theatre and installation work, as well as with VJs.
Smode Studio
Smode Studio is a commercial, real-time 2D/3D creation, compositing, and video-mapping engine developed by D/Labs, available for Windows (pricing tiers $$$). As a powerful QLab alternative, Smode Studio allows for real-time parameter changes without expensive re-renderings, making it ideal for generative VJing, interactive installations, and real-time content creation.
With such a diverse range of QLab alternatives, from dedicated audio cue systems to advanced video mapping tools and even mobile solutions, you're sure to find software that perfectly aligns with your specific production needs and creative vision. Explore these options and unlock the full potential of your next live event.