Halyx frequently asked questions

DMX lighting control software: a complete console (patch, programmer, effects, cue lists with GO, faders, 3D visualizer) that runs on a PC and is controlled from tablets, phones and computers, in the browser.

A Windows 10 or 11 PC for the engine, a network switch, at least one Art-Net or sACN node (any brand) to output DMX, and the tablets or phones you already own. For wireless, a CRMX transmitter plugged into a node port.

Without a licence, Halyx is free and complete, except for the output to fixtures: enough to learn and prepare a show in the 3D visualizer. Real output needs a Solo (2 universes), Pro (8) or Unlimited plan, with a free 14-day Solo trial.

Any tablet or phone with a recent browser: iPad, iPhone, Android. Screens are free and unlimited.

No: Halyx only outputs over the network, as Art-Net 4 or sACN, to nodes such as the ODE MK3, Luminex LumiNode, DMXking eDMX, etc.

No. The licence stays valid for 7 days without a connection (3 days during the trial), and the screens talk to the engine over the local network.

A licence covers one machine; you can buy several (1 to 50). A machine can be transferred from the Account screen or from your online account.

Online, at any time, in the app's Account screen or in your account on this site: cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period. A consumer can also withdraw within 14 days of the first payment.

In the European Union, Halyx is sold to consumers and businesses. Outside the EU, to businesses only, with their VAT or tax ID number. Prices in euros, and in dollars or pounds for businesses in the United States and the United Kingdom.

No. The site and the app have no ads and no trackers. Your shows stay on your machine; only the account, the licence and your fixture profiles go through our servers (see the privacy policy).

Yes. On iPad, as on any tablet or phone, Halyx opens in Safari or Chrome from the engine's address (QR code). Added to the home screen, it opens like an app. The engine itself runs on a Windows PC.

No. The screens talk to the engine over the local network (Wi-Fi or cable). Internet is only used for the account and the licence, which stays valid for 7 days offline.

As many as your network handles: screens are free and unlimited on every plan. The licence only counts DMX universes sent out.

No. It is included in every plan, even without a licence: the visualizer never counts towards universes.

No. WebGL 2 rendering runs in the browser of the screen that shows it; a recent tablet or a laptop is enough. Beyond 300 fixtures seen from afar, dots replace the 3D bodies to stay smooth.

Not yet. Fixtures are placed in Patch, in 3D; MVR import is planned.

Any node that receives Art-Net (3 or 4) or sACN (E1.31): ODE MK3, Luminex LumiNode, DMXking eDMX, Swisson XND, Obsidian NETRON, etc. Halyx has been tested on the ODE MK3.

No: Halyx only outputs over the network (Art-Net, sACN). An entry-level Art-Net node costs about as much as a USB interface and can sit anywhere on the network.

Up to 255 universes. The number of universes sent out depends on your plan: 2 with Solo, 8 with Pro, unlimited with Unlimited.

No. Halyx is software: it sends Art-Net or sACN to a node, and the CRMX transmitter plugged into a node port transmits wirelessly. Any CRMX transmitter with a DMX input works.

Yes. Each node port outputs the universe you choose in Outputs; a universe can go out both on cable and to the transmitter.

Yes: internal timecode, LTC (audio input), MIDI Time Code and ArtTimeCode. A cue can start at a timecode, or at a fixed time on chosen days.

Yes: a sequence fader in Crossfade mode moves from one cue to the next by hand.

No hidden tracking: each cue is complete. When updating a scene, Halyx offers to carry the change into the following cues that had the same values.

In spirit, yes: one editor for every attribute (intensity, colour, position, zoom, iris, focus, gobo, prism), with phase spread across the selection. Simpler: no command line.

No. Everything is done by touch: there is no command line to learn.

Open its GDTF file, search GDTF Share, or create its profile in Patch › Add, by hand or by having Claude read the manual. You can also write to us: we regularly add profiles to the library.

Yes, and it also exports its own profiles as .gdtf.

The feature is included; it uses your own Anthropic API key (billed by Anthropic based on your usage), kept on the engine.

No: it ships with Halyx, on every plan. Companion itself is free (Bitfocus).

All those Companion supports: Stream Deck Mini, MK.2, XL, +, Pedal, and Companion's other surfaces.

Yes, as MIDI Time Code or LTC. QLab can also fire GOs over OSC.

Yes: each control on a MIDI surface can be learned onto an action (fader, button, GO, Blackout…).

The engine is published for Windows 10 and 11. The screens work on any device with a browser, Mac, iPad and iPhone included. macOS, Linux and Raspberry Pi versions of the engine are planned.

No, Halyx installs per user. Only changing an existing firewall rule may ask for them.

Nothing right away: a decrease in rights only applies when the engine restarts, and the offline authorisation still runs for 72 h after it ends, with an on-screen alert.

Yes. You only need a connection now and then (a phone hotspot is enough): the authorisation lasts 7 days offline.

On the same network, yes, but a given universe should reach the node through one protocol only, otherwise it receives two sources. In Halyx, one protocol per show is almost always enough.

For a few universes in unicast, an ordinary switch is fine. For many universes in multicast, a managed switch (IGMP snooping) avoids flooding the network.