Unilighter Changelog

Welcome to the Unilighter changelog. Here you will find a summary of recent features, performance optimizations, hardware additions, and stability improvements across Unilighter and Unilighter Desktop.

21 September 2026:

Reverse engineering color wheels use a color picker, including a half-color such as white/red at its own DMX value. Gobo wheels open the pattern editor, and a live session clears the universe first.
Added a Fixture Editor reverse-engineering workspace for discovering unknown fixtures directly on live DMX output, marking ranges and positions, and testing the resulting controls.
Added named DMX ranges from imported or manually edited fixture profiles to faders and knobs so operators can see each function directly on the control.
Fixture Editor now shows whether a profile was imported from Open Fixture Library, QLC+, DDF Library, or Avolites D4.
Avolites D4 fixtures import support.
Import fixture library search stays responsive while typing.
Import fixture profiles from the DDF Library in the same dialog as Open Fixture Library and QLC+.
Device Control now shows every color wheel when a fixture has more than one.
Import fixture profiles from QLC+ in the same dialog as Open Fixture Library, with All / OFL / QLC+ / DDF filters.
When both libraries define the same fixture, pick a source in Import — Open Fixture Library is marked Recommended.
Import From files now accepts Open Fixture Library JSON, QLC+ qxf, and DDF XML or zip (XML only, no images).
QLC+ and DDF-only manufacturers in Import are labeled so they stand apart from Open Fixture Library vendors.
Adding the first universe in Setup now appears immediately.
Increased console text size so labels and lists are easier to read.
Import fixture profiles from Open Fixture Library via Import in the Fixture Editor and the Add Device dialog.
Add Device, Open Fixture Library import, and node search focus the search field on desktop. Escape clears the query, then closes.
Open Fixture Library import search now finds manufacturers by name or by matching fixture names.
Open Fixture Library import preview now lists converted channels for the selected mode.
Open Fixture Library import fills the screen on phones and steps from manufacturer to fixture with a back control.
Open Fixture Library maintenance menus now import as enum options instead of Shared ranges, and rest at 0 instead of the fixture menu default.
Open Fixture Library color-temperature channels with an idle window now import as a single misc control.
Open Fixture Library pixel groups such as Master and Shape now import as separate heads.
Open Fixture Library groups that cover every pixel import as Shared, so a master dimmer scales every head.
Grouped each head's Device Control into a wrap row so dense fixtures stay readable.
Each Device Control group is labeled in the corner with the head name, or Shared for fixture-wide controls.
Color Wheel, knobs, and Strobe snap buttons keep their original size inside each head group instead of stretching or clipping.
Open Fixture Library import now maps unrecognized channels to misc, and expands matrix pixel groups so Master color and dimmer channels (including Fine) import as 16-bit controls.
Removed the projected gray keyframe markers from the top of the animation timeline now that box selection covers multiple frames.

20 September 2026:

Enum and gobo wheel DMX values now use the full 16/24/32-bit range when Fine, Ultra, or Uber channels are present.
Boolean fixture parameters now copy on/off to every linked high-resolution DMX channel.
Color wheel Fine remains a split-color control; Ultra and Uber are no longer offered for color wheels.
Renamed the Alias fixture channel type to Shared in the editor.
Made the Send feedback button larger and easier to spot against the console background.
Added Frames for grouping selected nodes, moving and resizing groups, renaming and recoloring them, and deleting frames separately or with their contained nodes.
Added Reroute points for tidying cable paths, including drag and click-to-click reconnection with active-port feedback.
Added keyboard search and Enter-to-add selection when inserting nodes in Visual Node Graphs.
Improved selected-node visibility in dense Visual Node Graphs.
Enhanced audio spectrum displays with frequency and level guides, highlighted listening ranges, and separate Spectrum and RMS toggles.
Added immediate conflict warnings for already-assigned MIDI controls and keyboard shortcuts, and simplified MIDI trigger selection to one-click controls.
Standardized compact knob geometry across Visual Node Graphs and Dashboard widgets.
Added inherited parameter selection across consecutive fixtures and tags when creating scenes and keyframe tracks.

19 September 2026:

Copying the MCP agent prompt, URL, and token in Unilighter Desktop Settings now works.
MCP device lists now return fixture IDs and tags so agents can recover a patch after a failed call.
Reconnecting an MCP client no longer fails after a previous agent session dropped.
Keyframe animations can now run at 4x and 8x project BPM.
Fixed keyframe animation duration jumping to 1000 beats when resizing the timeline in beat mode.
Custom color-wheel DMX now applies to every fixture in a tag, not only the first device.

18 September 2026:

Added Deactivate all functions in Project Settings to stop every running scene, animation, and node graph, including ones that stayed latched after a hold-mode press.
Hold-mode function buttons now fully release timeline animations instead of leaving them running after the button is released.
Restored the Project Settings debug panel so listing active functions no longer collapses the accordion.
Restored reliable fixture control for 16-bit and high-resolution DMX channels when a parameter is missing a coarse channel or a fine channel is listed first.

17 September 2026:

Added high-resolution DMX channel precision (16-bit fine, 24-bit ultra, and 32-bit uber) for any fixture parameter with one-click creation in Fixture Editor.
Enhanced in-app feedback dialog to reliably submit diagnostic logs and user reports directly to the team.
Added built-in Generic PAR, Generic Moving Head, and Generic LED Bar fixture profiles for quick rig setup without creating custom fixtures.

16 September 2026:

Added Model Context Protocol (MCP) skill integration for autonomous lighting show generation with AI coding assistants.

14 September 2026:

Enhanced Visual Node Graph editor with smoother pinch-to-zoom gestures and intuitive cable routing.
Resolved DMX output channel priority conflicts between active scenes and running timeline animations.
Added custom toggle value mapping for non-binary MIDI controls.
Polished Hardware Assign Mode to eliminate UI shifts and hide inactive faders during binding.

13 September 2026:

Introduced Sequence Node and Delay Node for automated multi-step lighting cues and staggered effect triggers.
Added top status bar alerts to immediately notify operators of hardware and communication errors.

12 September 2026:

Restored responsive multi-column layouts inside Dashboard widget groups.
Enabled scene triggers and timeline animations on mobile touch devices.
Enabled microphone and audio input device access in Unilighter Desktop.

11 September 2026:

Migrated Unilighter Desktop engine for improved runtime stability and lower CPU usage.
Added automatic Crash Recovery Mode and instant safe relaunch in Unilighter Desktop.
Improved Linux setup with automatic uDMX USB device permissions in .deb packages.
Fixed MIDI control registration immediately following hardware binding changes.
Resolved connection pauses when joining local network remote control sessions.

10 September 2026:

Expanded fixture profile library with additional fixture models and channel modes.
Added visual fixture DIP switch calculators directly inside Device Patch and address editor.
Improved touch dragging responsiveness for virtual faders on mobile screens.

9 September 2026:

Added quick in-app Feedback modal to submit bug reports and feature suggestions directly from the console.

8 September 2026:

Enhanced Site Planner with fixture symbol classification for theatrical and stage plots.
Enabled placing and snapping lighting fixtures directly onto venue walls and floors.
Improved 3D transform gizmos for smooth multi-axis rotation, translation, and scaling of stage equipment.

7 September 2026:

Introduced realistic 3D fixture models with customizable aiming angles and beam positioning in Site Planner.
Added Draft vs. Realistic rendering toggle and 3D truss lattice visualizations.
Added smooth fly-camera navigation controls across all 3D stage views.
Optimized 3D visualizer memory usage and volumetric light beam rendering performance.
Added active color preview swatch to the Color Picker and eliminated control value jumping during live adjustments.

5 September 2026:

Added local network (LAN) Remote Control enabling live dashboard touch control from mobile devices without internet.
Added dedicated Desktop Settings panel with automatic background updates and Emergency Page access (!!Ctrl+Shift+E!!).
Added live audio DSP analysis and neural music beat-tracking for automated rhythm detection.
Enhanced Model Context Protocol (MCP) agent tools with full dashboard widget customization support.
Improved 3D stage visualizer lighting effects and keyframe timeline interpolation accuracy.

3 September 2026:

Added comprehensive training guides covering timecode synchronization, stadium-scale routing, and live busking.

2 September 2026:

Added blind channel discovery workflow to Simple Desk for tracing unknown fixture addresses.
Published comprehensive reference guides for Color Engine, Theater Cue Lists, and Multi-Head LED Bars.

1 September 2026:

Added native multi-universe Art-Net 4 and sACN (ANSI E1.31) network DMX streaming to Unilighter Desktop.
Released local MCP server in Unilighter Desktop to automate fixture patching and show programming.
Added printable DMX Patch Sheet export for stage technicians and riggers.
Introduced Spatial Matrix and Fixture Choreography animation modes for sweeping motion effects without physical moving heads.
Added Subgraphs and Reusable Macro functions to the Visual Node Graph system.

31 August 2026:

Optimized console rendering engine to support high fixture counts and complex widget setups with zero UI latency.
Overhauled Hardware Assign Mode with live visual feedback for physical faders, knobs, and buttons.
Introduced Global Bindings Manager for unified management of all MIDI and keyboard shortcuts.

29 August 2026:

Added Fixed and Parametric frequency analysis modes to the Audio Frequency Meter node.
Added event-capture search in Bindings Manager to instantly find assignments by pressing a hardware key or moving a fader.
Enhanced Keyframe Animation Editor with multi-channel keyframe copying and precision playhead scrubbing.
Added dedicated BPM Node to dynamically sync animation speeds and project tempo.
Added per-head parameter control in Scenes for multi-cell LED fixtures and pixel bars.
Improved 2D/3D visualizer color rendering for monochrome and single-channel fixtures.
Added independent single-axis control for 2D XY-Pads (Pan or Tilt only).

28 August 2026:

Added visual indicators to clearly distinguish local offline projects from cloud-synchronized projects.
Added in-depth reference documentation for control priorities and widget layering.

27 August 2026:

Added detailed screen references and workflow documentation across all console views.

25 August 2026:

Introduced early preview of the Choreography Animation engine for synchronized multi-fixture wave patterns.

23 August 2026:

Streamlined Project Manager with a cleaner, icon-driven project selection interface.
Overhauled Settings view for faster navigation between project preferences and application options.
Added complete technical references for all 13 node graph modules and hardware compatibility guides.

22 August 2026:

Released initial multi-platform build of Unilighter Desktop for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Added seamless in-app client updates for Unilighter Desktop without requiring full software reinstallation.

18 August 2026:

Added cloud synchronization and read-only customer view sharing for Site Planner plots.
Added 30-minute continuous DMX output safety timeout for Free accounts.

17 August 2026:

Added Bill of Materials (BOM) export and print capability to Site Planner for venue equipment manifests.
Added quick duplicate keyboard shortcuts and wall-snapping zones for stage rigging.
Improved upright vertical truss selection and positioning in 2D and 3D views.
Preserved 3D camera angles and zoom state when switching between planner tabs.
Added support for fixture model variations in site plans.

16 August 2026:

Added full 3D transformation tools (Move, Rotate, Scale) with interactive coordinate gizmos in Site Planner.
Added architectural blueprint import to trace stage layouts over existing CAD and image drawings.
Introduced venue height slicing and sectoral stage zones for complex multi-level venues.

15 August 2026:

Added 3D Hang View in Site Planner to preview overhead fixture positions and hang heights.
Promoted Fixture Profile Editor to a dedicated top-level tool for quick device profile creation.
Added right-click context menus for quick editing, grouping, and deletion of stage objects.
Improved drag-and-drop precision and placement stability on the venue canvas.
Streamlined Project Manager header navigation.

14 August 2026:

Released initial Site Planner stage plot designer preview for venue layout and truss drafting.
Added one-click upload to migrate local offline projects directly to the cloud.

8 August 2026:

Improved tactile responsiveness of physical MIDI rotary encoders, eliminating input latency during fast adjustments.
Redesigned "Add Device Control" dialog with quick search and intuitive channel grouping.
Enhanced custom dropdown selectors with drag-to-select and multi-key navigation support.
Improved project recovery workflow for restoring damaged or archived fixture configurations.

28 July 2026:

Consolidated Local and Cloud projects into a unified project hub with seamless cloud sync.
Merged device patching and DMX universes into an intuitive single-screen Setup view.
Replaced project Author metadata with venue-centric organization.
Added Safe Mode startup and automated project recovery for corrupted show files.
Standardized UI control sizing across Color Pickers and XY-Pads.

26 July 2026:

Refined interactive Demo mode layout with isolated viewport scrolling.

25 July 2026:

Released public interactive Demo Mode allowing instant testing without account registration.
Unified UI scaling and proportional controls across all screen resolutions.
Significantly reduced interface latency and boosted rendering speed in Settings and Node Graphs.
Resolved cable connection alignment issues in scaled node canvases.

23 May 2026:

Expanded MIDI hardware integration with comprehensive support for all message types (Note On/Off, Control Change, Pitch Bend, and relative encoders).

22 April 2026:

Added multi-head fixture support for LED pixel bars, multi-emitter fixtures, and multi-beam moving heads.
Added printable DMX patch sheet export for venue technicians and physical rig setup.

13 March 2026:

Added smooth crossfade transitions for Cue Lists and Theatrical Scenarios.
Introduced bulk parameter value replacement and batch editing for scenes.

20 December 2025:

Introduced Theatrical Scenario Widget, embedding lighting cues and scene automation directly into running show scripts.
Added 2D visualizer previews for gobo, prism, and frost optical effects.

29 November 2025:

Introduced Keyframe Animation Timeline Editor with multi-track sequencing and beat-synchronized playback.
Added Cue List mode to the Function Widget for sequential theatrical playback.

31 October 2025:

Enabled multi-node selection, copying, and pasting across Visual Node Graphs.
Added early local network (LAN) remote control prototype for mobile web browsers.

27 September 2025:

Introduced initial 3D Stage Visualizer with orbit camera navigation and real-time volumetric beam rendering.

31 August 2025:

Introduced GroupNode for building reusable procedural subgraphs and custom math macros.
Added dedicated Global Bindings Manager for hardware controllers and keyboard shortcuts.

28 May 2025:

Added wireless Bluetooth DMX (BLDMX) transmitter driver support.
Added automated project autosave and safe recovery mode for damaged show files.

21 April 2025:

Implemented Latest Takes Precedence (LTP) arbitration engine for multi-layered control priorities.
Added controllable UI canvas scaling and responsive zoom controls.

26 March 2025:

Added 2D stage visualizer grid mode for overhead rig layout.
Added tag-controlled device grouping for simultaneous multi-fixture manipulation.

27 February 2025:

Introduced Visual Node Graphs for procedural automation, including FaderNode, Oscillator, Math, and Gate modules.
Added built-in vector SVG Gobo Editor for custom beam patterns.

27 January 2025:

Introduced Live Dashboard (Virtual Console) with customizable Function buttons and Device Control widgets.
Added browser-native FTDI USB-DMX driver running in a dedicated Web Worker.

8 January 2025:

Initial public release of Unilighter: browser-based DMX console with Simple Desk, Fixture Profile Editor, color wheels, 2D XY-Pad, and WebUSB uDMX driver.