Unilighter Desktop Workstation

Unilighter Desktop is the standalone workstation edition of Unilighter engineered specifically for professional live performance, touring productions, theater booths, and fixed architectural installations. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it delivers maximum reliability, full offline independence, and direct access to local network lighting protocols without the constraints of a web browser.

⚡ Why Use Desktop Instead of a Web Browser?

While the web console at console.unilighter.cc is great for quick edits, pre-programming on laptops, and mobile remote control, live stage environments demand bulletproof stability and low-level hardware access.

Feature Web Browser Console Unilighter Desktop
Internet Dependency Requires active connection to load 100% Offline Autonomy (runs anywhere)
Network DMX (Art-Net & sACN) Requires external bridge software Native Direct Streaming via Ethernet/Wi-Fi
Hardware Permissions Repeated browser security popups Seamless Plug-and-Play (auto-accepted)
AI Integration (MCP) Cloud AI assistant only Built-in Local MCP Server for external AI tools
Update Control & Safety Always runs latest web build Full Version Lock & Emergency Rollback
LAN Remote Control Complex WebRTC setup (requires internet to start) Offline Client-Server (QR code + PIN approval)
Show Resilience Subject to browser tabs/crashes Dedicated Window & Emergency Page (!!Ctrl+Shift+E!!)

🌟 Key Capabilities & Advantages

1. 📴 100% Offline-First Autonomy

Live venues, festival fields, and theater control rooms often have spotty, firewalled, or completely non-existent Wi-Fi.

  • Once installed and launched, Unilighter Desktop never requires an internet connection to run your show.
  • All fixture profiles, project files, user preferences, and show engines run entirely from your local drive.
  • You can step onto a tour bus or into an underground club with zero cellular reception and run your complete lighting rig with total confidence.

2. 🌐 Direct Network DMX: Art-Net 4 & sACN (ANSI E1.31)

Standard web browsers are sandboxed and cannot send raw UDP network packets over a local area network.

  • Unilighter Desktop features native, built-in network streaming for both Art-Net 4 and sACN (ANSI E1.31).
  • Connect an Ethernet cable directly from your laptop to Art-Net DMX nodes, wireless transmitters, pixel strip controllers, or media servers.
  • No Extra Daemons or Bridges: Broadcast and unicast multi-universe DMX directly from the app with rock-solid, jitter-free timing and automatic keep-alive signals.

3. 🔌 Hassle-Free Hardware Connectivity

  • Zero Browser Popups: Web browsers frequently ask for manual permission prompts when accessing WebMIDI, WebUSB, or WebHID devices (such as MIDI SysEx dialogs). Desktop automatically accepts trusted local hardware connections.
  • USB & Wireless DMX: Plug in standard USB DMX dongles (uDMX, FTDI) or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth DMX (BLDMX) without wrestling with browser security policies.
  • Tactile MIDI Control: Plug in any standard USB or Bluetooth MIDI controller or fader bank for instant hands-on control of playback faders, master dimmers, and flash buttons.

4. 🤖 Local AI Show Assistant via MCP (Model Context Protocol)

Unilighter Desktop includes a built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server on your local machine (127.0.0.1:3847):

  • Connect your favorite external AI tools and coding assistants (such as Cursor, Claude Desktop, Google Antigravity, or custom scripts) directly to your running show.
  • Ask your AI assistant in plain language to patch fixtures across universes, generate color palettes, program keyframe movement timelines, or wire audio-reactive node graphs.
  • All AI actions run locally against your active project with strict operator safety confirmations. Learn more in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Guide.

5. 🛡️ Show Safety & The Emergency Page (!!Ctrl+Shift+E!! / !!⌘⇧E!!)

Live productions cannot afford downtime. If an unexpected script glitch, corrupt project look, or UI freeze ever occurs during rehearsal:

  • Press !!Ctrl+Shift+E!! (Windows & Linux) or !!⌘⇧E!! (macOS) at any time to immediately open the standalone Emergency Page.
  • The Emergency Page runs completely isolated from the main console interface. It allows you to immediately roll back to a previously cached version in one click, verify system status, or download updates.
  • Pressing the shortcut again returns you straight back to the live console.

6. 📱 Built-in LAN Remote Control (Client-Server Architecture)

Untether yourself from the lighting booth to focus fixtures on stage or adjust cues from the auditorium:

  • Unilighter Desktop acts as a high-speed local HTTP/WebSocket server on your venue's local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
  • Instant Pairing via QR Code: Open Settings \(\rightarrow\) Remote control, enable the server, and scan the dynamically generated QR code directly with your smartphone or tablet camera.
  • 100% Offline: Unlike the browser edition which relies on complex WebRTC signaling and requires internet connectivity to initiate, Desktop remote control operates completely offline inside your local venue network.
  • Operator Security & Device Memory: New mobile browsers must be approved by the desktop operator via a 4-digit PIN confirmation code. Approved devices are remembered for seamless reconnection and can be revoked at any time.

⚙️ In-App Desktop Settings

You can inspect your desktop environment and configure runtime behavior at any time:

  1. Open the console navigation menu and navigate to Settings (⚙️).
  2. Locate the Desktop and Remote control sections:
    • Console build & Downloaded date: Inspect the active release identifier.
    • Updates toggle: Check or uncheck Automatically install console updates.
    • Open update manager button: Opens the recovery and version management screen.
    • Remote control: Toggle the local LAN server on/off, customize port (3848), scan connection QR codes, and manage authorized mobile devices.

📚 Explore Desktop Documentation