Version 1.2.5macOS 15+ on Apple Silicon

Show playback and stage compositing for your Mac

Cue playback, live compositing, and multi-screen output, all from one Apple Silicon Mac.

See pricing

Free demo with every feature · $399 one-time license

Live playout

Preview it. Then take it live.

The next cue is decoded and waiting on its first frame before you press GO.

No black flashTwo playback engines keep the next cue warm.
Five transitionsCut, Dissolve, Dip to Black or White, and Wipe.
Panic rowBlackout, Fade to Black, Freeze, and Mute, always on screen.

Cue list

Run the whole show from one list

Everything for the cue you're on, without leaving the list.

Auto-follow and jumpsChain cues so the show runs itself between GOs.
IDs, colors, notesLabel cues the way your stage manager calls them.
Trims and fadesSet In, Out, fades, and speed in the inspector.
TimecodeFire cues from LTC or MTC, or chase the timeline.

Output Patch Bay

Fit the picture to any screen

Map your canvas to projectors, LED walls, and odd-shaped surfaces.

4-corner keystoneDrag the corners to line up with the surface.
Edge blendingSoft, gamma-corrected overlaps between projectors.
Video wallsSpan Across Outputs slices a wide canvas for you.

Stage Compositor

Composite live on a timeline

Layer cameras, video, and graphics, then fire the whole look as one cue.

Picture-in-pictureOne-click presets for corners and splits.
Chroma keyGreen or blue screen with spill suppression.
KeyframesAnimate position, scale, rotation, and opacity.

Diagnostics

Line-check before the doors open

Test cards and tones are built in, on every output.

24 test cardsEBU and ARIB bars, PLUGE, zone plate, and grids.
Tone generator400 Hz, 1 kHz, and 5 kHz tones, sweeps, and noise.
Motion checkAn animated sweep reveals dropped frames and tearing.

Audio

Shape the sound for every cue

Volume, EQ, and routing live with the cue, not on a separate mixer.

8-band parametric EQ64 Hz to 8 kHz, ±12 dB, per cue.
Output routingChoose where each cue's audio goes.
64-channel matrixPer-clip routing for Dante and other AoIP.

SimplePlay Pro X cue audio settings with volume, output routing, and an 8-band parametric EQ

Show control

Fits the show system you already have

Show control is built in. No plugins or add-ons to buy.

OSCQLab-style addresses, with state feedback.
Art-Net and MIDILet the lighting desk or a controller fire cues.
Stream DeckNative plugin or Companion module — both with live key state.

SimplePlay Pro X settings showing the OSC server and its available commands

OSC
MIDI
MTC
LTC
Art-Net
Companion
NDI
Syphon
Blackmagic SDI
Dante / AES67

Ports and example commandsOSC, Art-Net, MIDI, timecode, NDI, Syphon, SDI, and Companion

IP Video

NDI Video I/O

Send your Program output over the network to vMix, OBS, or TriCaster, and bring NDI sources into the Stage Compositor as live layers.

NDI Send & Receive • mDNS or Discovery Server

Example

// NDI network setup
Discovery:   mDNS / Bonjour (UDP 5353), or an NDI Discovery Server across subnets
Messaging:   TCP 5960-5969
Permission:  System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network
Receive:     NDI sources appear as Stage Compositor layers

Show Control

OSC (Open Sound Control)

Fire cues, trigger panic controls, and run the Stage Compositor over UDP, with state feedback to your controller. QLab-style /cue/ addresses work too.

UDP 53000 in • 53001 feedback

Example

// Common OSC addresses (UDP port 53000)
/simpleplay/take                 // Fire the selected cue
/simpleplay/go/1.5               // Fire a cue by ID or number
/simpleplay/endall               // Panic: end all active playback
/simpleplay/stop/selected        // Stop only the selected cue
/simpleplay/blackout  1          // Blackout on (0 = off, no argument = toggle)
/simpleplay/autoplay             // Toggle Auto Play advance
/simpleplay/projectoutput        // Open / close the output windows
/cue/12/go                       // QLab-style addressing

Hardware Control

Bitfocus Companion

Official Companion module for Stream Deck: fire cues, trigger panic controls, and see live tally on every button.

Companion Module • Live Button Tally

Companion module v1.1.0

Self-contained, for Bitfocus Companion v3 and later.

Download module (.zip)

Example

// Companion actions, feedbacks & variables
Action:    Take / GO · Fire cue by number (1, 1.5, 2.0 ...)
Action:    End All · Stop Selected Cue · Preview Play
Action:    Blackout · FTB · Freeze · Mute · Auto Play · Project Output
Feedback:  Playing = Green, Paused = Amber, Blackout / FTB / Freeze = Red
Feedback:  Auto Play · Project Output · Preview Playing tallies
Variable:  $(companion-module-simpleplay-prox:time_remaining)

Hardware Control

Elgato Stream Deck

Native Stream Deck plugin that talks straight to SimplePlay Pro X over OSC — no Companion required. Keys show live cue name, countdown, and override state.

Native Plugin • Stream Deck 6.9+ • Live Key Feedback

Stream Deck plugin

Requires SimplePlay Pro X 1.2.0 or later with the OSC Server enabled.

Download plugin

Example

// Stream Deck actions
Go            → fires the selected cue (LIVE + countdown on the key)
Stop          → stops only the selected cue
End All       → panic: stops everything
Previous/Next → walk the playlist without firing
Preview Play  → play/pause preview (mirrors the Space bar)
Blackout · FTB · Freeze · Auto Play · Project Output

Lighting & Staging

Art-Net DMX512

Listens for Art-Net from grandMA, Hog, or ChamSys desks and maps DMX channels to playout actions, so the lighting console can fire video cues.

UDP 6454 • Universe 0-32767 • Ch 1-512

Example

// Art-Net channel mapping (UDP port 6454)
Universe:   0 (selectable)
Channel 1:  Take / Fire Selected Cue
Channel 2:  Go Specific Cue  →  Q101
Channel 3:  Toggle Blackout
Channel 4:  Master Volume
Learn:      Move a fader on the desk to map its channel

Timecode Sync

MIDI / MTC

MIDI Time Code in Trigger or Chase mode, plus MIDI Learn for mapping any controller button or fader.

MTC Trigger & Chase • MIDI Learn

Example

// MIDI & MTC
MTC:         Quarter-frame and full-frame SysEx decoding
Modes:       Trigger (fire a cue at a timecode) or Chase (lock the timeline)
MIDI Learn:  Click MIDI Map, click any button or fader, tap the pad
Actions:     Take, Stop, Blackout, FTB, Freeze, Mute, Go Cue, Master Volume

Audio Timecode

SMPTE LTC Audio

Decodes Linear Timecode from any audio input channel, whether a 1/8" line input or an XLR USB interface.

LTC • 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30 fps

Example

// LTC input
Input:  Any channel on any audio input device
Rates:  24, 25, 29.97, 30 fps
Modes:  Trigger (fire a cue at a timecode) or Chase (lock the timeline)

Local Frame Buffer

Syphon Sharing

Share frames on the GPU with Resolume, MadMapper, TouchDesigner, and Millumin on the same Mac: publish SimplePlay's output, or bring their feeds in as layers.

Zero-Copy GPU Texture Sharing • Server & Client

Example

// Syphon
Server:  SimplePlay publishes its output as a Syphon source
Client:  Syphon feeds from other apps become Stage Compositor layers
Sharing: Shared GPU texture, no CPU copy

Broadcast Hardware

DeckLink SDI

SDI output through Blackmagic DeckLink and UltraStudio hardware, including Key + Fill for Ross, Grass Valley, and ATEM switchers.

SDI Output • Key + Fill • Auto-Reconnect

Example

// Blackmagic DeckLink / UltraStudio
Requires:   Blackmagic Desktop Video 12.4 or later
Output:     Fill, or Key + Fill for downstream keyers
Buffering:  Double-buffered frame submission
Watchdog:   Frame heartbeat with 1.2 s auto-reconnect

And everything else

NDI and SyphonSend and receive over the network or on the Mac.
Blackmagic SDIDeckLink and UltraStudio output with Key + Fill.
Projection mappingPer-layer warp meshes up to 16×16.
WatchfoldersNew exports from a network share land in the playlist.
Offline in the boothNo internet needed during a show.
Two Macs per licenseYour show rig and a hot spare.

Made for every kind of show

From a conference room to a touring stage.

Concerts & touring
IMAG, graphics, and timecode chase.

Corporate & keynotes
Wide canvases and speaker picture-in-picture.

Houses of worship
Simple cues for volunteer crews.

Broadcast & studios
SDI Key + Fill and NDI feeds.

Technical specifications

Formats, audio, show control, and hardware support in detail.

Video and codecs

Render Architecture: Native Apple Metal GPU pipeline with display-locked frame pacing
ProRes Playback: Apple ProRes 422 HQ / 4444 / 4444 XQ with full Alpha transparency channel
GPU-Accelerated Codecs: HAP / HAP Q / HAP Alpha (native decoder), HEVC (H.265) 10-bit, H.264 (AVC)
Stills & Image Sequences: PNG, TIFF, JPEG, HEIC, DPX, OpenEXR, TGA, and SVG stills
Canvas Scale: Custom canvas resolutions up to 16384 × 16384 per Stage
Color Output: Optional 10-bit rendering with Rec.709, Display P3, and Rec.2020 output color spaces

Audio

DSP Resolution: 32-bit floating point uncompressed CoreAudio signal processing
Channel Density: Up to 64 discrete physical channels per device bus
Network Audio: Full compatibility with Audinate Dante Virtual Soundcard, AES67, and AVB
Matrix Cross-Point: Per-clip N-input to M-output cross-point mapping with independent trim
Tone Generator: 400 Hz, 1 kHz, and 5 kHz sine tones, frequency sweeps, and pink, white, and brown noise
Sample Rates: Follows your output device, from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz

Show control and timecode

LTC Timecode Chase: SMPTE LTC from any audio input at 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps
MIDI Time Code (MTC): Quarter-frame and full-frame MTC decoding, in Trigger or Chase mode
OSC Protocol: UDP control of cues, transport, panic controls, and the Stage Compositor, with state feedback (ports 53000 / 53001)
Stream Deck & Companion: Native Elgato Stream Deck plugin, plus a dedicated Bitfocus Companion module for hardware button racks
Art-Net DMX512: Listens on a selectable universe with channel-to-action mapping for lighting desks
Emergency Overrides: Instant global Blackout, Freeze, and Fade-to-Black hot-key triggers

System and hardware

macOS Version: macOS 15.0 Sequoia or later (fully tested on macOS 15.3+)
Architecture: Native Apple Silicon (M1 or later, including Pro / Max / Ultra)
Video Hardware I/O: Blackmagic Design DeckLink / UltraStudio SDI output, plus any HDMI / DisplayPort display your Mac drives
IP Video Protocols: NDI 5.5+ Send & Receive with automatic local mDNS device discovery
Local Frame Sharing: Syphon GPU shared memory server & client for Resolume / TouchDesigner
Operation Mode: No internet connection needed at show time — go online once every 14 days to keep the license validated

Simple pricing

Buy once, with no subscription. Try every feature free first.

Free demo

Evaluate on your own rig, with your own media.

Every feature, no watermark
Playback stops after 15 minutes; relaunch to keep going
Stage Compositor, 64-channel audio, NDI, Syphon, and SDI
OSC, Art-Net, MIDI, and Companion control
Help from the Discord community

Perpetual license

2 Macs included

For touring engineers, event operators, houses of worship, and broadcast studios.

$399USD, one time

2 Mac activations: your show rig and a hot spare
Yours to keep, with no recurring fees
No playback time limit
Every 1.x update free
A discounted upgrade when 2.0 arrives, and 1.x keeps working
Runs offline for up to 14 days between license checks, and you can move a seat to a new Mac any time

Buy license, $399

Secure checkout by Lemon Squeezy, our reseller and merchant of record. Your license key arrives by email — paste it into the demo to unlock it. Please try the free demo first: all sales are final. By buying you agree to the License Agreement.

Questions, answered

Everything you need to know before your first show.

How does SimplePlay Pro X licensing and pricing work?

SimplePlay Pro X is a one-time perpetual license for $399 USD — no subscription. Each license includes 2 machine activations, so you can license your primary show rig and a hot spare backup Mac at the same time.

How do software updates and future major version upgrades work?

A license covers every release in its major version: all 1.x updates, bug fixes, and macOS compatibility patches are free. When a new major version (2.0) arrives, license holders can upgrade at a discount — and your 1.x license keeps working with 1.x for as long as you want to use it.

Can I run SimplePlay Pro X on two Macs simultaneously?

Yes. Every license includes 2 machine activations, designed for live AV redundancy: one for your primary playback Mac and one for your hot spare. You can deactivate a Mac from inside the app and move the seat to a new one whenever you need to.

Does SimplePlay Pro X require an internet connection during a show?

No. Playback, compositing, and output routing never need a connection. The app checks your license online when a connection is available; if it can’t reach the license server it keeps running fully licensed for 14 days, so an offline show Mac needs to go online at least once every 14 days. Update checks run only when you are not in a show, and crash reports are sent only if you opt in.

Which Mac models and macOS versions are supported?

SimplePlay Pro X requires an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later, including Pro, Max, and Ultra) and macOS 15.0 Sequoia or later. It is a native arm64 application built on Metal.

How many video outputs can I route simultaneously?

There is no fixed software limit. You can route as many canvas slices and physical displays as your Mac supports via HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt docks, plus Blackmagic DeckLink / UltraStudio SDI outputs, NDI streams, and Syphon.

How does the 64-channel audio matrix work with Dante / AES67?

SimplePlay Pro X uses macOS CoreAudio directly, so it works with any multi-channel audio device macOS recognizes — including Dante Virtual Soundcard, AES67 drivers, and USB / Thunderbolt interfaces — with per-clip cross-point routing and individual gain trims.

Can I trigger cues and emergency overrides from a Stream Deck or lighting desk?

Yes. SimplePlay Pro X includes bidirectional OSC control, Art-Net DMX input with channel-to-action mapping, MIDI and MIDI Time Code (MTC), LTC timecode, and a Bitfocus Companion module for Stream Deck buttons with live status feedback.

What video codecs and file formats are recommended for optimal performance?

For transparent multi-layer compositing, use Apple ProRes 4444 or HAP Alpha. For high-density playback, HEVC and H.264 are decoded in hardware by the Apple Silicon media engine, and HAP / HAP Q decode natively. SimplePlay Pro X plays what macOS AVFoundation decodes, plus HAP — it does not play NotchLC.

Is there a free demo, and what is included?

Yes. The free demo has every feature and no watermark; playback stops after 15 minutes per session, and relaunching starts a new session. The Stage Compositor, 64-channel audio matrix, NDI send/receive, Syphon, DeckLink SDI output, and OSC / Bitfocus Companion control are all available to test.

Try it on your next show

Download the free demo, load your media, and have cues running in a few minutes.

Join the Discord

Version 1.2.5 · Notarized by Apple · macOS 15 or later · Apple Silicon

Show playback and stage compositing for your Mac

Preview it. Then take it live.

Run the whole show from one list

Fit the picture to any screen

Composite live on a timeline

Line-check before the doors open

Shape the sound for every cue

Fits the show system you already have

NDI Video I/O

OSC (Open Sound Control)

Bitfocus Companion

Elgato Stream Deck

Art-Net DMX512

MIDI / MTC

SMPTE LTC Audio

Syphon Sharing

DeckLink SDI

And everything else

Made for every kind of show

Concerts & touring

Corporate & keynotes

Houses of worship

Broadcast & studios

Technical specifications

Video and codecs

Audio

Show control and timecode

System and hardware

Simple pricing

Free demo

Perpetual license

Questions, answered

Try it on your next show