ShowMotion
REAL-TIME MEDIA PLATFORM
SHOWMOTION is a next-generation real-time media server, switcher and control platform built for live production, broadcast and immersive installations for APPLE SILICON Systems. Switcher Mode delivers a real hardware-style PGM/PVW workflow with confident live operation.
PRODUCT LINE
CORE SYSTEM
CAPTURE NODE
PLAYBACK NODE
UI Overview
Explore the interface: live inputs, clip effects, and timeline editing. Use the tabs below to switch between the different views.
Switcher Workflow
ShowMotion Switcher delivers full PGM/PVW screen management with unlimited layers and screens in a layout operators already know from presentation switchers. Load and combine media, PDF presenter pages, AirPlay layers, live inputs, ISF generators, and external sources in real time with immediate visual feedback.
Manage full PGM/PVW routing per screen with live layer control and independent screen contexts.
Play movies, stills, PDFs, timers, AirPlay feeds, ISF content, and live camera/network sources directly inside the switcher.
Execute reliable CUT, TAKE, and FADE transitions while keeping foreground and background elements synchronized across outputs.
Load smart presets into PVW or PGM with stored fade behavior for fast recall in high-pressure show moments.
Scale from single-screen confidence monitoring to multi-screen stage operation with one unified operator surface.
Timeline Workflow
ShowMotion includes a full timeline editor with a familiar workflow inspired by Final Cut Pro, Adobe, and DaVinci Resolve. Every parameter supports real-time curve editing, with no render pass and no export step. Timelines run directly inside switcher as live sources, so one timeline can drive a complete show from walk-ons to walk-offs.
Build and refine sequences with real-time clip editing and curve control on every value.
Use the smart cue system to play between cues, hold on cues, or loop between cues with predictable timing.
Fire a full show from timecode or Bitfocus Companion while background loops stay seamless and foreground PDF or external PiP sources stay live.
Timelines can combine every media type and live source, including movies, stills, PDFs, ISF content, timers, and external video or network inputs.
Timelines are stored in the integrated file management system and can be shared between ShowMotion installations for fast, repeatable show deployment.
Output & Mapping Workflow
Configure physical and network outputs in one workflow, then map source regions to destination canvases with pixel-level control. ShowMotion supports complex multi-screen layouts with independent crop, scale, placement, and per-output routing behavior.
Add outputs across DisplayPort, HDMI, Blackmagic, AJA, NDI, Syphon, and Showmotion Display Link Protocol targets.
Define source-to-destination regions in the visual editor to build custom canvases for LED walls, DSMs, and preview feeds.
Tune crop, scale, and placement per output path without compromising the central switcher workflow.
Route PGM, PVW, multiview, or dedicated screen busses to each destination according to show needs.
Save output setups as repeatable configurations for quick deployment across venues and installations.
Operator Control Workflow
Run live with browser-based control clients, Bitfocus Companion integration, and API access in parallel. Operators can manage switcher, timeline, and output behavior simultaneously while maintaining a clear live-state view.
Assign dedicated operator clients for switcher actions, timeline execution, and monitoring tasks.
Keep live state synchronized across clients so PVW/PGM context and transition intent remain clear for every operator.
Trigger cues, transitions, and preset recalls from Bitfocus Companion with immediate visual confirmation.
Integrate external tooling through API and telemetry for custom dashboards, automation, and show control bridges.
Scale from one operator to multi-user teams without splitting the production workflow across disconnected tools.
Ingest Workflow
Ingest laptops, cameras, capture hardware, and network streams in a single source pipeline. From Showmotion Display Link Protocol virtual displays to AirPlay, NDI, and Syphon inputs, sources are immediately available for switcher and timeline use.
Connect physical ingest paths from Blackmagic, AJA, and camera sources for low-latency acquisition.
Add laptop presentation feeds through Showmotion Display Link Protocol virtual monitor capture.
Receive network sources through NDI, Syphon, and dual AirPlay receivers for side-by-side presenter workflows.
Monitor source status in one ingest panel and prepare sources before taking them live.
Route ingested signals directly into switcher layers, timeline clips, multiview outputs, and recording paths.
Interactive Ecosystem
Explore how inputs, the ShowMotion engine and outputs connect together in a single unified workflow with always-on signal flow visibility.
Generates 2 virtual monitors for PowerPoint use case to stream REF view and full PPT.
Generates 1 virtual monitor to stream a full-screen Zoom / Teams call.
Captures a Safari app window and streams it to the Showmotion Engine.
Web browser operator 1 (Switcher / Screen 1).
Web browser operator 2 (Timeline / Screen 2).
Runs on a Mac mini with UI or in headless mode.
2x DisplayPort input
Dedicated physical monitor feed.
Showmotion Satellite app.
Showmotion Satellite app.
2x HDMI output into AJA / Blackmagic DeckLink input.
2x HDMI output into AJA / Blackmagic DeckLink input.
Live camera source via NDI input.
Additional live camera input via NDI.
Wireless iPhone source via AirPlay input.
Runs on a MAC Studio M4 Max with UI.
2x DisplayPort output.
2x DSM stage monitor outputs (each HDMI).
Dedicated Blackmagic output feed.
Program output stream over NDI.
CORE CAPABILITIES
Pure Metal pipeline with zero-copy decode paths for responsive playback and seamless transitions.
HSB, chroma key, black/white key, mirror, borders, shadows, MetalFX upscale, and frame blending.
TCP JSON IPC, WebSocket events, FPS/frame-time telemetry, and runtime output control for custom tooling.
The switcher runtime supports unlimited screen busses with full PVW/PGM operation and dependable CUT, TAKE, and FADE transitions for live execution.
Display, DeckLink, AJA, NDI, Syphon, and Showmotion Display Link Protocol outputs with configurable regions, crop, scale, and placement.
Two integrated AirPlay receivers allow two simultaneous AirPlay streams, so presenters can join and run side by side with independent control in ShowMotion.
Playback stays frame-accurate with seamless loops across ProRes and H264/H265 sources, while container clips keep timeline loops independent and stable.
Integrated Metal effects for color, keying, and utility FX run in a GPU-native compositor with unlimited layers per screen for dense, responsive scene construction.
Unified HDR, SDR, and 10-bit render pipeline across playback, real-time compositing, and streaming outputs for consistent color fidelity from source to destination.
Edit timelines live with curve editing on every parameter, drop timelines directly into the switcher as sources, and run shows with a smart cue system plus timecode-driven playback.
ProRes, H264, and H265 playback runs through Apple Media Engine for near-zero decode overhead, with headroom for up to eight simultaneous 8K ProRes 444 streams.
Integrated Timer and PDF Presenter are built directly into ShowMotion, with a fully dynamic Bitfocus COMPANION plugin for live control, feedback, and fast operator workflows.
In switcher mode, smart presets can be loaded directly into PVW or PGM with stored fade transitions, and each preset can target either single-screen outputs or coordinated multi-screen layouts.
ShowMotion runs across the full Apple Silicon Mac range, from MacBook-class systems to M3 Ultra machines. Performance scales directly with host hardware while fully utilizing the Apple silicon SoC and Media Engine for decode, playback, and render.
Use Interactive Shader Format (ISF) shaders or TouchDesigner TOX as effects or generators, then manipulate them in real time with the animation tool in Switcher mode or with curve editing in the Timeline Editor. TOX files require an installed TouchDesigner Pro license. TouchDesigner can be ordered at www.derivative.ca.
Q&A
Quick answers to common setup and workflow questions.
Yes. ShowMotion supports HID capture devices, as well as Blackmagic and AJA cards.
Yes. The web browser UI is built for collaboration and remote work, so previews are delivered as lower-quality H.265 encoded streams. Latency depends on the browser, and Chrome usually performs better.
Use the IP address of the server Mac and add port 3000 in your browser.
Example: http://192.168.0.11:3000