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Resolume Arena Experience Setter

Web app controlling multiple Resolume instances via OSC for synchronized LED displays.

React Node.js OSC WebSockets Live Events

Project Overview: Resolume Arena Experience Setter

The Resolume Arena Experience Setter is a custom web application developed to control and synchronize multiple instances of Resolume Arena VJ software. This tool was designed for live event scenarios, specifically to manage complex LED display setups by allowing an operator to trigger predefined visual "experiences" or scenes across all connected Resolume instances simultaneously via Open Sound Control (OSC).

Key Goals & Objectives

  • Centralized Control: Provide a single web interface to manage multiple Resolume Arena instances running on different machines.
  • Synchronized Visuals: Enable the simultaneous triggering of specific compositions, layers, or effects across all connected Resolume outputs for perfectly synchronized LED displays.
  • Ease of Use for Operators: Design an intuitive interface that allows live event operators to quickly select and deploy visual experiences without needing to interact directly with each Resolume instance.
  • Real-time Feedback: (Optional, if implemented) Provide status feedback from the Resolume instances to the web interface.
  • Reliable Communication: Utilize OSC over a local network for robust and low-latency communication with Resolume.

Features Implemented

  • Multi-Instance Resolume Control: The application can send OSC commands to a configurable list of Resolume Arena instances, each identified by its IP address and OSC port.
  • Predefined "Experience" Buttons: The UI features buttons representing specific visual scenes or states. Clicking a button sends a coordinated set of OSC messages to trigger the corresponding content in Resolume.
  • OSC Message Dispatch: Backend logic (Node.js) constructs and sends OSC messages tailored to Resolume Arena's API.
  • WebSockets for UI-Backend Communication: The React frontend communicates with the Node.js backend via WebSockets to send commands.
  • Configuration Interface: (Potentially) A section to configure Resolume instance IPs, ports, and map "experience" buttons to specific OSC commands or Resolume composition/column triggers.
  • Responsive UI: The interface is designed to be usable on tablets or laptops commonly used by live event operators.

Technological Approach

The system consists of a React frontend and a Node.js backend.

  • Frontend (React): Provides the user interface for operators. When an "experience" button is pressed, it sends a request to the Node.js backend via WebSockets.
  • Backend (Node.js):
    • Listens for commands from the React frontend.
    • Uses an OSC library (e.g., node-osc) to construct and send OSC messages over UDP to the configured Resolume Arena instances on the local network.
    • Manages the list of Resolume targets and the mapping of UI actions to OSC commands.

Challenges & Solutions

  • Network Configuration & OSC Reliability: Ensuring reliable OSC communication across the network to multiple Resolume instances was critical. This involved careful network setup, correct IP/port configuration, and handling potential UDP packet loss (though OSC over UDP is generally robust on local networks).
  • Mapping UI Actions to Complex Resolume States: Translating a single "experience" button press into a series of precise OSC commands to achieve the desired visual state across multiple Resolume layers or compositions required careful planning and a flexible mapping system.
  • Real-time Responsiveness: The system needed to respond quickly to operator input, making low-latency communication between the frontend, backend, and Resolume instances a priority.

"The objective was to abstract the complexity of controlling multiple VJ software instances into a simple, reliable touch interface, allowing operators to focus on the creative delivery of visuals during a live event."

Outcome & Learnings

The Resolume Arena Experience Setter provided a powerful and streamlined solution for managing synchronized visuals in live events. It significantly simplified the operator's workflow and enhanced the reliability of complex visual setups.

Key learnings include:

  • In-depth understanding of the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol and its application with software like Resolume Arena.
  • Experience in building real-time control systems using Node.js and WebSockets.
  • Techniques for designing user interfaces for live production environments where speed and reliability are paramount.
  • Best practices for network programming involving UDP and managing multiple target devices.

This project was a fascinating blend of web technology and live event production, showcasing how web applications can serve as powerful control interfaces for specialized hardware and software.