Help & how-to

Everything to get HYPERFLUX running your show — from first launch to a full DMX rig.

⬇️ Install & activate

HYPERFLUX is a desktop app for macOS and Windows. Buy once, download, and it's yours — no subscription, runs offline.

Install

  1. Download the app for your platform from your purchase email (or grab the free trial).
  2. macOS: open the .dmg and drag HYPERFLUX to Applications. First launch: right-click → Open to clear Gatekeeper.
  3. Windows: run the installer; if SmartScreen warns, choose More info → Run anyway.
  4. Launch it. You'll land on the Visuals tab.

Try free, then activate

The trial is the full app — every feature works, with a small watermark on the output. When you buy, you get a license key.

  1. Open Setup (top bar) → the License panel.
  2. Paste your key and click Activate. The watermark disappears.
  3. Your license activates on up to 3 machines (e.g. laptop + studio + booth). To move it, click Deactivate on this machine to free a slot, then activate on the new one.
Good to know
HYPERFLUX runs fully offline once activated. It only talks to the licensing server to activate/deactivate — no telemetry, no tracking.

🎙️ Get your audio in

HYPERFLUX reacts to whatever audio you feed it. There are three ways in — pick one in Setup → Audio source.

1 · Audio file

Drag in (or pick) an MP3/WAV/etc. and use the built-in transport (play/pause, loop, volume) to test scenes and build looks. Great for prep.

2 · Microphone / line-in

Click Use input and choose a device. Use a line-in or audio interface for a clean feed, or a mic to react to the room.

3 · Your DJ software (the pro setup)

To drive visuals from rekordbox, Serato, Traktor or any app, route that app's audio into HYPERFLUX with a virtual audio cable — a free utility that creates a virtual output your DJ app plays to and HYPERFLUX listens on.

  1. Install BlackHole (free, 2ch) — or Loopback if you have it.
  2. In your DJ software's audio settings, set the output to BlackHole (or build an Aggregate/Multi-Output device so you still hear it on your speakers).
  3. In HYPERFLUX → Setup → Audio → Use input, choose BlackHole.
  4. Hit play in your DJ app — the visuals (and lights) now move to your mix.
  1. Install VB-CABLE (free) — it adds "CABLE Input/Output" devices.
  2. In your DJ software, set the output to CABLE Input (use a second output for your speakers/headphones).
  3. In HYPERFLUX → Setup → Audio → Use input, choose CABLE Output.
  4. Play your mix — HYPERFLUX reacts to it.
Tip
Want to still hear your music? Route to a multi-output (macOS Aggregate / Audio MIDI Setup) or give your DJ app a separate speaker output — so the mix goes to both your monitors and HYPERFLUX.

▶️ Your first show

  1. Feed audio (above). The four stems — drums, bass, melody, vocals — start driving the scene.
  2. Press 1–9 to jump scenes, or Tab to step through them.
  3. Tune the feel with the arrow keys (intensity / contrast) or open the panel.
  4. Hit Space for beat-synced auto-cycle, or A for stem-aware auto-scene (switches on drops).
  5. Save a whole look to a preset slot; recall it instantly later.
  6. Send the visuals to the room: O opens a clean projector window, F goes fullscreen.
The watermark
It only appears on the free trial, and it's gone the moment you activate.

🌀 Visuals & scenes

33 real-time scenes, each driven by the stems. The Scenes tab is your manager.

  • Enable / reorder scenes, set a default palette per scene, and tune its look (intensity, contrast, saturation, bloom).
  • Stem mix per scene — decide how much drums / bass / melody / vocals drive each scene.
  • Palettes — cycle with P, or auto-palette on the beat with B.
  • Video layer — blend your own clips behind a scene (V), with a reactive crossfade (8/9).
  • Scene packs — import extra scenes as .hfpack files.

🔺 Lighting (DMX) output: PRO

A full lighting console driven by the same stems — free in every copy. Open the Lights tab. Three views switch at the top: Plot (spatial stage), List (mixer with mute/solo), Live (beam monitor). Design, patch and preview your whole show on the built-in simulator; sending DMX to real fixtures (Art-Net · sACN · USB-DMX) is the Pro part.

Add your fixtures

  1. Click ＋ Fixture → pick a stock fixture (pre-mapped), import a GDTF file for your exact light, or start from a built-in type.
  2. Drag fixtures on the Plot to match your stage; set each one's DMX address (auto-assigned, or pin it).
  3. Map each channel to a source (a stem, level, beat, palette colour…) in the inspector.

Get it on the wire

Click ⇆ Output and choose:

  • Simulator — on-screen only, no hardware (default).
  • USB-DMX — an Enttec-class adaptor; zero-config, one universe.
  • Art-Net — to a node IP or broadcast, many universes over the network.
  • sACN / E1.31 — multicast, no node IP to configure.

Perform

  • Looks — snapshot the whole rig (colours, sources, grabs, chase, master) to 8 slots, recall instantly.
  • Chases — chase / sweep / rainbow / strobe / build-up, beat-synced, per-group or whole-rig.
  • Groups — name a set of fixtures; every tool acts on the group.
  • Grabs — seize a fixture by hand, set colour/intensity, release back to reactive.
  • Master + Blackout, and Auto-Lights — a stem-aware auto-pilot that lights the set for you.
  • Lights ⇄ scene link — pin a Look to a Visuals scene so one gesture moves screen + room.
Connecting real lights
Plug each fixture into the DMX chain, set its start address to match what you gave it in HYPERFLUX, and choose the matching output (USB or network). The live universe strip shows every channel going out.

🎹 MIDI mapping

Map any USB controller to your show — visuals and lights. Open the MIDI tab.

  1. Plug in your controller and click Enable MIDI. Detected controllers show in the list.
  2. Find the target you want (grouped: Look & mix, Scenes, Drops, Lighting rig…). Each shows its recommended control type — Knob, Pad, or Hold.
  3. Click learn, then move a knob or hit a pad — it binds instantly, and the row's meter lights up so you can confirm.
  4. Your maps are saved automatically and survive restarts.

Knobs/faders suit continuous targets (intensity, rig master); pads suit triggers (next scene, Look recall); hold pads suit momentary ones (strobe, blackout).

🖥️ Projector & recording

  • Projector window (O) — a clean, control-free output for the room. Drag it to your projector/TV and fullscreen it; drive everything from the main window.
  • Fullscreen (F) — fullscreen the main view.
  • Recording (⇧+R) — capture the output with audio for promo clips and socials.
  • OBS / streaming — add the web build as a browser source, or capture the projector window.

⌨️ Keyboard shortcuts

1–9 trigger scene
Tab/⇧Tab next / prev scene
R random scene
A auto-scene on/off
Space auto-cycle on/off
T tap tempo
P next palette
B auto-palette
↑↓ intensity
←→ contrast
,. saturation
-= bloom
[] beat sensitivity
S strobe (hold)
X blackout (hold)
;' video mix
V video backdrop
C video FX
F fullscreen
H hide panel
O projector window
M use microphone
? shortcuts help

🛠️ Troubleshooting

The visuals aren't reacting
Check Setup → Audio shows a source and the meters are moving. If you're using DJ software, confirm its output is set to your virtual cable and HYPERFLUX's input is set to that cable's output. The top-bar meters should bounce with the music.
I picked a virtual cable but there's no signal
Make sure your DJ app is actually outputting to the virtual cable (not just your speakers), and that something is playing. On macOS, an Aggregate/Multi-Output device sends to both speakers and BlackHole at once.
My DMX fixtures aren't moving
Confirm the fixture's start address matches the address in HYPERFLUX, the right Output mode is selected (USB or network), and the channels are mapped to a live source. The universe strip at the bottom of the Lights page shows what's going out — if it's moving but the light isn't, it's an addressing/cabling issue at the fixture.
Art-Net / sACN isn't reaching my node
HYPERFLUX and the node must be on the same network/subnet. For Art-Net, set the node's IP (or use broadcast); for sACN, the node just needs to listen to the universe. Check firewalls aren't blocking UDP.
My MIDI controller isn't detected
Plug it in before clicking Enable MIDI; on desktop, toggle MIDI off and on after connecting. Class-compliant USB controllers need no drivers. The Detected controllers list confirms what's seen.
The output is choppy / low FPS
Lower the render scale or FPS cap in Setup → Performance. Heavy scenes + a high-res projector are the usual cause. The top bar shows live FPS.

❓ FAQ

What do I need to run it?
A reasonably modern macOS or Windows computer with a GPU that supports WebGL2 (anything from the last several years). Visuals are GPU-driven; lights add almost no load. For DJ-software input you'll want a free virtual audio cable (see Get your audio in).
Is there a free trial?
Yes — the trial is the full app, every feature unlocked, with a small watermark on the output. Try everything before you buy; the watermark disappears the moment you activate a license.
What's the difference between Standard and Pro?
Standard ($39) is the full visuals app — 33 stem-reactive scenes, palettes, video layer, projector, recording, MIDI, presets — plus the full DMX lighting console + simulator to design & preview a light show. Pro ($79) sends that show to real fixtures — Art-Net, sACN & USB-DMX output. Both are one-time, with lifetime updates.
How many computers can I use it on?
Your license activates on up to 3 machines — e.g. your laptop, studio, and booth computer. To move it to a new computer, click Deactivate on this machine in Setup to free a slot, then activate on the new one.
Subscription? Do I get updates?
No subscription — pay once, yours forever, including lifetime updates to your tier.
Refunds?
Because the trial is the full app — you can test every feature before paying — purchases are final. If something isn't working, email support and we'll make it right.
Does it work offline? Is my data tracked?
It runs fully offline once activated, and there's no tracking or telemetry. The app only contacts the licensing server to activate or deactivate your key.
Can I use it to VJ / for streaming / on OBS?
Yes. Use the clean projector window for a venue, capture it for recordings, or add the web build as a browser source in OBS for streaming.
What DMX hardware works?
Any Enttec-class USB-DMX adaptor for the single-universe path, and any Art-Net or sACN node for network output (multi-universe). Import a GDTF profile for your exact fixtures, or use the stock library / manual channel mapping.

Still stuck? Email hello@hyperfluxvj.com.