DocumentationRun your lighting show with confidence.
Plain-language instructions for installing, connecting, recording and operating CUE/IO. You do not need Linux knowledge for normal use.
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01 · Introduction
What CUE/IO does
CUE/IO turns a Raspberry Pi into a standalone Art-Net show recorder and player. It can capture lighting data with synchronized audio, then replay the result without keeping the lighting console connected.
RECORD
Capture Art-Net and optional audio with one shared timeline.
TIMECODE
Wait for a timecode signal and run the prepared show in sync.
PLAYER
Select, play, loop and control a recorded show.
Only one main mode is active at a time. When you change modes, CUE/IO stops the previous mode and releases its audio and network resources. Use the browser interface from a phone, tablet or computer connected to the same network.
02 · First setup
Install and activate
Write the supplied CUE/IO image to a suitable microSD card or SSD, insert it into the supported Raspberry Pi and connect power only after all essential cables are attached.
Before the first real show
- Open Status and confirm the application, disk and network are healthy.
- Open Settings → Audio and test input and output devices.
- Open Settings → Network and select the Art-Net interface.
- Run a short test recording before a live event.
03 · Access
Connect and open the interface
Connect your phone or computer to the same LAN or Wi-Fi as CUE/IO. In a browser, open the exact technical <hostname>.local address shown under Management access (the factory default is cueio.local) or the current IP address shown by your router or in CUE/IO network settings.
Recommended
Raspberry Pi connected by Ethernet to the Art-Net network; phone or computer on the same LAN or its Wi-Fi access point.
Fallback access
Use the optional rescue Wi-Fi access point when the normal network address is unknown or misconfigured.
Art-Net connection
- Connect the lighting console, CUE/IO and Art-Net nodes to the correct network.
- Make sure their IP addresses and subnet mask belong to compatible networks.
- Select the intended interface in Settings → Network.
- Send Art-Net and verify activity in Monitor before recording.
04 · Inputs and outputs
Audio and DMX settings
Set up and test the physical inputs and outputs before relying on them in RECORD, TIMECODE or PLAYER mode.
Audio
- Select the recording input and playback output.
- Test each selected device before a real show.
- Confirm the displayed sample rate and channel count match the equipment.
- Stop the active mode before unplugging or changing an audio device.
DMX and playback
- Select the interface physically connected to the Art-Net network.
- Review broadcast or unicast output targets before playback.
- Use Monitor to confirm incoming data and a short test show to confirm output.
- Keep RECORD trigger settings in RECORD; they do not start TIMECODE or PLAYER.
- Stop recording, playback, timecode listening and Benchmark.
- Open Settings → Audio, Settings → DMX or Settings → Network.
- Select the device or interface, save, and wait for confirmation.
- Run the built-in audio test and verify live DMX in Monitor.
Authoritative Art-Net output routing
Routing is selected from the saved show metadata, not from how the file arrived. A show whose meta.type is manual—a Fixed Scenes show, an Effect Generator show or an imported Manual show—uses its own saved output. Recording, importing or generating a show does not by itself decide whether the show is Manual.
| Saved show class | Authoritative output |
|---|---|
| Manual · Unicast | The show sends to its one saved Target IP address. Every global Art-Net unicast target is ignored. |
| Manual · Broadcast | The show ignores every global unicast target and sends to the device's currently configured Broadcast address. |
| Any non-Manual show | CUE/IO uses all valid addresses in the global Art-Net unicast targets list. One or more valid targets means Unicast only—no duplicate Broadcast packet is sent. With zero valid targets, output falls back to the currently configured Broadcast address. |
For a Manual show, open PLAYER → Manual show, or choose Edit on an existing Manual show, then use Art-Net output → Unicast to one IP address → Target IP address and press Save and generate show. For global routing, open Settings → Network → Art-Net unicast targets, enter one IPv4 address per line and press Save Ethernet and Art-Net. Leave that list empty to use only Settings → Network → Broadcast address.
05 · Automatic operation
Automatic startup, Show Sequence and recovery
In Settings → Startup, choose exactly one action for the moment CUE/IO becomes ready after power-on or a restart.
| Startup action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Do nothing | CUE/IO remains idle until an operator selects a mode. |
| Show Sequence | CUE/IO enters PLAYER mode and follows the saved startup sequence. |
| Wait for timecode | CUE/IO enters TIMECODE mode, prepares the configured audio path and listens for LTC. |
Show Sequence
Automatic Timecode startup
Before selecting Wait for timecode, enable the Timecode configuration, choose the LTC audio input, make sure every enabled cue refers to an available show, and select an audio output when any cue has audio. If CUE/IO starts after a cue has already begun, it waits for the next cue instead of jumping into the middle of a show.
After an unexpected restart
CUE/IO does not resume an incomplete recording. It preserves saved configuration and reports the previous reason and error in Status. Enabled Scheduler work and explicitly configured startup or Loop behaviour can continue only when the required show, licence, devices and network are ready.
06 · Hardware controls
GPIO and device safety
Settings → Device contains disk safety limits and system controls. Settings → GPIO can assign physical Raspberry Pi buttons to supported show actions.
Storage and system
- The minimum free-space limit blocks a new recording.
- The critical limit safely stops an active recording.
- Restart CUE/IO restarts the application only.
- Restart or Shut down Raspberry Pi affects the whole device.
GPIO buttons
- Use the correct BCM pin and HIGH or LOW active level.
- Select the action and show, then set debounce to prevent repeated presses.
- Use protection options when buttons must not interrupt recording or playback.
- Test every mapping with a safe test show while all modes are stopped.
07 · Create shows
RECORD mode
RECORD mode captures lighting packets and, when enabled, audio in the same session. Timecode and Player remain stopped while recording.
DMX channel trigger
Choose one universe and channel, then set a start value and a lower stop value. The gap prevents rapid switching when the signal moves near the threshold. The live value monitor in the upper corner helps verify the chosen channel before use.
08 · Synchronisation
TIMECODE mode
Use TIMECODE when playback or recording must follow an external time reference. CUE/IO prepares and checks the audio device before it waits for timecode.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Not armed | No timecode input is active. |
| Armed / Waiting | Inputs are ready; CUE/IO is waiting for a valid signal. |
| Detected | A valid signal and frame rate are visible. |
| Recording / Playing | The configured operation is active. |
| Error | Open the visible message and Status details before retrying. |
09 · Playback
PLAYER mode
PLAYER sends the recorded Art-Net data and synchronized audio to the selected outputs. It prevents two shows or audio players from running at the same time.
- Select PLAYER and choose a show from the list.
- Confirm duration, audio status and universe count.
- Set Loop, volume and Mute as needed, then press Play.
- Use the progress bar and position display to follow playback.
- Press Stop before disconnecting outputs or shutting down.
Selecting another show during playback safely stops the current show, closes its audio and Art-Net resources, then starts the selected show. Volume changes do not modify the original audio file and do not restart playback.
09A · Multi-show playback
Playlists
A playlist plays saved shows in a fixed order and repeats each show an exact number of times. For example, Show A × 10 → Show B × 5 always plays A ten times, then B five times. You choose whether to stop there or repeat the whole playlist.
| Limit | Allowed value |
|---|---|
| Saved playlists | Up to 100 |
| Playlist name | 1–100 characters |
| Rows in one playlist | 1–64 shows |
| Repeats for one row | 1–1,000 |
| Total repetitions | Up to 10,000 per playlist |
The normal Player Repeat button does not control playlists. The playlist's own whole-sequence switch is saved with its definition. Playlists remain after a CUE/IO update or Raspberry Pi restart, but playback is intentionally not resumed automatically after a restart: an operator must start it again.
09B · Calibration
Audio and DMX synchronization
DMX playback offset (ms) is applied when a PLAYER playback session starts. Saving it does not require a Raspberry Pi or application restart. Stop the current playback and press Play again to use the new value.
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
| 0 ms | Keeps the recorded timing unchanged. |
| Positive, for example +100 ms | Sends DMX 100 ms later than audio. |
| Negative, for example -350 ms | Sends DMX 350 ms earlier than audio. Use this as a starting point if the light appears about 350 ms after the sound. |
Calibrate the output
- Use a short test cue with an audible click and a clearly visible light flash.
- Stop playback, adjust the offset in 20–50 ms steps, then press Play again.
- Check several points in the show before keeping the value.
Latency can come from the audio interface and its ALSA buffer, a DAC or audio processor, the loudspeaker signal path, the Art-Net node or switch, fixture response, and the physical network path. Recalibrate after changing the audio interface, output device, Art-Net node, network equipment, or buffer settings.
10 · Library
Show files, audio management, backup and trimming
The file manager shows each show’s name, creation date, duration, size, universes, audio availability and audio file name.
Organise
- Rename or duplicate
- Delete an unused show
- Import or export a complete show
Download
- Complete show archive
- Art-Net data only
- Audio only, when available
Add, replace or remove show audio
Open Manage audio in a show’s action menu to attach sound even when that show was originally recorded without audio, or to replace or remove its existing track. CUE/IO accepts ordinary local MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A/AAC, OGG/Opus and AIFF files and creates a playback-ready WAV copy; the source file is not modified.
Start delay inserts silence before the sound. Match show length crops or pads the end with silence while preserving the existing timeline; Keep full audio retains the complete track and delay, so it may change the total show length. Neither mode changes speed or pitch. If no reliable DMX timeline is available, use Keep full audio.
CUE/IO creates a durable backup before every addition, replacement or removal, publishes the change atomically and leaves the show’s Art-Net data unchanged. A rejected upload or conversion failure leaves the previous show usable. Stop Record, Player and Timecode before processing audio.
Trim a show
Open the show action menu and choose Trim. Move the start and end handles, preview the selected section with lighting output and audio, then apply the trim only after you are satisfied. Art-Net and audio are trimmed to the same boundaries to keep synchronization.
Edit a complete manual show
For a manual show, choose Edit to reopen the same complete builder used for creation. You can change the name, Broadcast or Unicast output, fixed scenes, duration, every Effect Generator parameter, palette, ordered fixture list, address and pattern, or convert between a fixed-scene show and an effect. Saving rebuilds the files safely while preserving the show ID, creation identity and playlist references. A title-only edit keeps the saved Basic or Effect builder, Art-Net output mode and target IP, fixture order, effect settings and audio choice unchanged.
To branch a Manual show without changing it, choose Duplicate (the copy icon) on its PLAYER card. The new independent show receives a new ID and a localized — copy title, numbered automatically if it collides, while retaining the complete Fixed Scenes or Effect Generator settings, audio, Broadcast/Unicast route and target, ordered fixture patch, addresses and fixed channels. The source and all existing playlist references stay unchanged; the copy is not inserted into a playlist automatically.
When a fixed-scene or Effect Generator show already contains audio, choose Keep, Replace or Remove. Keep reuses the stored audio; Replace requires a new file; Remove creates a silent show whose total duration comes from the duration field. The same choices remain intact when switching the editor between fixed scenes and effects.
Create and test a fixed-scene show
Open Files → New manual show → Manual show, enter the universe, FPS, start/middle/end channel values and timings, then either choose audio or enter the total silent duration in seconds. Start live test is available for both fixed-scene and effect forms before saving; it always tests DMX without audio and remains subject to the bounded live-output safety described below.
10A · Manual show creation
Effect Generator
Open Files → New manual show → Effect Generator to create a reusable Art-Net animation without recording a console.
Effects
- Static — fixed palette colours.
- Pulse — smoothly breathes brightness.
- Chase — moves a lit head and tail.
- Rainbow — flows palette colours with a selectable character.
- Unique random — reshuffles pairwise different non-black RGB values across all fixtures.
- Forest harmony — slowly drifts 1–4 selectable compatible saturated hue families, with a separate tone for every fixture.
- Random — lights deterministic random-looking groups.
- Rain — moves colour drops and tails.
- Wave — creates flowing brightness and colour crests.
Controls
- The built-in library contains only Generic RGB (3 channels) and RGBW (4 channels); choose a quantity to add multiple pixels at once, or add custom profiles one at a time.
- Set the first DMX channel and choose among 15 ready-made palettes. The ten new cohesive presets are Sunset, Ocean, Neon Night, Aurora, Forest, Gold + Violet, Candy, Pastels, Fire + Ice and Tropical; they contain 3–10 colours. A custom palette supports 1–16 addable, removable and reorderable colours.
- Shape the selected effect with Intensity, Speed, Amount, Spacing and Variation.
- Pattern number makes random-looking output repeatable; New variation creates another pattern.
- Generation uses a fixed 30 FPS. Uploaded audio determines the duration; a silent effect uses the entered 0.1-second to 1-hour duration.
Preview and save
- Select the effect, addressing, palette, intensity, speed, amount, spacing and variation, then upload audio or enter a silent duration.
- Use the visual preview to check the general movement and colour order.
- Add fixtures in their physical order, then open the DMX address report and verify every profile, mode, start/end address and absolute fixed-channel address.
- Use Start live test for a short physical check, then save the show.
Fixture profiles and fixed channels
The fixture library lets one effect combine different real DMX fixtures while keeping selected support channels at fixed values. For Generic RGB/RGBW, use −/+ to choose a pixel quantity and add the bounded group at once; custom profiles add one at a time. Add up to 170 fixtures in their physical order and move or remove rows as needed. Starting at the chosen first channel, CUE/IO assigns each profile's complete footprint contiguously and prevents a group from passing channel 512. The address report lists every fixture's order, profile, mode, universe, start/end address and absolute fixed-channel addresses.
A custom profile requires Red, Green and Blue mappings, may include a White mapping, and may add other non-colour channels with fixed values from 0 to 255. A colour channel and fixed channel cannot overlap. Select one of your profiles and press Edit to reopen every field; revision protection prevents an older browser tab from silently overwriting a newer change. Mixed RGB and RGBW rows are supported; fixed slots are written at their absolute assigned addresses in every generated frame.
| Custom FOS F-7 example | Channel mapping | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 3ch RGB | CH1 Red, CH2 Green, CH3 Blue | Smallest direct RGB mode |
| 4ch RGBW | CH1 Red, CH2 Green, CH3 Blue, CH4 White | Smallest direct RGBW mode |
| 6ch RGBW — recommended | CH1 Shutter = 10, CH2 Master = 255, CH3 Red, CH4 Green, CH5 Blue, CH6 White | Explicitly opens the shutter and keeps the master dimmer at full |
The mappings above follow the FOS F-7 manufacturer manual and can be entered as your own profile; FOS profiles are not built-in library choices. Always confirm that the fixture itself is set to the same DMX mode before testing.
- Choose Generic RGB/RGBW, or create a custom profile with its full channel footprint.
- Map Red, Green and Blue, optionally map White, then add only the fixed channels the fixture needs.
- Add one row per physical fixture in installation order. CUE/IO calculates contiguous addresses from the first DMX channel; confirm the complete address report before output.
- Run a brief live test or save and use PLAYER. Fixed values are output in every frame only while that output runs; Stop and normal end-of-file output a blackout, including those channels.
File operations
A generated effect can be fully edited, renamed, played, trimmed, duplicated, exported and imported like another CUE/IO show. Edit restores all generator controls, the ordered fixture layout and saved snapshots; its stable show ID keeps playlist references intact.
11 · Automation
Scheduler and DS3231 RTC
The Scheduler can play a show at a specific date, on chosen weekdays, daily, on workdays or on weekends. Select a start time, end time or duration, optional Loop, and enable the schedule.
- Open Scheduler and add a schedule.
- Select the show and recurrence rule.
- Set start and end conditions and choose Loop if needed.
- Save, enable it and verify the displayed next action.
Conflicting schedules should be resolved before activation. After a restart, enabled schedules remain available.
RTC
A supported DS3231 real-time clock lets the Raspberry Pi retain time without internet. CUE/IO displays RTC status. When reliable network time is available, the system can refresh the RTC; without RTC, the application still works but offline schedules may use an incorrect time after power loss.
12 · Connectivity
Network, local address and rescue Wi-Fi
CUE/IO supports Ethernet, Wi-Fi and compatible USB Ethernet interfaces. You can use one Ethernet connection for Art-Net and internet, or separate Art-Net and internet traffic across different interfaces.
Device identity
Under Settings → Device → Device profile, give every unit an operator-friendly Device name and press that card's Save device name button. It appears in the browser title, desktop dashboard and sidebar, mobile header and local Licence card. The general Settings save button does not save a pending name. A factory or migrated value can initially match the hostname, so the operator—not CUE/IO—must assign distinct names when several units are used.
The Device name does not change the network address or immutable Device ID. The technical hostname and exact local URL remain separate read-only details in the profile card.
Local mDNS address
The .local address is a friendly name discovered inside the local network. It does not expose CUE/IO to the public internet. If the name is not found, use the current IP address instead.
To change the address, open Settings → Network → CUE/IO management access, enter a technical Local .local address name (hostname) and press Save access settings. That one management-access action saves the hostname and the complete adjacent fallback Wi-Fi configuration together. Open the clickable http://<hostname>.local/ address shown by CUE/IO. This does not change the human-readable Device name. Ethernet and Art-Net changes use the separate Save Ethernet and Art-Net action.
Rescue Wi-Fi access point
The optional rescue access point provides a local path to the web interface when the normal LAN address is unknown or a network change failed. It is for local setup and recovery, not a replacement for venue internet.
- Open Settings → Network → CUE/IO management access.
- Select an available Wi-Fi interface, enter an SSID and set a passphrase containing 8–63 characters.
- If that Wi-Fi interface already provides internet or Art-Net, use a separate compatible Wi-Fi adapter for the rescue access point.
- Apply the settings and confirm that the displayed rescue Wi-Fi status is Active. An enabled setting alone does not prove the access point is running.
- Write down the SSID and exact recovery URL shown by CUE/IO. The passphrase is write-only and is never displayed: write down a new passphrase before applying it. A blank WPA2 field preserves the configured passphrase, a new value replaces it, and selecting Open removes it.
- To recover access, join that SSID on the phone or computer and open the displayed URL. This Wi-Fi may have no internet connection; that is normal.
Static IP checklist
- IP address is not already in use.
- Subnet mask matches the Art-Net network.
- Gateway and DNS are valid when internet is required.
- Broadcast and optional unicast targets are correct.
- You know both the local name and the assigned IP before leaving the site.
13 · Live data
Live DMX monitor
Use Monitor to confirm that Art-Net reaches CUE/IO before recording or playback. Select a universe to view channel values and live movement. The packet view helps identify the receiving interface, active universes and whether data is changing.
- A moving graph confirms recent DMX changes.
- A stable value is normal for a channel that is not changing.
- No universes usually means the wrong interface, address, subnet or sender configuration.
- The selected trigger channel can also be monitored directly in RECORD mode.
14 · Capacity
Benchmark
Benchmark generates test Art-Net traffic, records or plays it, compares the data and measures load. Choose FPS, duration, audio on/off and the desired test type.
The levels test 1, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 universes. The final screen reports Benchmark Complete, a recommended universe count and any higher level that exceeded safe limits.
15 · Health
Status and diagnostics
Status provides a low-overhead live overview of the system, Art-Net, audio and the application.
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| System | CPU, RAM, temperature, disk space and uptime. |
| Art-Net | Active universes, packets per second, dropped or sequence errors and selected interface. |
| Audio | Input/output device, sample rate, channels, underrun, overrun and synchronization offset. |
| Application | Current mode, show, last error, version and service health. |
A short CPU spike when starting or stopping is normal. A steadily rising memory, thread or open-file count, repeated restarts, increasing dropped packets or audio errors require investigation.
16 · Maintenance
Safe online updates
- Export a backup of irreplaceable shows, then stop recording, Player, Timecode, playlists, Benchmark, any live test and every file operation.
- Open Settings → Updates, press Check again and review the installed and available versions.
- Press Install update once. Keep power and internet connected and wait for the final result; do not restart the application, reboot the Raspberry Pi, reload repeatedly or start another operation.
- After success, confirm the displayed version, Status health, important settings and one safe short playback test.
CUE/IO verifies the signed release information and downloaded package before activation, then checks the new release's health. If that check fails, it attempts to return to the previous working release and reports the result. Normal updates preserve shows, playlists, configuration, licence state, fixture profiles and the service event journal.
17 · Interface language
Languages and adding a translation
Use the flag menu at the top of CUE/IO to search for and select a language. The choice is saved in that browser. Latvian and English are included.
18 · Activation
Licence and device change
One CUE/IO device licence is activated for one Raspberry Pi. The device normally needs internet access only during activation and periodic licence reconciliation when it later reconnects.
Activate
- Sign in to the customer portal and open My licences.
- Reveal the current activation code. You can return to the account and view it again while it remains valid.
- Connect the Raspberry Pi to the internet.
- Open Licence, enter the activation code and confirm.
- After a successful result, CUE/IO can operate offline.
Replace a failed Raspberry Pi
In My licences, detach the licence from the previous device and create or reveal the fresh activation code, then activate the replacement device and import your show backups. If the self-service controls are unavailable, contact info@cueio.app with the licence identifier and purchase details.
Remove the local licence
Any operator with access to the local CUE/IO interface can use Settings → Licence → Remove local license…. Confirming always puts CUE/IO into Idle, so an active RECORD, TIMECODE or PLAYER operation is stopped. It removes only the local licence state: Device ID, local device key, Device name, shows and settings are preserved, and the portal licence is not released, revoked or moved.
An already-used activation code can be entered again only on the same preserved Device ID and local device key while that server licence and its generation remain active. After a portal transfer, the old code is invalid and the new transfer-issued code is required. After a full revoke, that licence cannot be reactivated; use another active licence.
19 · Solutions
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Safe checks |
|---|---|
| Page does not open | Check power and link lights, confirm the phone is on the same network, try the current IP address, then use rescue Wi-Fi if enabled. |
| No Art-Net data | Check the selected interface, sender IP/subnet, cable and console output. Confirm at least one universe in Monitor. |
| Audio device unavailable | Stop the active mode, reconnect the USB device, refresh the list and select it again. Test before recording. |
| Recording cannot start | Check free disk space, audio readiness, network interface and that no other mode is active. |
| Timecode keeps waiting | Check source, input, signal level and timecode format. Cancel and arm again after correcting the source. |
| Playback has no sound or light | Check show metadata, audio output, Mute/volume, Art-Net output interface and unicast targets. |
| Schedule starts at the wrong time | Check system time, time zone, RTC status and the displayed next action. |
| Low disk space | Export important shows, remove unwanted files and temporary data, then verify the free-space indicator. |
If the error repeats, do not repeatedly remove power. Record the details from Status and contact info@cueio.app.
20 · Power
Safe shutdown
A Raspberry Pi writes configuration, logs and show data to storage. Removing power during a write can damage files.