GUI Overview

In this section, we are going to look at the differences and similarities between the graphics user interface of disguise and LightAct software.

Dashboard

Unlike disguise, where all system functionalities can be found somewhere on the Dashboard, LightAct consists of different windows, each offering a different set of functionalities.

All LightAct Windows can be found in the Top Bar.

Track Editor

Using the Track Editor in disguise, you could play and edit all Tracks within a single project. Here is where you placed the desired Content Layers on the Timeline.

In LightAct, the term Track refers to a lane along which you can place layers in the Sequence. Consequently, a Sequence can have lots of tracks, populated with different layers, such as video, notch, image layers, or others.

Good to know: Unlike disguise, layers in LightAct are not strictly defined and are completely customizable.

LightAct also fosters the term Timeline, although a Timeline in LightAct typically contains one or more Sequences. You can have multiple Timelines in a single project, which you can add and manage in the Timelines window.

Stage

All your objects in disguise could be visualized on the Stage. Similarly, in LightAct, all Viewport Objects can be seen in the Viewport window.

Feed

The equivalent to the Feed level in disguise, would be the Video Output Window in LightAct.

Devices

In disguise you used to add devices in the form of a list displayed in the Devices Editor. In LightAct, devices are inserted in the form of nodes, in the Devices window.

Here, you can both receive or output from and to different Network devices, Trackers, MIDI, Content I/O, or Audio devices.

Good to know: In disguise, you could create a DmxDevice, just like you created any other device type. In LightAct, you can receive or send DMX data by using the dedicated DMX In and DMX Out windows, instead of the generic Devices Window.

Transport

In disguise, Timecode configuration happened in the Transport Editor of the Dashboard. In LightAct, you can receive timecode data, such as LTC or MIDI in the Devices Window.

To find out more about syncing a Timeline to a Timecode, please read this section.