How OSCAR works

Three steps

1. Download

Install OSCAR on the computer that runs your show, the one with your video, sound or lighting software. It opens in your web browser.

2. Design

Drag buttons, sliders, knobs and colour pickers onto the page, or start from a template. Style them however you like, and tell each one what it controls.

3. Control

Publish your interface and scan the QR code with a phone or tablet. When someone touches a button, OSCAR passes it on to your software, music gear or lights.

Works with

Anything that understands OSC, MIDI or DMX, the common languages of creative software, music gear and stage lights. For example:

Resolume Avenue and Arena
TouchDesigner
QLab
Ableton Live
Max/MSP and Max for Live
Logic Pro
REAPER
Pure Data
Processing
openFrameworks
vvvv
VDMX
Modul8
Isadora
SuperCollider
MIDI controllers and synths
Stage lights (DMX)
...and more

Questions people ask

Do phones and tablets need an app?

No. Your interface opens in the web browser the device already has, on iPhone, iPad or Android.

Do I need an internet connection?

No. OSCAR works on your own network, even with no internet at all. You only need the internet to sign in, and for public interfaces with OSCAR Pro.

Is OSCAR really free?

Yes. OSCAR is free and open source, with every feature for designing and running interfaces on your network. OSCAR Pro is optional and adds public interfaces, schedules and a status page.

What computer do I need?

A Windows, Mac or Linux computer. A Raspberry Pi 3, 4 or 5 also works, and makes a small, quiet server for an installation.

Does OSCAR have to stay open?

Yes. The phones and tablets send everything through OSCAR, so keep it running on the computer for as long as your show is on.

Can several people use it at the same time?

Yes. Open the same interface on as many devices as you like. They stay in sync: move a slider on one and it moves on the others.

Can visitors use it from their own phones?

On your Wi-Fi, yes: they scan the QR code. To let visitors in from anywhere, on mobile data and without your Wi-Fi password, make the interface public with OSCAR Pro.

Can I stop people from changing my interface?

Yes. Lock OSCAR, and everyone can use the interface but nobody can edit it, except on the computer running OSCAR.

Something does not respond. How do I find out why?

Open the network log from the top bar. It lists everything OSCAR receives and sends, so you can see whether a message went out and whether anything answered. Getting started walks through a first project step by step.

Is my work sent anywhere?

Your projects stay on your computer. OSCAR counts, anonymously, which features are used, and you can switch that off. The privacy policy has the details.

I found a problem, or I have an idea. Where do I tell you?