Equipment Recommendations

Choose hardware that fits your production.

The hardware CueDirector needs depend on what you plan to do with it. This guide separates computer recommendations from NDI recommendations so you can spec the right system without overspending.

Computer Recommendations

Build around the kind of show you actually need to run.

Choosing the Right Equipment

Choose the machine based on the workload, not guesswork.

For lighting control and video output, CueDirector is designed to run on modest hardware. If you're triggering DMX lighting scenes, displaying images, or playing video to a screen or projector, almost any modern computer will handle it comfortably. See the minimum requirements list below.

If you plan to record performances, we recommend stepping up to a faster machine. Video files can grow very large very quickly, and a slower computer may struggle to record reliably while running a live show at the same time. Look for an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor, and a solid-state drive (SSD) with at least 1 TB of storage. The SSD is especially important — traditional hard drives often can't write video data fast enough to keep up with a live recording.

When in doubt, more storage is always better. A single evening's performance can easily fill several gigabytes, and you'll want room to keep recordings from multiple shows before transferring them elsewhere.

Keeping an eye on performance, CueDirector displays a CPU and RAM meter at the bottom of the screen so you always know how your system is holding up. For the best experience — especially during a live show — aim to keep CPU usage below 50%. If you notice it climbing higher during rehearsals, it may be a sign that your computer would benefit from an upgrade before opening night.

Minimum Requirements

DMX / Video Only

  • Windows 10 or 11
  • Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
  • 12GB RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Minimum monitor resolution: 1920 x 1080 with scaling set to 100%
Minimum Requirements

DMX / Video / Recording

  • Windows 10 or 11
  • Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 5
  • 16GB RAM
  • 1TB - 2TB SSD
  • Minimum monitor resolution: 1920 x 1080 with scaling set to 100%
Computer Recommendations

Buy practical power, not a giant workstation.

If you're in the market for a new computer to run CueDirector, you don't need to spend a fortune. We recommend taking a look at GMKtec mini PCs — small, compact computers that pack a surprising amount of power into a very affordable package.

As an example, GMKtec offers an AMD Ryzen 7 configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for under $400 on Amazon — and even less if you purchase directly from GMKtec. That's a capable, modern machine that will handle CueDirector, NDI video output, and performance recording without breaking a sweat, at a price point that's realistic for most school theater budgets.

The small form factor is another advantage worth mentioning. A GMKtec mini PC takes up almost no space — it can sit tucked behind a monitor. For schools where space is always at a premium, that matters.

If you plan to record performances regularly, consider upgrading to a 1TB SSD when configuring your order. As mentioned earlier, video files can grow very large, and having the extra storage built in from the start is much easier than dealing with a full drive on opening night.

DMX Lighting Control Equipment

Choose the adapter that fits the scale of your lighting rig.

DMX Lighting Control Equipment

Get DMX from your computer to the stage with the right interface.

CueDirector controls your stage lighting using a technology called DMX — the industry standard language that lighting equipment uses to communicate. To get DMX signals from your computer to your lights, you'll need one of two types of adapters. CueDirector supports both, and walks you through the setup either way.

USB to DMX

The simple option.

The simplest way to connect CueDirector to your lights is a USB to DMX adapter. You plug one end into your computer and the other into your DMX lighting system. If your theater has a straightforward lighting setup that fits within a single DMX universe — which is up to 512 individual lighting channels — this is all you need. For many school and community theater productions, that's plenty.

For this option, we recommend the Enttec DMX USB Pro, available on Amazon for around $160. Enttec is an industry standard name in DMX equipment — reliable, well-supported, and built to last. One important note: do not purchase the Enttec Open DMX USB. It looks similar but is not supported by CueDirector.

sACN

The flexible option.

If your lighting setup is more complex, or you simply want room to grow, sACN is the better choice. sACN (Streaming ACN) is a professional lighting control protocol that sends DMX signals over a standard network cable instead of a dedicated DMX cable. Because it runs on your network — the same one your NDI cameras and decoders are already using — there's no extra wiring to figure out. Everything shares the same network infrastructure you've already set up.

The biggest advantage of sACN over USB is the ability to control multiple DMX universes simultaneously. Each universe handles up to 512 channels, so multiple universes means you can control a much larger number of lights independently — useful for bigger stages, more complex lighting designs, or productions that use moving lights, LED walls, or haze machines alongside traditional fixtures.

CueDirector handles the sACN configuration for you, so you don't need to understand the technical details to use it. Just connect your adapter to the network, and CueDirector will find it.

Recommended sACN Adapters

Multi-universe hardware that leaves room to grow.

For multi-universe setups, we recommend either the Chauvet DMX-AN 2 or the Pknight 4-port ArtNet/sACN converter, both available on Amazon in the $180–$200 range. Either will serve a school or community theater production well.

Which Should You Choose?

Start simple or build for expansion.

If you're just getting started and your lighting rig is relatively simple, the Enttec USB Pro is an excellent, no-fuss choice. If you're running a larger rig, planning to expand, or want the flexibility of controlling everything over your network alongside your NDI equipment, go with an sACN adapter. Either way, CueDirector will help you get it set up and running.

NDI Recommendations

Use the network you already have to move video where it needs to go.

Understanding NDI

Send video over network cable instead of long HDMI runs.

If you've never heard of NDI before, don't worry — you don't need to be a tech expert to use it. CueDirector handles most of the setup for you. Here's just enough to understand what it is and why it makes your life easier.

NDI (Network Device Interface) is a technology that sends video over a standard network cable — the same kind already used in most schools and theaters. Instead of running long HDMI cables from your computer to every screen in the building, CueDirector sends video over your existing network, and inexpensive NDI decoders at each screen convert it back to HDMI. Plug the decoder into your network and into your screen, and you're done.

This approach has some big advantages over traditional HDMI cables. CueDirector can simultaneously send different video to multiple destinations at once — a backdrop screen on stage, a monitor in the wings, a TV in the green room, and a display in the lobby — all over a single network connection. No specialized video cards, no long cable runs, no signal degradation. If you can plug in a network cable, you can add a screen.

NDI Decoders

Small box, simple setup.

An NDI decoder is a small, inexpensive device — about the size of a deck of cards — that connects to your network with one cable and to your screen or projector with an HDMI cable. That's it. CueDirector sees it automatically and handles the rest. Most schools already have the network infrastructure needed, which means getting started is mostly a matter of plugging things in.

NDI Cameras and PTZ

Direct multiple cameras from the same screen you already use to run the show.

CueDirector also supports NDI cameras for recording and directing your performances. Many of these cameras are PTZ cameras — PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom. That simply means the camera can move left and right, up and down, and zoom in and out — all without anyone physically touching it. CueDirector controls the camera movement directly, so one person can direct multiple cameras from the same screen they're already using to run the show.

Like the decoders, NDI cameras connect to your network with a standard cable. CueDirector finds them automatically — no complicated configuration required.

Power over Ethernet

One cable can carry power and video.

When shopping for NDI cameras, look for ones that support PoE, or Power over Ethernet. This simply means the camera gets its power through the same network cable that carries the video — no separate power outlet needed at the camera. This is a big deal when mounting cameras in places like the back of the auditorium or high on a lighting truss, where running a power cable would be difficult. One cable does everything.

To use PoE cameras, your network switch needs to support PoE as well. These switches are widely available, clearly labeled, and not expensive. Just make sure it has enough PoE ports for the number of cameras you plan to connect — and when in doubt, buy one with a few extra ports to room to grow.

PTZ Cameras

FoMaKo

For PTZ cameras, we recommend taking a look at FoMaKo. They offer solid NDI camera options at around $450 on Amazon — a fraction of the cost of professional broadcast cameras, and more than capable for school and community theater productions. FoMaKo cameras support PoE, so setup is as simple as running a single network cable to wherever you want the camera mounted.

NDI Decoders

NDI Go

For NDI decoders, we recommend the NDI Go, available on Amazon for around $169. Setup is straightforward, and they work reliably right out of the box. One particularly nice feature — NDI Go decoders can also be powered via PoE, just like the cameras. That means if your screen or projector is in a location without a nearby power outlet, you may not need one at all. Just run a network cable from your PoE switch, and the decoder powers itself.

Together, a FoMaKo camera and an NDI Go decoder give you a clean, professional camera setup for around $620 per camera position — a remarkably low cost of entry for capabilities that simply weren't accessible to school theater programs a few years ago.