Smode Tech, the company behind the powerful real-time compositing and media server platform SMODE, proudly announces the release of SMODE V10, the latest version of its platform. This update marks the beginning of the new V10 cycle, aiming to gradually unlock the new mixer workflow step by step with each new 10.x release.
This latest update has been optimised for enhanced performance and frame-accuracy for complex scenarios and brings users a wealth of new features. Notably, an integration with TouchDesigner now allows .tox files to be imported as generative layers or layer modifiers in any project or SMODE composition. Additionally, the new Companion plugin enables users to control any show, even in a multiple-SMODE-server configuration, by using a StreamDeck.
Smode Tech’s new V10 software also introduces the Widget Editor, allowing users to create custom command interfaces with a simple drag-and-drop functionality within SMODE. This new feature opens up new possibilities for encoding, show operation and enables users to create their own editor based on a project or composition.
The new update also includes enhanced fixtures control, available for GrandMA and GDTF, making SMODE V10 more versatile and powerful as users can seamlessly integrate with industry-standard tools and achieve precise lighting effects.
Smode V10.0 has been available in early access for almost two months, and has already been validated on several projects, such as the theatrical variation on Cyril Teste’s “Sur l’Autre Rive” by the MxM collective, freely inspired by Chekhov’s Platonov. Other recent uses of SMODE include the recent Cannes Film Festival and the famous French group Justice’s first date at Coachella and throughout their international tour.
Thomas Besson, director of French content creation studio D/Labs, who has been using SMODE for over fifteen years, says: “SMODE’s real-time compositing has had a significant impact on our workflow at D/Labs, especially in high-pressure environments like the Cannes Film Festival.”
“Its capability to seamlessly integrate and adapt visuals on-the-fly enhances our creative agility, allowing us to deliver complex scenes with remarkable efficiency. This technology not only supports our artistic vision but also aligns with the rigorous demands of live events.”
The release of SMODE V10 was celebrated in style on 30th May in Paris. The event, attended by around 70 members of the core Smode community, featured a keynote speech by Smode Tech’s CEO, Francis Maes, who introduced the new V10 features and shared a sneak peek into the future. The event also served as an opportunity to introduce Smode Japan subsidiary to the Smode Tech’s partners. Guests were able to explore four demo hubs to discover the new features: The Integration hub unveiled the new key features of V10, the Tricks & Tips area showcased six creations using SMODE in an unconventional way, the Mixer hub and finally a trip down memory lane in the SMODE 1.2 hub, the first version of the SMODE software.
“The entire team is extremely proud to present SMODE V10, the beginning of a new chapter for SMODE,” comments Maes. “The main objective for this new cycle is the Mixer: an initiative that aims to make the software simpler, more intuitive and accessible. Our ambition is to achieve a simplified and unified workflow while continuing to embrace the diversity of video projects and formats. In a nutshell: it’s about simplifying but without losing any of its power.
“Thanks to the gradual integration of new concepts associated with the Mixer, each version will enhance the user experience while remaining fully compatible with existing functionalities, thus avoiding any disruption and allowing practices to evolve smoothly.”
