GDTF & MVR

GDTF and MVR are open standards for the entertainment industry, main site GDTF Share, documentation and projects on GDTF.eu.

GDTF#

GDTF: The General Device Type Format is an open standard for describing devices of the entertainment industry.

These devices may be lighting fixtures, trusses, distribution boxes, media servers, lasers or other devices used in the entertainment industry.

A GDTF Profile includes 3D Models, information about Geometry, DMX channels, Color Wheels and a lot of other properties a Lighting Fixture might have.

Download and Build Profiles#

The GDTF Share is the central distribution platform for GDTF files. GDTF Share is fully integrated into Blender-DMX, allowing downloading and import of GDTF profiles directly from BlenderDMX Addon.

The GDTF Builder allows creating and editing GDTF Profiles.

Supported GDTF features in BlenderDMX Addon#

BlenderDMX Addon utilizes GDTF files to be able to visualize a device. Local GDTF files can be imported into BlenderDMX Addon, or files from the GDTF Share can be downloaded directly from BlenderDMX Addon. Following GDTF properties are utilized:

• A dynamic fixture object from a GDTF profile, either from primitives or custom models from 3DS and GLB mesh files
• GeometryReferences (thus correct DMX footprint and kinematic chain)
• DMX Breaks (correct total DMX footprint is calculated, fixture is patched at a single address)
• BeamGeometry and it’s attributes (Lamp Power, Beam Angle, Beam Type)
• LaserGeometry and it’s Beam Diameter attribute
• CameraGeometry (and selecting a view through the camera)
• Pigtail geometry (identifying typically back of the fixture)
• 2D SVG symbol
• media images (gobo) from wheels folder
• Supported GDTF Attributes
• GDTF Share integration
• more features as per pygdtf library

Supported GDTF Attributes#

Features or properties of GDTF devices, controlled by DMX channels:

• Dimmer (8/16bit)
• Pan (8/16 bit)
• Tilt (8/16bit)
• PanRotation
• TiltRotation
• Shutter1 (used for Strobing in BlenderDMX Addon)
• ColorAdd_R, G, B
• ColorRGB_Red, Green, Blue
• ColorSub_C, M, Y
• ColorAdd_C, M, Y
• ColorAdd_W, WW, CW (White, Warm White, Cold White)
• ColorAdd_RY, GY, UV (Amber, Lime, UV)
• CTC, CTO, CTB (Color Temperature Control)
• Iris
• Color1, Color2
• ColorMacro1
• Zoom
• Gobo1, Gobo2
• Gobo1Pos, Gobo2Pos
• Gobo1PosRotate, Gobo2PosRotate
• XYZ_X, Y, Z
• Rot_X, Y, Z

ChannelFunctions and Physical Values are not implemented at the moment.

Read this section about usage and Implementation details of GDTF Attributes in BlenderDMX Addon.

MVR#

MVR: The My Virtual Rig file format is an open standard which allows programs to share data and geometry of a scene for the entertainment industry.

A scene is a set of parametric objects such as fixtures, trusses, video screens, and other objects that are used in the entertainment industry.

Supported MVR features#

Import#

• Fixtures (with Address, Focus Points, Fixture Color, Fixture ID…)
• Scene Objects (with Symbols and Symdef…)
• Trusses
• Layers
• Classes
• Group Objects
• some more features as per pymvr library
• MVR-xchange Protocol

Export#

• Fixtures (with Address, Focus Points, Fixture Color, Fixture ID…) are exported onto a single layer

MVR-xchange Protocol#

MVR-xchange protocol allows you to exchange MVR files with other network applications that support MVR-xchange, such as other instances of BlenderDMX or Production Assist.

Internet version#

Internet version of MVR-xchange requires a wss:// address of a coordinating server. This address defines a group of stations coordinating together.

• Sharing MVR Files: Any station that wants to receive MVR files from you can connect to the same group address station. When you share a version, connected stations will be notified and can choose to fetch the MVR file from your station and apply it to their scene.

• Testing server: BlenderDMX.eu provides a testing server, see details and privacy notice in this blog post.

Local version#

Local version of the MVR-xchange uses only local network and local discovery for the stations.

• Group Cooperation: Stations must cooperate within the same group. You can name the group as you prefer, but please use only basic Latin characters. The group name is determined by the station you are connecting to. When you establish a connection with another station, your group will automatically change to match the group name of the station you are connecting to.

• Station Discovery: Your BlenderDMX Addon station will automatically discover any stations in any groups and can connect to them. This enables you to receive MVR files from stations you connect to. When a connected-to station shares an MVR file, you will be notified and can fetch the file to apply it to your scene.

• Sharing MVR Files: Any station that wants to receive MVR files from you can connect to your station. When you share a version, connected stations will be notified and can choose to fetch the MVR file from your station and apply it to their scene.

GDTF Share Integration in Blender#

GDTF files can be downloaded directly from Blender:

• Register a free account on GDTF Share
• Fill in username and password into Blender-DMX addon preferences

Update the GDTF Share index will refresh the list of available profiles. Each profile can be downwloaded by clicking on the download icon:

Common Questions and Answers:#

After MVR import, GDTF fixtures have IDs and DMX but their bodies are not visible in 3D#

This depends on how you are doing the MVR export in Vectoworks, gMA3, Capture or other software. For example Capture never provides any useful GDTFs, only place-holders. Vectorworks provides useful GDTFs if you previously load them to VW and link them to each VW symbol. To fix this issue, you can use the Edit fixture function of BlenderDMX Addon: after the MVR import to BlenderDMX Addon, edit all fixtures → uncheck the Re-address only and choose GDTF files for each fixture.

Why do fixtures from GDTF have different features, like Gobo or Color and some not?#

GDTF is a format to describe real world devices, meaning that there are real lights out there which some manufacturer produces and which people use on real stages. Some of them are simple with just a lamp, some have colors, others may have gobos and pan/tilt and so on. If you don’t care about this, you can choose any fixture. See also the next question.

Is there a difference between Spot and Wash fixtures in BlenderDMX Addon?#

Yes. BlenderDMX Addon supports Spot, Wash, Beam, Linear Strips, MultiPixel, Front Facing and other devices, including Lasers. Spots have a hard beam edge, and if they contain gobos, their projection is supported. Washes have a smooth blend on the beam. Narrow parallel beam angles aligned with the front beam lens (beam fixtures) are also supported. Pixel devices can be pixel controlled and any device can be set to not contain volumetric beam to only provide front facing color mixing or strobing.