Welcome to Arkestra
The live visual performance instrument for macOS.
What is Arkestra?
Section titled “What is Arkestra?”Arkestra is a macOS VJ app built around a track / chain / effect hierarchy — think Ableton Live, but for real-time visuals. Every output is driven by a pipeline of ISF shaders, 3D renderers, and audio-reactive modulators, all mixed together in a live performance instrument.
Core concepts at a glance
Section titled “Core concepts at a glance”| Concept | What it is |
|---|---|
| Track | A mixer lane — a single column of visual output |
| Chain | An effect rack inside a track. Swap between chains like preset slots |
| Effect | One node in a chain — an ISF shader, video file, camera feed, 3D scene, etc. |
| Parameter | A knob, slider, toggle, or color on an effect |
| Modulation | Anything that drives a parameter — LFO, audio, MIDI, OSC, sequencer |
Navigation
Section titled “Navigation”Use the sidebar to explore the manual by topic. If you’re brand new, start with Interface Overview →