NEWS: Disguise X1 license brings show control to your laptop

When a tour needs eye‑popping visuals, production teams often turn to Disguise’s powerful media servers. For years, the company’s Designer software and hardware engines have driven video content on some of the biggest concerts and theatre shows in the world. In late July, Disguise announced X1, a portable licence that effectively puts that capability on a laptop. Instead of renting a proprietary server rack, creatives can now run 4K visuals directly from their own computer, giving smaller tours and corporate events access to the same tools that power large‑scale productions.

In its announcement, Disguise described X1 as a flexible, software‑only version of its production engine. The licence unlocks the full Designer toolkit, including previsualisation, sequencing and show control, and allows one 4K video output via a USB Codemeter key. Chief product and technology officer Raed Al Tikriti said the company developed X1 after recognising that not all productions need massive media servers. Many shows want the familiar workflow of Designer but cannot justify the space, weight and cost of the larger hardware. By offering a portable format, Disguise allows users to scale up or down without changing software.

Early adopters have already put X1 through its paces. During a pilot programme, the solution was used at Rockfest in Germany for Bullet For My Valentine, at Festival Napa Valley, and on Central Cee’s North American tour. Video programmers on those tours appreciated being able to travel light and still work within the Disguise ecosystem. Alex Loftie, who handled visuals for Central Cee, said using X1 on a laptop allowed the team to keep shows consistent across venues and saved significant time and budget: “Being able to stay within the Disguise ecosystem is so key… we were able to transition back to Disguise media servers when returning to larger venues without having to re‑program the show”. Glenn Jenkins, video engineer on Bullet For My Valentine’s tour, noted that last‑minute changes are inevitable on tour, and X1’s timeline workflow made quick edits possible.

The portability of X1 comes with thoughtful content support. Each licence includes access to Disguise’s latest Designer version, with updates delivered automatically. Users also receive a pre‑loaded content pack featuring real‑time Notch and TouchDesigner effects as well as high‑quality pre‑rendered clips. These resources help newcomers create impressive visuals without commissioning bespoke assets. Because the software supports the RenderStream protocol, designers can import visuals from Notch, Unreal Engine, TouchDesigner, Unity and other graphics tools. This openness means creatives are not locked into a single platform and can integrate dynamic content from multiple sources.

Technical robustness remains a priority. Despite its smaller footprint, X1 offers 1:1 redundancy and automatic fail‑over, ensuring uninterrupted playback during live events. The timeline interface allows users to schedule cues and adjust visuals on the fly, and the portable hardware supports 4K digital cinema output via the USB licence key. If a show grows, the same project file can be moved to a larger Disguise server; conversely, a complex show file can be scaled down to X1 for smaller venues. That flexibility helps tours adapt to different stages without rewriting cues.

Beyond the official announcement, other industry publications offered insight into how X1 could change live production workflows. rAVe [PUBS] noted that X1 was designed for creators delivering small to medium concerts, theatre productions and branded experiences. The article highlighted that users can plug the licence key into a laptop to instantly access the latest Designer version, emphasising that the platform already powers 95 percent of Tier 1 live shows worldwide. The piece also summarised key features such as real‑time integrations with Notch, Unreal Engine and TouchDesigner, built‑in redundancy, drag‑and‑drop continuity between Disguise servers and X1, and a dynamic content pack. Pricing is set at around US$6,000 per year, with bundles and educational discounts available, positioning X1 as an investment rather than a one‑off purchase. For freelancers and small production houses, however, the ability to offer high‑end visuals without renting heavy equipment may justify the cost.

“Not everyone needs all that power, or has the space or budget for it. With X1, for the first time, anyone can harness the same powerful Designer tools used on the world’s biggest productions, all in a portable format that’s easier and more cost‑effective to bring on tour or support smaller productions.”

- Raed Al Tikriti, Disguise Chief Product and Technology Officer

“Being able to stay within the Disguise ecosystem is so key… we were able to transition back to Disguise media servers when returning to larger venues without having to re‑program the show, which saved a huge amount of time and budget.”

- Alex Loftie, Video Programmer for Central Cee’s tour

“Live shows on tour are never carbon copies of each other. Last‑minute changes come up every time, and using X1 meant we were able to keep up with the rest of production and make quick, crucial edits on site thanks to Disguise’s timeline workflow.”

- Glenn Jenkins, Video Engineer on Bullet For My Valentine’s tour

The emergence of a portable licence like X1 points to where live‑production technology may be heading. Designers are adapting to hybrid work patterns, travelling light and collaborating remotely while audiences continue to expect polished visuals across festivals, corporate presentations and online streams. Tools that can scale from a laptop to an arena and back again will be essential as budgets fluctuate and venues vary. The challenge for Disguise will be to maintain the reliability and creative freedom that users associate with its flagship servers, while making X1 accessible enough to attract new users.

Disguise’s X1 is not a replacement for the company’s hardware servers; rather, it’s a complement that broadens the user base. Large festivals and arena tours will still rely on heavy‑duty racks to drive massive LED arrays and complex multi‑output setups. However, the ability to run the same software on a laptop ensures continuity and lowers barriers for entry. In a market where visual storytelling is central to brand experiences and live performances, tools that democratise high‑quality show control are likely to find eager users. X1 may well be a sign of things to come, where powerful software licences free creators to focus on their ideas rather than the kit.