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System and hardware requirements

Operator computer

Required:

  • Windows 10 version 1809 (build 17763) or later, or Windows 11
  • x64 processor and operating system
  • Direct3D 11-capable graphics with a current vendor driver
  • a free connection for the Controll3r Interface control side
  • a supported capture device:
  • common standards-compliant USB/UVC capture device, or
  • Blackmagic DeckLink capture card
  • enough storage for snapshots and recordings

The installer is self-contained and includes the required .NET runtime. A separate .NET installation is not required.

This compatibility floor is independent of Microsoft's support lifecycle for each Windows edition. Use an edition that still receives the security and servicing updates required by your environment.

No public minimum CPU or RAM specification has been certified yet. Capture resolution, frame rate, Visual Anchor polling, and simultaneous recording all affect load. A modern multicore Windows system and discrete GPU are recommended for sustained 4K operation.

Target computer

Required:

  • a USB port for target-side keyboard and pointer input
  • a video output compatible with the chosen capture device and cable

The target does not need:

  • Controll3r software
  • a driver supplied by Controll3r
  • a network connection
  • a user account
  • a running operating system

The target enumerates the Controll3r Interface as ordinary USB input hardware.

Controll3r Interface

The current Controll3r Interface is required for keyboard and pointer control. Connect:

  1. its control-side USB connection to the operator computer
  2. its target-side USB connection to the target computer

Live pointer control uses a relative mouse device. Automation uses an absolute pointer device. The absolute device ships disabled and Controll3r offers to enable, apply, verify, and commit it the first time an automation feature needs it.

USB/UVC capture

Use a capture device with a working Windows driver that exposes the needed source format. No additional Controll3r component is required.

Compatibility and latency vary by:

  • capture-device model and firmware
  • Windows driver
  • target signal resolution, refresh rate, and pixel format
  • USB controller and available bandwidth

The built-in Match source format action can help choose a compatible UVC mode. It cannot add a format the capture device or driver does not support.

DeckLink support requires:

  • a supported Blackmagic DeckLink card
  • Blackmagic Desktop Video for Windows installed separately
  • a source mode supported by the card

Controll3r does not distribute Blackmagic drivers, the Desktop Video installer, or DeckLink SDK runtime files. Native DeckLink devices appear alongside UVC devices after the Blackmagic runtime and card are detected.

DeckLink uses native input-format detection. The format indicator changes when the wire format changes; there is no UVC-style Match source format button.

Audio

Audio can come from:

  • an audio endpoint associated with a UVC capture device
  • embedded DeckLink audio from the active video session

Choose a local Windows render endpoint for monitoring. Embedded DeckLink audio requires a live DeckLink video session from the same device.

Network

A network is not required for local interactive operation.

Network access is needed only when:

  • another system will call the optional REST API
  • the operator downloads installers, drivers, or updates

LAN API mode uses HTTPS with a locally generated self-signed certificate and a bearer token. Firewall configuration may be required for remote clients.

Unsupported operator platforms

Controll3r runs on Windows only. macOS and Linux are not supported.