How you build
TouchDesigner is a programming environment where you wire operators together to build a system. FRCTL is organized around an effect chain, a modulation matrix and live decks.
FRCTL vs TouchDesigner
TouchDesigner, made by Derivative in Toronto, is a node-based visual development platform for real-time projects, from installations to live visuals. It runs on Windows and macOS. FRCTL is a browser-based VJ studio built around a chain of effects applied to video, images, a camera or generated sources.
Side by side.
| FRCTL | TouchDesigner | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Effect chain applied to video, images, a camera or generated sources, plus Shader Lab for custom shaders | Node-based visual programming across operator families (TOP, CHOP, SOP, DAT and others). Palette of drag-and-drop components |
| Platforms | Web browser. Windows desktop app on the Pro plan, with Spout and NDI output | Windows 10 and 11. macOS 13 or later |
| Pricing | Free $0. Creator $12/month or $99/year. Pro $29/month or $249/year, first 7 days free. Lifetime plan listed as coming soon | Non-Commercial free. Educational $300. Commercial $600. Pro $2,200. Perpetual licenses with 1 year of updates, and update renewals sold separately |
| Free option | Full toolkit with every effect and shader, live mode, no watermark. Exports up to 1080p, 30fps, 2 minutes. Personal and non-commercial use | Non-Commercial: includes all basic operators. Resolution limited to 1280x1280, not for paying projects, and some features (such as H.264/H.265 encoding and TouchEngine) need a paid license |
| Commercial use | Creator and Pro. Free covers personal and non-commercial projects | Commercial or Pro license required when you're paid for work made with TouchDesigner |
| Audio reactivity | Modulation matrix with LFOs, an envelope follower, sample and hold, and ten audio frequency bands. Beat detection | Audio device input (DirectSound, CoreAudio, ASIO). Spectrum analysis. Audio analysis component with low, mid and high levels plus kick and snare detection |
| Custom content | Shader Lab (GLSL) | GLSL, Python 3.11 scripting, C++ custom operators |
| Sync and control | Tap tempo, automatic beat detection, and clock sync via MIDI clock or OSC. Clock output to external gear. MIDI learn | MIDI (including timing messages), OSC, Ableton Link, DMX/Art-Net/sACN output, SMPTE timecode input |
| Video output | Second display. Spout and NDI on the Windows desktop app (Pro) | NDI in and out. Syphon (macOS) and Spout (Windows) in and out. Windows across multiple displays. Projection mapping toolkit (Kantan Mapper) |
| Video input | Camera | Webcams and capture cards (Blackmagic, AJA, Magewell and others) |
| Export | Free: 1080p, 30fps, 2 min. Creator: 1080p, 60fps, 10 min. Pro: up to 4K and 60fps, up to 1 hour at 1080p30, plus keyed exports. The desktop build records local 4K MP4 | Movie File Out: MOV, MP4, MKV, WebM with codecs including H.264, H.265, ProRes and Hap, plus image sequences. Some codecs depend on license tier |
| Marketplace | The Collective, for presets and loop packs. Selling on Creator and Pro | Community site where users share assets |
Key differences.
Free versions
TouchDesigner Non-Commercial limits resolution to 1280x1280 and excludes paid projects. FRCTL's free plan exports up to 1080p at 30fps for up to two minutes, for personal use.
Pricing model
TouchDesigner sells perpetual licenses with a year of updates. FRCTL uses monthly or yearly plans alongside a free plan.
Platforms
TouchDesigner installs on Windows and macOS. FRCTL runs in a web browser, with a Windows desktop app on the Pro plan.
Show control
TouchDesigner supports DMX, SMPTE timecode and Ableton Link. FRCTL syncs its clock via MIDI clock or OSC, with tap tempo and beat detection.