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Ghost Arcade

ghostarcade.live

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAPI
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Spec score 9.3 #1 of 24 in Projection Mapping Software

What it is

Ghost Arcade is projection-mapping and VJ software for arranging visual layers, applying effects, mapping them onto surfaces, and performing live. Mapping tools include corner and mesh warping, slices, shape masks, soft-edge blending, and independently warped multi-display outputs. A 3D stage simulator and projection simulator support show planning and rehearsal. VJ mode offers two decks, an A/B crossfader with ten transition types, beat-quantised clip launching, macros, and snapshots. The software includes more than 180 effects, real-time GPU shader instruments, and ISF and GLSL shader support. Connections include MIDI, OSC, Ableton Link, Syphon/Spout output, and NDI video over a local network. AI shader generation accepts plain-English descriptions but requires the user’s own API key. The iPhone and iPad app supports clip launching, touch effects, projection mapping, camera inputs, and LiDAR point-cloud scans on supported devices. Desktop software is open source under AGPL-3.0, and the site permits paid gigs, installations, broadcasts, and subcontracted work. The desktop app costs nothing; version 2.0.16 requires an email to download, while Linux is listed for the legacy build.

Spec sheet

What it does
Ghost Arcade combines projection mapping, live VJ playback, show simulation and generative visuals for performances and installations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Product
Ghost Arcade is projection mapping and VJ software for loading visual layers, applying effects, mapping them onto surfaces, and performing live.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Integrations
Official pages list Ableton Link, Syphon, Spout, NDI, WLED, Art-Net, sACN, DMX input and PJLink projector control.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Privacy
The iPhone and iPad app listing on the maker’s site states that no data is collected.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Support
The site links to a community forum, contact page, and Ko-fi support, and describes its open-source guide as usually replying instantly.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Maker
The site identifies Justin Robie Wood as creator and describes more than fifteen years of touring and installation work behind the software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
3D stage simulator
The stage simulator models trusses, decks, fixtures, PA, haze, lasers, beams and dome venues with live content on screens.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
AI generation
AI shader generation accepts plain-English descriptions and requires the user's own API key.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
AI shader generation
AI shader generation accepts plain-English descriptions and requires the user’s own API key.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Audio reactivity
Audio control includes eight-band FFT analysis and kick/snare onset detection assignable to parameters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Company attribution
The site footer and App Store copyright attribute the product identity to Risk Capital Media LLC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Creator
The maker identifies Justin Robie Wood as Ghost Arcade’s creator and says he began doing live visuals in 2008.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Desktop platforms
The site lists macOS 12 or later, Windows 10 or later, and Linux via AppImage and .deb, while noting Linux as a legacy build.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Documentation depth
The documentation index covers installation, projects, mapping, simulators, VJ performance, instruments, MIDI/OSC, mobile, outputs, render core, performance and troubleshooting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Download email
The 2.0.16 desktop installer requires an email address, while the legacy 1.9 build is available without email.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Effects
The product advertises more than 180 chainable effects across 21 categories, with audio-driven parameters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
GPU instruments
Built-in GPU instruments include Smoke Riders, Fluid Riders, Volumetric Nodes, Gravity Wells, Planet, Ink Cloud and particle tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Legacy requirements
The legacy browser build uses WebGL 2, needs about 4 GB RAM and 500 MB disk, and remains available for weaker systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Licence
The source is licensed under AGPL-3.0; modified network services must offer corresponding source code, while created videos and recordings remain the user's.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
License and commercial use
The desktop software is open source under AGPL-3.0, and the site says paid gigs, installations, broadcasts, and subcontracted work are permitted.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Limit: bugs and workflow gaps
Reported issues included screen capture not appearing in fullscreen output, missing media after reopening projects, VJ layer persistence problems and webcam input not being draggable into the VJ grid.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: performance
Reddit users reported severe lag on some systems, including a Ryzen 5/RTX 3070 setup, and asked for CPU or performance tuning options.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: platform qualification
Release notes say Windows and some NDI paths had limited hardware testing, and downloadable builds did not yet include NDI support in one release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Mapping
Mapping features include corner and mesh warping, slices, shape masks, soft edge blending, and independently warped multi-display outputs.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
MCP server
The desktop app can host a local MCP server for clients such as Claude Desktop to trigger clips, move faders and inspect output; it is off by default and token-protected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
MIDI control
MIDI Learn supports multiple devices, CC, notes, pitch bend and MIDI clock input and output at 24 PPQN.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Mobile app
The iPhone and iPad app supports clip launching, touch effects, projection mapping, camera inputs, and LiDAR point-cloud scans on supported devices.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Mobile companion
A phone or tablet can connect over the local network as a touch clip launcher, mixer and mapping controller.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Native rendering
Version 2 uses a Rust and wgpu render core targeting Metal, DirectX 12 and Vulkan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Offline export
Frame-locked offline rendering supports 720p through 4K at 24, 30 or 60 fps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
OSC and show control
OSC operates bidirectionally with parameter-addressed bindings, while newer releases document external timeline control and OSC feedback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Praise: feature breadth
A Reddit user praised the large shader and effect libraries, projection tools, recording, sequencer and phone/tablet control as unusually comprehensive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Praise: live use
A Reddit commenter reported that the software worked well at a party and liked it enough to request continued development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Projection mapping
It provides corner, mesh and per-element warping, masks, slices, edge blending and independently configured projector outputs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Projection simulator
The projection simulator imports GLB or PLY sites, positions projectors with throw cones, previews surfaces and records simulations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Rating on Apple App Store
5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratingRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Release status
The site listed version 2.0.19 on October 12, 2026, with clip-sound, missing-file relinking, row-fill and row-reorder changes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Security and privacy
The iOS app says it collects no data, does not upload camera or depth inputs to Ghost Arcade servers and has no advertising or third-party analytics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Self-hosting
The public repositories provide source code and build instructions, so users can compile and run their own builds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Shader support
It loads ISF and GLSL shaders and automatically exposes shader parameters as controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Show design
The app includes a 3D stage simulator and a projection simulator for planning and rehearsing shows.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Supported media
Supported formats include MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF, PNG, JPG, WebP, GLTF, GLB, FBX, PLY, .splat, SVG, ISF and GLSL.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
System requirements
The native build requires Windows 10 64-bit or later, macOS 12 or later or current Linux, a compatible D3D12/Metal/Vulkan GPU, 8 GB RAM and about 1 GB disk.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Visual tools
The software includes 180+ effects, real-time GPU shader instruments, and support for ISF and GLSL shaders.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
VJ decks
VJ mode has two independent clip banks, an A/B crossfader, ten transitions, beat quantization, macros and snapshots.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
VJ performance
VJ mode has two decks, an A/B crossfader with ten transition types, beat-quantised clip launching, macros, and snapshots.Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live

Plans and prices

Desktop app (Ghost Arcade 2.0.16 and legacy 1.9) Free All features included · no tiers, trial, watermark, or expiry · 2.0.16 download requires email · Linux listed for legacy build Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Ghost Arcade desktop Free always all features · no tiers · no watermark · Mac, Windows, Linux Read 15 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live
Ghost Arcade iPhone/iPad $1.99, paid once one-time App Store purchase iPhone and iPad · iOS 16+ Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
iPhone and iPad app $1.99, paid once iOS 15 or later · no account · no data collected Read 3 Oct 2026 · ghostarcade.live

Every Ghost Arcade plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Desktop software is free with all features included.
  • Mapping tools include mesh warping and soft-edge blending.
  • More than 180 effects are included.
  • Supports MIDI, OSC, Ableton Link, and local-network NDI.
  • Desktop software is open source under AGPL-3.0.

Limits

  • AI shader generation requires the user’s own API key.
  • Version 2.0.16 installer requires an email address.
  • Linux is listed for the legacy build.
  • The iPhone and iPad app costs $1.99, paid once.

Who it suits

Ghost Arcade suits projection-mapping artists and VJs who need mapping, visual effects, and live performance controls. It also offers mobile controls for supported iPhone and iPad users.

Verdict

Ghost Arcade brings mapping, show-planning, and live VJ controls together, with desktop software available free and open source. Note the email requirement for the current desktop installer and the separate price for the mobile app.

Where Specifiction places it

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