EmberGen vs TouchDesigner
EmberGen
jangafx.comTouchDesigner
derivative.caSide by side
| Figure | EmberGen | TouchDesigner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $300/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 7 |
| Spec score · Visual Effects Software | 8.1 (#9) | 7.8 (#18) |
| Founded | 2016 | 2000 |
| Purpose | EmberGen is a real-time tool for creating fire, smoke, explosions, and other volumetric effects. | TouchDesigner is a real-time 2D and 3D interactive animation product for authoring interactive art, media, and visualization. |
| Support | The maker offers trial support through Discord or email and lists documentation, tutorials, forums, and email support for users. | Forum Support is listed for all license types, while Pro includes six hours of direct support by email or phone. |
Plans
TouchDesigner
- Educational$300 a month
- Commercial$600 a month
- Pro$2,200 a month
- Non-CommercialFree
- Educational$300, paid once
- Commercial$600, paid once
- Pro$2,200, paid once
In their own words
TouchDesigner
TouchDesigner is real-time software for creating interactive 2D and 3D animation, art, media, and visualizations. It combines an application engine and interface in one environment, supporting work from prototypes to finished applications. Its control panel features can be used to build custom interfaces for mouse, touchscreen, gestural, and multi-person input. The software supports high-performance media systems, ultra-resolution video playback, custom media servers, and projection mapping with 3D simulation and multi-projector output. Listed integrations include Ableton Live, Max/MSP, Substance Designer, Notch, vvvv, OpenFrameworks, Resolume, and Unity. Communication options include OSC, MIDI, UDP, TCP, ArtNet, DMX, WebSockets, Serial, and MQTT; supported sensors include Kinect Azure, Intel RealSense, Ouster LIDAR, and Stereolabs ZED. TouchDesigner runs on Windows and macOS; current requirements list Windows 10 or 11 and macOS 13 or higher, with GPU requirements. Pricing is freemium: a free Non-Commercial license is restricted to personal, educational, or evaluation use, while listed paid plans are $300 a month for Educational, $600 a month for Commercial, and $2,200 a month for Pro.