StageCUE 3.8.1 is now available.
StageCUE is a professional show control and media playback application for Windows, designed for concerts, theatre productions, live events, broadcasts, conferences, installations, and other environments where audio, video, and control commands need to be triggered precisely and reliably.
Built around the familiar Cue List → Prepare → GO workflow, StageCUE brings audio playback, video, show sequencing, external control, timecode, and network technologies together in a single workspace.
Version 3.8.1 continues the development of the StageCUE interface and introduces new tools for organizing complex show files, including track and group colors, notes, and quick access to recent projects.
What’s New in StageCUE 3.8.1
Track and Group Colors
Tracks and groups can now be visually highlighted using custom colors.
In large Cue Lists, operators often need to identify different sections of a show instantly. Color coding makes it easier to separate intros, acts, scenes, intermissions, video sequences, emergency cues, or any other logical parts of a production.
The colors use subtle shades designed to improve navigation without making the working interface unnecessarily bright.
Notes for Tracks and Groups
StageCUE 3.8.1 adds a dedicated Note field directly to the Cue List.
Notes appear between the track or group name and the timer, allowing operators to keep important information visible during the show.
For example:
- Artist entrance
- Guitar solo
- Smoke / Strobe
- LED content
- Standby
- Background music
- Intermission
- Final show
Notes can be edited directly from the working interface, making them useful for both show preparation and live operation.
Recent Projects
StageCUE now provides quick access to up to 10 recently opened projects through the File menu.
For venues, rental companies, theatres, broadcasters, and engineers working with multiple productions, this makes returning to frequently used show files much faster.
What Is StageCUE?
StageCUE is a Windows-based cue playback and show control system.
Instead of opening individual media files in different players, the entire production can be prepared as a structured Cue List.
Each Cue represents an action.
The operator prepares the sequence in advance and then runs the show using the GO command while StageCUE keeps the next actions, playback status, timing, and media controls visible in one interface.
This approach is especially useful in situations where playback must follow the exact structure of a live production.
Audio Playback
StageCUE can be used for professional audio playback during live events.
Audio Cues can contain playback parameters such as volume, Preroll, output routing, simultaneous playback behavior, and actions to perform when playback ends.
The software supports multichannel workflows and can operate with Windows audio devices as well as professional audio interfaces.
StageCUE also supports ASIO, making it suitable for professional low-latency audio systems and multichannel interfaces.
It can be integrated into network audio environments using solutions such as Dante Virtual Soundcard and compatible Waves SoundGrid drivers.
Video Playback
Video files can be added directly to the Cue List and sent to a selected display using StageCUE’s dedicated Video Out.
The operator can control video playback from the same show interface used for audio and other Cue types.
This eliminates the need to constantly switch between separate media players during a production.
NDI Video Output
StageCUE supports NDI video output, allowing video to be transmitted across an IP network.
This makes it possible to send video from StageCUE to compatible production systems and software without using a physical video output, additional capture cards, or dedicated video cabling between computers.
For example, StageCUE can become part of a network-based video workflow involving production and streaming systems that support NDI.
Cue List Workflow
The Cue List is the heart of StageCUE.
A show can contain different types of Cues, including:
Audio · Video · Wait · Note · Group · Stop · LTC · MIDI · OSC
Cues can be arranged in the exact order required for the production and organized into groups.
During the show, the operator always has a clear view of what is selected, what is currently playing, and what happens next.
GO, Pause and Stop Controls
StageCUE is designed for fast operation during live events.
The main commands are always available:
GO — triggers the selected Cue.
Pause — pauses the current audio or video and resumes it from the same position.
Stop Track — stops the current playback.
Stop All — immediately stops all active playback.
Keyboard shortcuts and external control options make it possible to operate StageCUE without relying exclusively on the mouse.
MIDI Control
StageCUE supports MIDI for external show control.
Commands can be assigned to MIDI messages, allowing hardware controllers, consoles, automation systems, and other compatible devices to interact with the software.
This is useful when StageCUE needs to become part of a larger production control environment.
OSC Control
StageCUE supports OSC (Open Sound Control) over Ethernet.
OSC makes it possible to exchange control commands with other computers, applications, control systems, and network devices.
This allows StageCUE to participate in more advanced show automation workflows where several systems need to work together.
LTC Timecode
Support for LTC Timecode allows Cue actions to be associated with an external timeline.
Timecode-based workflows are particularly useful for productions where audio, video, lighting, automation, or other show elements need to remain synchronized.
Wait, Stop, Note and Group Cues
Not every action in a show needs to play a media file.
StageCUE includes additional Cue types for building more sophisticated show sequences.
Wait introduces a timed delay between actions.
Stop provides dedicated playback stop commands.
Note allows technical or production information to be included in the Cue List.
Group organizes multiple Cues into logical sections of the show.
Together, these tools allow the Cue List to represent the actual structure of a production rather than simply being a playlist.
Designed for Live Production
StageCUE is being developed specifically around real-world show workflows.
Typical applications include:
- Concerts and touring productions
- Theatre and performing arts
- Festivals
- Broadcast and television
- Corporate events
- Conferences
- Multimedia installations
- Event venues
- Rental and production companies
A single project can contain the media files, Cue structure, playback parameters, notes, groups, and control logic required for the production.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
StageCUE is developed specifically for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Both Installer and Portable versions are available.
The Portable version can be useful for production environments where the application needs to run without a conventional installation, including operation from external storage.
The StageCUE interface is available in English and Russian.
StageCUE 3.8.1 Available Now
Version 3.8.1 is another step toward making StageCUE a complete professional show control environment for Windows.
The new color organization, Cue notes, and recent-project access are relatively simple features, but they make a significant difference when working with large Cue Lists during real productions.
Development continues, with new functions and workflow improvements being added based on practical use and feedback from engineers and operators.
If your production requires precise audio and video playback, Cue-based operation, external control, timecode, MIDI, OSC, NDI, and a workflow designed for live events, StageCUE is built for exactly that environment.
StageCUE 3.8.1 — more control, clearer Cue Lists, and a faster workflow.
Stay Connected
Follow the official StageCUE Telegram community for release announcements, updates, development news, and user discussions: