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Introduction

FrenschPress

FrenschPress is a MIDI and network-capable controller for professional theatre and event technology. The name comes from its developer, Konrad Frensch, and has nothing to do with a coffee maker — which is spelled with a "ch". It is a pun. We do drink a lot of coffee, though.

It offers three mechanical buttons and a rotary encoder, all freely programmable. FrenschPress can run in three different modes (see Control Mode below).

It works plug & play. Neither a software installation nor a driver is needed. It is independent of the operating system and can also run on the network without a computer. For that, please use a stable 5 V/1 A power supply.

Everything is configured through an extensive but intuitive web interface hosted on the device itself. Settings are stored, so there is no need to set the device up again every time.

A plugin library is available and keeps growing. You can also create, store and export/import your own presets there.

A backup function lets you save and restore your configuration.

Key Features​

  • Three modes: QLab, Custom and Companion
  • Extensible plugin library with command templates
  • Backup and restore
  • Multi-protocol support: MIDI, OSC, HTTP, TCP, Art-Net, sACN
  • Timecode: MTC master, bridging between USB and Art-Net, LTC input via dongle
  • Timeline: fire macros frame-accurately from running timecode
  • USB host & Stream Deck: an Elgato Stream Deck as an additional key surface — colour and text feedback, timecode display, pages and a device-local tools menu
  • HID Mode: run as a USB keyboard and mouse
  • Extensive OSC remote control of the device itself
  • Companion module: control FrenschPress from Bitfocus Companion
  • Operation without software or drivers (OS-independent)
  • Standalone operation on a network, without a computer
New in 1.5

The headline additions in this release are USB host mode with Stream Deck support and the Timeline.

On top of that: firmware updates over the network that keep macros, presets and plugins intact, the QLab standby readout and the fade bar on the Stream Deck, the encoder as a master fader for Art-Net and sACN, and the Companion module.