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Notch Blocks

Notch Blocks

Updated: 3 Dec 2025

What are Notch Blocks? #

Notch Blocks are self-contained, single-file exports from Notch Builder that enable the delivery of real-time & interactive Notch content. Notch Blocks by design do not come with any playback mechanism and are intended to be used to deliver final content for playback (and control, through exposed parameters) in a media server or other software that has native support to open and run Notch Blocks.

A Notch Block allows you to play back the content that you have built inside of Notch, but without any of the performance overhead associated with the additional requirements of the Notch Builder software. They are the most lightweight and solid way of displaying Notch content.

Content creators across the globe can deliver new & original content remotely in a single, self-contained file, natively supported in all major media servers.

You can also export Notch content as standalone executable files to be run without a media server. See Standalone.

License Requirements #

To export Notch Blocks you will need an RFX license (or a Pro License in legacy licensing). An RFX license will allow you to run a Notch Block at resolutions up to 4k. For resolutions above and beyond 4K, you will require designated playback licensing. A watermarked playback license is available for testing or proving out workflows. Playback Licensing

Using Notch Blocks #

Notch Blocks are loaded directly inside of a media server, serving as another video source that generates your Notch content in real time. Running directly inside the server like this allows for real-time content to be generated in the same frame as it is output from the server.

Almost all properties of any node that makes up the Notch Block can be controlled just like any other property in you media server. As well as allowing full control of your visual content, you can also send in video content from your media server such as pre-rendered video or live camera feeds into your Notch Block. For more information on setting up and working with exposed properties in media servers, see Working WIth Exposed Parameters

When a Notch Block is running, it can be edited remotely from any PC on the same network that is running Notch Builder (with an RFX license). This lets you make adjustments to your Notch content while it is being run on the media server and sent out to screens, projectors, lighting fixtures etc. See Network Editing for a guide on setting up and working with Network Editing.

Notch Blocks are a key part of building live generative content for large canvases. Running multiple simultaneous instances of a Notch Block across multiple servers lets you create content for massive resolutions. For more information on this type of setup see Multi Machine Considerations.

See Managing Performance in Media Severs for information on viewing, analysing and optimising your Notch Block’s performance inside a media server.

Native support #

Native Notch playback is all major media servers & applications. Notch Block playback is available as a commercial SDK, so if your preferred application/media server is not listed, it may be worth getting in contact with them. SPOUT (an inter-application texture sharing technology) can also be used with media servers that support it.

Hardware and software media servers & applications with native Notch integrations:

We strongly recommend that you read Managing Performance in Media Servers.