We can't help it - we are constantly innovating and developing. We are also a small family/community company, and sometimes evolution happens quickly, sometimes not so fast. Thank you for being part of our journey.


The app & the bridge:

As of August 2022, the beta "flowtoys connect" app is available in the iOS and Google Play app stores! It is free to download and use. However to use the app to control your props, you will need a hardware bridge, which you can get here. You just need 1 bridge to control a limitless number of props. Find out more about the bridge + app here.


For more advanced control, you can use Chataigne, an open-source software that enables integration of almost all possible music, video and lighting control technologies. We do not currently have any support documentation for this, but if you are skilled, you can probably work it out and even provide documentation for the community.


We are working on a “pro” bridge that would enable hardware DMX, MIDI, etc. Depending on your technical ability, you could use our current prototype, based on an ESP32 “feather” board, it is hacker-friendly and includes an SD card slot. With additional feather boards from adafruit, and potential soldering, you can add audio, DMX and MIDI in/out and it could even serve as a “show in a box”, remote control, be controlled by almost any other system.


For even more advanced control of your prop’s lights, you might be interested in our creators system: 


Creators core lights:
  • We're developing a new line of "creators core” light engines, with the same LEDs, power and durability as the vision system, but totally different control electronics. You can read more about the difference between vision and creators here.
  • Currently we have creators clubs, pixel-poi, and staves available on a limited basis.
  • The creators core is designed and intended for customization and highly-technical show integration. Based on the ESP32 platform with 32GB additional memory, a 9-axis IMU, riser-board breakout pads for accessories, an I2C bus with pads running the length of the board for easy hacking, and covered in 92 IR LEDs for video-motion tracking. We have not yet developed a good solution for 3D motion tracking, but it would be possible to add on your own components for that.
  • We have also built a "creators tab” which is the smallest possible form factor for driving LED strip and high-power LEDs for stage lighting, set pieces, costuming, and custom props. 
  • Creators props require technician/developer skills, and we will offer very little technical support for them.
  • Creators’ WiFi radio requires advanced wifi routers and setup in order to be used in large numbers.
  • Open source software and firmware for creators props is already highly development by an independent artist developer, Ben Kuperberg. It is incredibly versatile, and some versions are fairly user friendly, but there is no customer support - you’re on your own, or at the whim of other experienced users/developers :)


    If you are interested in the creators system, please email info@flowtoys.com and we’ll add you to our list of people to contact when they are available. Please indicate if you are an experienced developer, who would require zero support to work with something like this, or a technical artist, who would need a reasonable SDK, documentation and starter firmware/software to get going.