NovaStar Software
Media playback software for LED video walls — FX0, FX1, FX2 and FX3 compared
Kompass FX is NovaStar's professional media playback software for LED video walls, exhibitions, broadcast and creative fixed installs. It ships in four tiers — FX0, FX1, FX2 and FX3 — that scale from a free single-layer player up to an unlimited-output system with 12 mixing layers, 3D texture mapping and dual-machine backup. The software runs on a standard Windows PC, or you can buy a turnkey NovaStar ET-series media server that ships with a matching Kompass FX tier preinstalled and licensed.
All four tiers share the same Kompass FX interface; they differ in how many layers and output channels they drive, whether they support 3D texture mapping and dual-machine backup, and how they're licensed. Pick the tier by the size and redundancy of the job — or let an ET-series media server bundle FX3 for you.
| Feature | FX0 | FX1 | FX2 | FX3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decoding | Software + hardware | Software only | Software + hardware | Software + hardware |
| Max mixing layers | 1 | 4 + audio | 8 + audio | 12 + audio |
| Output channels | 1 | 1 | 3 | Unlimited |
| 3D texture mapping | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Individual screen management | — | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-machine backup | — | — | — | Yes |
| Authorization | Registration code | Registration code | Dongle / code | Dongle / code |
Kompass FX is the software; the NovaStar ET-series media servers are turnkey hardware appliances that run it. Each ET model ships with a Kompass FX tier matched to its hardware, preinstalled and licensed on a validated processor + graphics-card platform — so you get the right feature set without sizing a PC yourself. Buy Kompass FX on its own to run on your own machine, or buy an ET server for a guaranteed-compatible, ready-to-run system.
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Kompass FX runs on Windows 10/11 64-bit. Performance (layer count, output resolution) scales with the host PC's CPU and GPU, which is why NovaStar sells the ET-series media servers with validated processor + graphics-card combinations. FX0 is a free entry tier; FX2 and FX3 are activated with a USB dongle or registration code.
Kompass FX is NovaStar's playback software; the ET-series (ET1S-G, ET2S-G, ET4S-G, ET16S-G) are media-server computers that come with a matching Kompass FX tier already installed and licensed (ET1S-G includes FX1, ET2S-G includes FX2, and ET4S-G / ET16S-G include FX3). Buy the software to run on your own PC, or buy an ET server for a ready-to-run, guaranteed-compatible system.
FX0 is a free single-layer player for testing. FX1 adds up to 4 layers for exhibitions and meeting rooms. FX2 adds 3 output channels plus 3D texture mapping for mid-size installs. FX3 unlocks 12 layers, unlimited outputs and dual-machine backup for large professional installations.
Yes — FX0 is the free entry tier, activated with a registration code. It is limited to one layer and one output, which makes it ideal for demos and basic single-screen playback.
Yes. FX3 is the only tier with dual-machine (primary/backup) redundancy, which is why it is the tier preinstalled on the ET-series media servers used in mission-critical installs.
FX0 and FX1 use a registration code; FX2 and FX3 are activated with a USB dongle or registration code. ET-series servers arrive already licensed for FX3. Contact us at 321-747-3220 for pricing and the right tier for your job.
