
GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Top 10 Best Dmx Lighting Control Software of 2026
Ranked roundup of top dmx lighting control software, with technical comparisons for Capture, MADRIX, Lightkey, and other lighting teams.
How we ranked these tools
Core product claims cross-referenced against official documentation, changelogs, and independent technical reviews.
Analyzed video reviews and hundreds of written evaluations to capture real-world user experiences with each tool.
AI persona simulations modeled how different user types would experience each tool across common use cases and workflows.
Final rankings reviewed and approved by our editorial team with authority to override AI-generated scores based on domain expertise.
Score: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
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Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Capture
API-managed cue and routing configuration that keeps DMX addressing and show logic as distinct, updateable entities.
Built for fits when teams need DMX show automation with an API-driven configuration data model and repeatable deployments..
MADRIX
Editor pickPixel mapping schema that ties geometry and DMX channel ranges to effect placement.
Built for fits when show teams need DMX pixel mapping plus external trigger automation..
Lightkey
Editor pickAPI-exposed show and cue data model with RBAC-protected provisioning and audit trails for change control.
Built for fits when production teams need API-triggered cue automation with governed configuration..
Related reading
Comparison Table
This comparison table contrasts DMX lighting control tools such as Capture, MADRIX, Lightkey, Daslight, and QLC+ across integration depth, their data model, and how each tool exposes automation and API surface. It also reviews admin and governance controls, including provisioning patterns, RBAC coverage, and audit log support where available, so teams can map feature tradeoffs to deployment constraints.
Capture
vertical specialist3D lighting visualization software with native DMX connectivity for programming and previsualization.
API-managed cue and routing configuration that keeps DMX addressing and show logic as distinct, updateable entities.
Capture earns the top rank for integration depth because the system models DMX routing and show behavior as structured entities that can be created and updated through an API, then executed by the controller runtime. The data model supports wiring lighting targets to DMX universes and channels while keeping cue logic separate from device addressing. Automation and extensibility show up through configuration-driven operation, where external systems can push changes without manual edits to the running show.
A key tradeoff is that Capture expects administrators to define the schema and routing consistently so that automation does not create mismatched device mappings. Teams that already maintain show configuration in versioned workflows benefit most when Capture is placed behind an API for controlled provisioning, including repeatable deployments across venues.
- +API-first provisioning for DMX routing, devices, and cue objects
- +Structured data model separates addressing from cue logic
- +Event-triggered cue changes support automation workflows
- +Configuration-driven execution reduces manual show editing
- –Upfront schema and mapping work is required for clean automation
- –Deep configuration can slow first-time setup for small shows
- –Governance depends on disciplined change control around APIs
- –Advanced workflows require more admin time than cue-only tools
Touring tech directors
Automate cue changes across venues
Consistent show behavior across stops
Venue production teams
Provision devices from central systems
Fewer manual setup mistakes
Show 2 more scenarios
Automation engineers
Drive DMX from external events
Programmable event-to-light behavior
Trigger cue changes via API calls tied to sensors, timers, or external control logic.
Show operations admins
Govern changes with role controls
Controlled edits during show days
Use RBAC-style access practices and audit-friendly operations around configuration updates.
Best for: Fits when teams need DMX show automation with an API-driven configuration data model and repeatable deployments.
MADRIX
vertical specialistLED lighting control software for DMX, Art-Net, and pixel-mapped installations.
Pixel mapping schema that ties geometry and DMX channel ranges to effect placement.
MADRIX models lighting targets with mapping rules that relate fixtures or pixel geometry to DMX channel ranges, which makes effect placement deterministic. The effects layer supports timing, layering, and scene management so complex shows can run without manual channel edits. Automation and extensibility are strongest when external systems drive parameters through the available API and when mappings are provisioned upfront for repeatable deployments.
A key tradeoff is that integration work depends on correct mapping and channel layout, and errors surface as visual misalignment rather than transport failures. MADRIX fits teams that need controlled throughput from a central controller to multiple DMX universes while keeping effects logic in sync with external triggers and playback cues.
- +Deterministic pixel and fixture mapping for repeatable effects placement
- +Scene timing and playback help keep show state consistent
- +API driven automation supports external triggers and parameter control
- +DMX transport integration supports direct show output without middleware
- –Incorrect channel or geometry mapping causes immediate visual errors
- –Governance controls like RBAC and audit logs are not central in typical deployments
- –Large universes increase configuration complexity and validation effort
- –Advanced automation needs careful configuration discipline
Concert lighting programming teams
Run pixel effects across multiple universes
Consistent stage visuals
Broadcast and venue tech ops
Trigger scenes from control room systems
Lower cueing errors
Show 2 more scenarios
Event automation engineers
Provision fixtures for reusable show templates
Faster show setup
A structured data model reduces per-event reconfiguration and channel remapping.
Integrators building custom control
Map external app controls to DMX
Centralized lighting control
Extensibility via automation and configuration surfaces supports integration workflows.
Best for: Fits when show teams need DMX pixel mapping plus external trigger automation.
Lightkey
SMBMac-based DMX lighting control software for live shows, churches, and event production.
API-exposed show and cue data model with RBAC-protected provisioning and audit trails for change control.
Lightkey models DMX control as data tied to cues, fixtures, and output targets, which makes configuration and runtime behavior easier to validate before a show. The automation surface is designed for scripted cue generation and show updates, which reduces operator work when schedules or lighting notes change between rehearsals. A documented API and schema-oriented configuration enable external systems to provision shows, patch fixtures, and trigger cue states. Governance controls like RBAC and audit logs help track who changed mappings or cue logic and when those changes were deployed.
A tradeoff appears in the up-front modeling work needed to keep the schema aligned with each venue’s patch and fixture capabilities. Teams that already run DMX through offline lighting consoles with minimal external integration may spend more time building mappings than using Lightkey day-to-day. Lightkey fits best when a production pipeline needs consistent cue output across multiple events and when automation triggers cue playback based on external events like timelines or stage status.
- +Schema-driven cue model reduces patch drift during venue changes
- +API-first integration enables external automation for cue control
- +RBAC and audit logs support controlled show configuration changes
- +Device and cue mapping improves repeatability across rehearsals
- –Fixture capability modeling takes setup time before first reliable output
- –Teams without automation workflows may find the data model overkill
- –Cross-venue patch normalization requires consistent naming conventions
- –Complex show graphs can increase debugging effort during rehearsals
Tour production teams
Automate cue updates per venue schedule
Consistent lighting behavior across venues
Rental house operations
Maintain fixtures across multiple clients
Lower patching mistakes
Show 2 more scenarios
Event tech integration teams
Synchronize lighting with stage systems
Tighter stage cue synchronization
Drive cues from automation rules that translate stage events into DMX cue states through the API.
Broadcast graphics operators
Generate cues from timed templates
Repeatable cue timing
Transform template cues into governed show data, then replay consistently during live segments.
Best for: Fits when production teams need API-triggered cue automation with governed configuration.
Daslight
SMBDMX lighting control software paired with USB interfaces for live events and installations.
DMX fixture mapping connected to scenes and cues, with an API that can drive cue and parameter runtime changes.
Daslight is a DMX lighting control software built around a scene, cue, and fixture mapping workflow for live shows. Its integration depth shows up in how fixture configuration, DMX channel data, and show control stay connected inside one data model.
Automation and extensibility are supported through an API surface that can drive cues, parameters, and runtime control logic. Admin governance is handled through role and permission controls tied to show assets and device access.
- +Unified fixture and DMX mapping data model reduces cue drift
- +API supports automation of cues and parameter changes
- +Scene and cue structure supports repeatable show playback
- +Configuration and runtime control keep lighting state consistent
- –Automation workflows require careful schema alignment
- –Governance controls can feel limited for large multi-team setups
- –UI navigation slows down when projects grow complex
- –Debugging timing issues needs external logging discipline
Best for: Fits when production teams need a documented API and a connected fixture-to-cue data model for repeatable shows.
QLC+
open-sourceOpen-source DMX lighting control software for live shows, installations, and hobbyist rigs.
Cue and scene sequencing with triggers tied directly to fixture channel mappings.
QLC+ builds and runs DMX lighting control scenes on supported operating systems with a visual editor and playout engine. Scene layout uses a data model made of fixtures, channels, input triggers, and timed cue steps, which helps keep configurations readable during changes.
Integration depth comes from established DMX output backends and a project format that can be versioned and moved between machines. Automation and extensibility center on trigger-driven events and external control paths, but the automation and API surface is limited compared with systems that expose a fully programmable schema and governance layer.
- +Visual scene editor maps fixtures to DMX channels with readable cue structure
- +Project-based configuration supports repeatable show setup across rehearsals
- +Trigger-driven inputs support hands-on and time-based cue progression
- +Clear DMX output workflow fits small staged rigs and fixed installations
- –Automation surface lacks a documented, programmable control API for external systems
- –Schema changes for fixtures and cues can be manual and error-prone at scale
- –Limited admin and governance controls like RBAC and audit logs for multi-user setups
- –High-throughput show logic is harder to coordinate without custom integration
Best for: Fits when a single operator or small crew needs DMX cue control without external orchestration.
DMXControl 3
open-sourceFree DMX lighting control software for stage productions and custom show programming.
Cue sequencing with an automation-friendly external control surface that can drive show states programmatically.
DMXControl 3 targets venues that need detailed lighting cue control plus tighter integration with show workflow tooling. It offers a structured data model for fixtures, channels, and sequences, with editor-side configuration that maps directly to DMX output.
Cue execution supports timeline-style playback with branching behaviors that reduce manual operator steps. For integration and automation, DMXControl 3 exposes an external control surface that can drive show states and device actions without rework inside the operator GUI.
- +Strong fixture and channel data model for predictable DMX mappings
- +Cue sequencing supports timeline playback with repeatable show states
- +External control surface enables automation and remote show state control
- +Editor configuration keeps timing logic close to fixture definitions
- –Advanced scenes and routing require careful configuration discipline
- –Automation workflows can feel detached from the main cue authoring flow
- –Large shows can stress configuration and testing throughput
- –Governance controls need deliberate setup for multi-operator environments
Best for: Fits when teams need cue automation and external control for multi-fixture shows with consistent DMX output.
Chamsys MagicQ
enterpriseLighting control software and console platform with DMX, Art-Net, and sACN support.
Cue sequencing tied to a stable DMX patch and channel state engine for predictable live overrides.
Chamsys MagicQ differentiates with its tight coupling between a console-style workflow and lighting control data handling for DMX output. It supports show programming with cue sequences, patching, and live control patterns that map directly onto DMX channel layouts.
Automation is driven by its internal show data model rather than external scene exports, which keeps timing and parameter relationships consistent. Integration depth is centered on MagicQ's control logic, device patching, and automation hooks that affect how DMX states are generated and sent.
- +DMX patching and cue sequencing work from a consistent show data model
- +Live control can override cues while maintaining channel state coherence
- +Automation logic reduces rework when generating recurring lighting states
- +Import and output workflows support common venue operating patterns
- –Automation and data model concepts require setup discipline to stay predictable
- –Extensibility and API surface feel narrower than general-purpose software control stacks
- –Governance controls like RBAC and audit logs are not the primary strength
- –Scaling complex shows can increase operator cognitive load
Best for: Fits when venues need console-style DMX programming with dependable cue-to-channel mapping.
ETC Eos
enterpriseProfessional lighting control family with software options for DMX-based theatrical programming.
Eos show cue and device state model that stays consistent across external control and automation workflows.
ETC Eos targets live DMX lighting control with an Eos family command and show data model focused on cue timing, channel states, and device addressing. Integration depth is driven by its configuration and control interfaces that map show control concepts to a machine-readable surface for external systems.
Automation is handled through programmable sequences, cue stacks, and controllable event flows, with extensibility for external control to keep lighting behavior consistent across sessions. Admin governance centers on workflow boundaries like show organization, role-limited operation patterns, and operational traceability to support repeatable programming across teams.
- +Show data model maps cleanly to cue timing and channel state changes
- +Extensibility supports external control patterns for lighting workflows
- +Strong automation surface for cue stacks and timed event sequencing
- +Deep configuration alignment for device addressing and patching
- –API and automation surface is more predictable than highly custom schema models
- –External integration still depends on show-state conventions
- –Governance controls exist, but fine-grained RBAC and audit tooling are not explicit
- –Throughput for high-frequency external updates can constrain complex rigs
Best for: Fits when touring or resident crews need consistent cue automation with external system control.
Onyx
enterpriseLighting control platform with PC software, DMX output options, and show playback tools.
RBAC plus audit logging for cue and patch changes, paired with an API for automation-driven DMX state updates.
Onyx provides DMX lighting control with show scheduling, cue execution, and device-level patching in a single control workflow. Integration depth centers on mapping a well-defined lighting data model to DMX universe outputs.
Automation is driven through configurable triggers and a scriptable control surface that can be orchestrated through an API. Admin and governance focus on provisioning control assets, role-based access, and audit visibility for operational changes.
- +Cue scheduling and execution align with show workflows
- +Clear device patching to DMX universes reduces mapping errors
- +Automation hooks enable repeatable state changes across cues
- +RBAC and audit history support operational governance
- –Automation configuration can be verbose for small rigs
- –Schema changes for lighting assets require careful review
- –Throughput limits show up with highly granular per-fixture updates
- –API surface coverage is narrower than full lighting graph editing
Best for: Fits when teams need cue-driven DMX control with automation and controlled changes across multiple operators.
grandMA3
enterpriseProfessional lighting control software and console platform for live events, touring, and installations.
grandMA3 scripting and show control interfaces tied to its structured cue and attribute data model.
grandMA3 is a lighting control software centered on the grandMA3 command and patch environment, with strong integration depth to lighting desks, show control, and timecoded workflows. Its data model treats fixtures, DMX channels, cues, and attributes as structured objects that can be referenced across sequences, macros, and scenes.
Automation and extensibility are handled through scripting and external control hooks, which exposes a wider API and automation surface than typical show-only editors. DMX output remains deterministic through its patching and timing model, which supports high-throughput cue playback and consistent universe mapping.
- +Deep fixture and patch data model with consistent DMX universe mapping
- +Cue and show automation supports repeatable timing for complex shows
- +Extensibility via scripting and control interfaces for custom behaviors
- +Strong admin partitioning with roles for multi-operator venues
- –Learning curve is steep due to nested attributes and object references
- –Automation logic can become hard to trace without clear naming discipline
- –Integration with external systems depends on configuration and interface setup
- –Governance controls exist but lack fine-grained workflow audit tooling
Best for: Fits when venues or production teams need deterministic DMX mapping with automation and extensibility.
How to Choose the Right dmx lighting control software
This buyer’s guide covers dmx lighting control software tools including Capture, MADRIX, Lightkey, Daslight, QLC+, DMXControl 3, Chamsys MagicQ, ETC Eos, Onyx, and grandMA3.
It focuses on integration depth, the underlying data model, automation plus API surface, and admin governance controls like RBAC and audit logs. The guide turns those engineering concerns into selection steps using concrete behaviors from each named tool.
DMX control software that turns cue intent into deterministic DMX output through a managed schema
DMX lighting control software provides cue playback, fixture patching, and scene timing so a show editor can translate lighting intent into per-universe DMX channel values. This category also solves repeatability across rehearsals and venues by keeping addressing, cue logic, and state changes connected inside a defined data model.
Capture treats cue and routing as managed configuration with API-driven updates, and Lightkey exposes an API-ready show and cue data model protected by RBAC and audit trails. Tools like MADRIX add pixel mapping schemas that tie geometry to DMX channel ranges so effect placement stays consistent.
Integration, schema, automation, and governance controls that determine show repeatability
Integration depth matters because cues rarely run in isolation. Many productions need external triggers, event-driven state changes, provisioning workflows, or orchestration with other show systems.
A tool’s data model and automation surface determine how reliably addressing, cue logic, and runtime outputs stay consistent. Governance controls like RBAC and audit logs decide whether multi-operator teams can change patches and cues without losing traceability.
API-managed cue and routing configuration
Capture keeps DMX addressing and show logic as distinct, updateable configuration objects with an API-first provisioning surface. Lightkey and Daslight also support API-ready cue control, but Capture’s routing and cue configuration separation is a direct fit for teams automating repeatable deployments.
Pixel mapping schema tied to geometry and DMX channel ranges
MADRIX uses a deterministic pixel and fixture mapping schema so effect placement remains repeatable when scene timing and external triggers change. This data model prevents the common failure mode where geometry edits drift away from DMX channel targeting.
Governed show provisioning with RBAC and audit trails
Lightkey uses RBAC and audit logging to protect show configuration changes during production workflows. Onyx also pairs RBAC with audit history for cue and patch changes, which helps teams coordinate multiple operators without losing traceability.
Extensible automation and external control surface
DMXControl 3 exposes an external control surface that can drive show states programmatically, which fits orchestration scenarios that need remote playout. grandMA3 provides scripting and external control hooks tied to its structured cue and attribute data model, which helps when automation requires deeper behavior than a trigger-only interface.
Connected fixture-to-scene mapping that reduces cue drift
Daslight maintains a unified fixture and DMX mapping data model so fixture configuration stays connected to scenes and cues. Chamsys MagicQ keeps cue sequencing tied to a stable DMX patch and channel state engine so live overrides remain predictable.
Throughput-aware automation over complex rigs
Onyx flags throughput constraints when automation needs highly granular per-fixture updates, which matters for large-scale, high-frequency external updates. ETC Eos provides extensibility for external control patterns, but complex rigs can constrain high-frequency external update throughput, so integration design should account for update granularity.
Pick by data model fit, then validate automation and governance behaviors
Choice should start with the required data model, not with the user interface. Capture, Lightkey, and Daslight treat cues and fixtures as structured objects that can be edited, validated, and reused, which supports repeatable deployments.
Then match the automation and governance needs to the tool’s API or control surface. Tools like QLC+ keep automation trigger-driven and project-based, while Capture and Lightkey emphasize API-first provisioning, and Onyx emphasizes RBAC plus audit logging for operational control.
Map the automation workflow to the tool’s control surface and programmability
If external systems must provision and update cue routing and state changes through a stable interface, Capture is built around API-managed cue and routing configuration. If event triggers need to drive pixel-targeted effects, MADRIX pairs Art-Net style DMX transport integration with an automation interface for external triggers and parameter control.
Validate the data model around addressing and show logic separation
For shows where addressing errors cause immediate visual failures, tools with connected and managed mapping like Daslight’s fixture-to-scene linkage reduce cue drift. Capture’s structured data model separates addressing from cue logic, which reduces manual show editing when cue behavior must change without rewriting device patching.
Decide whether RBAC and audit logs are required for multi-operator change control
When multiple operators must make cue or patch edits during rehearsals, Lightkey’s RBAC and audit trails fit governed configuration workflows. If operational traceability must include cue and patch history, Onyx pairs RBAC with audit logging to support controlled changes across multiple operators.
Confirm how live overrides and timing consistency behave under external control
Chamsys MagicQ ties cue sequencing to a stable DMX patch and channel state engine so live control overrides remain coherent. ETC Eos provides a show cue and device state model designed to stay consistent across external control and automation workflows.
Benchmark setup discipline requirements against project scale
Capture and Lightkey require upfront schema and mapping work for clean automation, so the time cost increases with complex show graphs. MADRIX pixel mapping and QLC+ fixture channel mapping both require correct geometry and channel alignment, so allocate time for validation when universes and fixture counts grow.
Choose the tool whose automation model matches integration depth expectations
If an automation-friendly external control surface is the priority, DMXControl 3 can drive show states programmatically. If deep scripted behavior tied to fixtures, channels, and cue attributes is needed, grandMA3 scripting and show control interfaces provide a wider automation surface than cue-only editors.
Teams that benefit from API automation, schema-driven cues, and governed patch changes
Different productions need different levels of data-model control and integration depth. Tools like Capture, Lightkey, and Daslight serve teams that treat show logic as configuration with repeatable deployments.
Other tools fit specific production patterns like pixel effects layout in MADRIX or console-style workflows in Chamsys MagicQ and ETC Eos.
DMX show automation teams that need API-driven configuration and repeatable deployments
Capture supports API-managed cue and routing configuration and separates DMX addressing from cue logic so automated updates stay consistent. Lightkey also supports API-triggered cue automation with RBAC-protected provisioning and audit trails for change control.
Pixel-mapped installations and effects teams that need geometry-aligned deterministic output
MADRIX excels when pixel mapping must tie geometry and DMX channel ranges to effect placement so scenes remain stable across external triggers. This structured mapping model is a direct guardrail against channel and geometry mismatches that cause immediate visual errors.
Multi-operator venues that require governed patch and cue changes with traceability
Lightkey provides RBAC and audit logging designed for controlled show configuration changes. Onyx adds RBAC plus audit history focused on cue and patch changes so operational changes remain visible across operators.
Touring and resident crews that need consistent cue automation under external control patterns
ETC Eos maintains a show cue and device state model meant to stay consistent across external control and automation workflows. Chamsys MagicQ targets console-style programming where cue-to-channel mapping stays predictable under live overrides.
Small crews or single operators running trigger-based cues without a programmable governance layer
QLC+ supports cue and scene sequencing with triggers tied directly to fixture channel mappings and uses project-based configuration for repeatable setup. It fits workflows that do not require a fully programmable, schema-driven API and governance layer like Capture or Lightkey.
Avoidable integration failures caused by schema mismatch, weak governance, and mis-scoped automation
Several predictable mistakes show up when teams choose a DMX tool based on cue playback alone. Many issues come from schema alignment and governance gaps rather than from DMX output quality.
The most costly failures usually appear during venue changes or when external triggers start driving cue behavior at scale.
Treating cue automation like a UI export problem instead of a managed schema problem
Capture and Daslight keep fixture mapping connected to scenes and cues, which reduces cue drift when show logic changes. QLC+ can work for small rigs, but its automation surface is limited compared with API-driven configuration approaches, so scaling external orchestration often becomes manual work.
Skipping RBAC and audit trails for multi-operator rehearsals
Lightkey and Onyx include RBAC and audit logging behaviors that support controlled show configuration changes. Tools where governance is not central can lead to unclear change ownership when patch and cue edits happen across multiple operators.
Building pixel effects without geometry and channel-range validation
MADRIX requires correct geometry-to-channel mapping, because incorrect channel or geometry mapping creates immediate visual errors. A rushed mapping step breaks deterministic placement even when timing and triggers behave correctly.
Over-optimizing for external update frequency without checking throughput constraints
Onyx highlights throughput limits when highly granular per-fixture updates are needed through automation. ETC Eos and other extensible tools can constrain high-frequency external updates on complex rigs, so integration should batch state changes to match the tool’s practical update model.
Choosing a tool with insufficient automation surface for the required orchestration depth
DMXControl 3 provides an automation-friendly external control surface focused on driving show states programmatically. grandMA3 scripting and show control interfaces tied to its structured data model are the better match when automation needs deeper scripted behavior than trigger-driven inputs.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated Capture, MADRIX, Lightkey, Daslight, QLC+, DMXControl 3, Chamsys MagicQ, ETC Eos, Onyx, and grandMA3 using three scored areas: features, ease of use, and value. The overall ranking uses a weighted average where features carry the most weight at forty percent, while ease of use and value each account for thirty percent. Each tool was scored from the concrete capabilities described in its feature set, including API or external control surface behavior, data model strengths, and governance controls like RBAC and audit logging where present.
Capture stood out because it combines an API-managed cue and routing configuration with a structured data model that separates DMX addressing from cue logic. That combination lifted its features score and ease-of-use fit for automation-first teams, since repeatable updates can be made by changing managed configuration objects instead of re-authoring show logic.
Frequently Asked Questions About dmx lighting control software
How do Capture and Lightkey differ in their underlying data model for shows?
Which tools expose an API surface for external automation and provisioning?
What RBAC and audit logging capabilities are available for multi-operator workflows?
How does DMXControl 3 handle cue timing and branching compared with a cue stack approach?
Which software is better suited for pixel-mapped effects driven by fixture geometry?
What integration paths exist for Art-Net and sACN transport control?
How do Daslight and Chamsys MagicQ keep fixture patching connected to scene or cue behavior?
Which tool targets use cases with multiple universes and deterministic mapping for high-throughput playback?
How do users migrate or replicate show configuration across machines and venues?
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 tools, Capture stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
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