FAQ
Asked on the way in
Short answers first, detail after. If your question is not here, the wiki inside the app goes deeper.
Before you buy
How does the trial work?
The trial is the full app for 21 days, and it starts on first launch. No account, nothing to sign up for. Build real shows; everything you make carries over when you buy.
What happens when the trial ends?
Kodiak still opens and still goes to air. The Pro conveniences pause until you enter a license. A trial that ends the night of a show does not end the show.
What hardware do I need?
None, to start. You can build and preview a whole show with no hardware at all. Fill and key to a switcher needs a keyer-capable Blackmagic DeckLink or UltraStudio plus an ATEM downstream.
Is Kodiak really free for churches?
Yes. Churches, non-profits, schools, and beta testers can request a comp from the Pricing page. A comp is a real license, the same app and the same two computers.
License and activation
Does Kodiak need the internet?
Only at activate and deactivate. After that it runs offline forever.
What does $200 actually buy?
A perpetual license for 2 Macs, one time. Includes all v1 updates. No subscription, no per-show fees.
Can I move Kodiak to a new Mac?
Any time. Your license covers two machines and is not welded to hardware. Deactivate on the old Mac, activate on the new one.
What if the old Mac died before I could deactivate it?
Just activate the new Mac. Your license covers two computers, and if both seats were already taken the oldest one steps aside on its own. If you would rather free the dead machine's seat yourself, use Manage license and release it. No support ticket, no waiting on a human.
Requirements
What does Kodiak run on?
macOS 13 or later, on Apple Silicon. SDI output needs Blackmagic Desktop Video 16.0 or higher; ATEM automation needs ATEM Software 8.0 or higher. Building and editing need neither.
What is it built with?
Native Swift and Metal, straight onto Apple's frameworks. The only third-party code in the app is Sparkle, the updater. Lean on purpose: fewer moving parts is a reliability feature.
Running the show
How does the hot backup work?
The backup Mac holds a live, one-to-one copy of the whole show. Import media on the primary and the backup has it, edit a slide or move a timer and both match, cue for cue. If the primary drops it cuts itself to air on the ATEM and keeps going. Pairing is one code, entered once on each Mac.
Can a license problem take my show down?
No. Licensing has no path to the SDI; there is no code that can dark the program feed over a license check. That is structural, not a promise.