Cobra Show Creator Alternative

FWsim - a Cobra Show Creator alternative with 3D simulation

Cobra Show Creator (also called "CSC") is COBRA's own scripting software for the 18R2 controller. It is web-based, runs in the Chrome browser on PC and Mac, and is sold as a one-year licence. You build timed, STEP or combined scripts in a cue table with a waveform timeline, add an MP3 soundtrack for pyromusicals, and pick products from the WikiFireworks database. What it does not do is simulate the show. You can watch YouTube clips of single products from WikiFireworks, but you never see your whole show with its timing.

FWsim is a fireworks show design software with realistic 3D simulation. You place your Cobra modules in a 3D scene, drop effects onto a timeline together with the music, watch the whole show, and export a ready-to-load Cobra script. Auto-addressing assigns module and pin numbers for you. FWsim is used by professionals in 40 countries and by thousands of hobbyists.

FWsim is made by a small company in beautiful Austria. We are just two people! We are passionate about fireworks and want to make the best software for fireworks professionals and enthusiasts. We offer responsive email support, and we listen to your feedback.

Why Cobra users design their shows in FWsim

• See the show before you fire it. Realistic 3D simulation with more than 10,000 effects, including real manufacturer catalogs. Timing mistakes, gaps and overlapping effects show up on screen, not on show night.
• Design on the timeline, with the music. Drag cues, snap them to other cues or to the playback cursor, and hear the music while you work. A table view is there when you need it.
• Export straight to Cobra. FWsim writes the standard Cobra .csv script. Auto-addressing assigns modules and pins, and the export asks you for the deadman switch setting and the Audiobox filename. FWsim Pro also exports DMX data.
• STEP shows included. Split your show into sections and FWsim writes the STEP markers into the script, so semiautomatic firing works the way it does in Show Creator.
• Show it to your client or your crew. Render a 4K video of the show and send it around before anyone builds a rack.
• Pay by the month. Both FWsim subscriptions are monthly and can be cancelled at any time, so you only pay in the months you design shows.
• Already have Show Creator scripts? FWsim Pro imports existing Cobra scripts, so you can visualize the shows you have already built.

Your Cobra workflow in FWsim

This video shows how to set up your Cobra modules in FWsim and export the script:

In short:

1. Create a new show and select "Cobra" as the firing system.
2. Under the "Modules" tab, add enough modules for all cues and drag each module to its firing position in the 3D window.
3. Click Export -> Auto-Address to assign module and pin numbers. FWsim alerts you if something does not fit.
4. Click Export -> Cobra and save the .csv file.
5. Enter the deadman switch setting and the Audiobox filename if you need them.
6. Load the .csv file onto your 18R2.

The Cobra export documentation covers the details: STEP scripts, Audiobox filename rules, several pieces of music, and SMPTE timecode.

Semiautomatic firing with Cobra STEP scripts

Many Cobra shows are fired in sections: the system waits for the STEP button before it continues. In FWsim you mark the sections on the timeline, and the exported script contains the STEP cues. This video explains how it works:

Cobra Show Creator and FWsim compared

Which FWsim edition do Cobra users need?

FWsim Hobbyist (€29 per month or €260 per year) is the right choice for enthusiasts and small shows. It includes the full Cobra export with auto and manual addressing, graphical module placement, semiautomatic (STEP) shows, PDF plans and cue labels, the complete effects library, and 4K video export with a small FWsim watermark.

FWsim Pro (€69 / $79 per month or €620 / $710 per year) is made for display companies. It adds import of existing Cobra scripts, SMPTE audio export for the 18R2 timecode kit, voice cues for manual firing, customizable auto-addressing, site layout diagrams on a real map, rack management, DMX and flamejets, and watermark-free videos with your own company logo.

Both subscriptions are monthly and can be cancelled at any time. No reason to pay for a whole year if you only have a few shows a season. Compare all editions in detail.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stop using Show Creator?
No. FWsim exports the standard Cobra script format, so you load it onto the 18R2 like any other script. Show Creator can import .csv scripts, so a show designed in FWsim can still be opened there for quick edits on site.

Does it work with my Cobra hardware?
FWsim addresses cues by module and pin and writes the standard Cobra .csv script, so it works with any Cobra setup that loads scripts onto the 18R2 controller. Please install the latest Cobra firmware before exporting.

What about Cobra multi scripts?
FWsim does not write Cobra multi scripts yet. The export documentation describes a workaround for STEP shows with several pieces of music.

Can I use SMPTE timecode with Cobra?
Yes. Cobra supports 30 FPS SMPTE through the RCA audio port of the 18R2 with the SMPTE upgrade kit, and FWsim Pro exports the audio track with the timecode on one channel and the music on the other. How SMPTE works with FWsim and Cobra.

What users say

Try FWsim with your Cobra system

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