Using Firefly with FWsim

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System Overview

File Format: Firefly CSV - .csv

Export DMX Data no
Flamejets via electrical signals (multitrigger) no
Semiautomatic firing (sections) no

Firefly is a wireless firing system controlled through a mobile app. With FWsim Hobbyist or FWsim Pro, you can design your show on your PC, preview it in 3D, and export the firing script for the Firefly app.

Design your show

Create a new show or open an existing one. Set up your firing positions individually or use Multi Add to place several at once. Add your music if you are planning a show to a soundtrack.

Activate a firing position, click Single in the toolbox, and choose an effect. You can also select several positions in the 3D window to add effects to them together. Adjust angles in the 3D view, arrange cues on the timeline, and use copy and paste to build sequences. Press Play to preview the result.

For more on setting up a show and working with music, see the FWsim tutorials.

Assign modules and export to Firefly

  1. Open the Export tab in the sidebar and select Firefly as the firing system.
  2. Open the Modules tab and add enough modules for your show. Choose FFPlus (15 pins) or FF48 (48 pins) to match your hardware, then drag each module to its firing position in the 3D window.
  3. Click Export > Auto-Address to assign module and pin numbers. Check that the module numbers match the modules you will use in the Firefly app.
  4. Choose Export for Firing System and save the Firefly CSV (.csv) file.
  5. Transfer the file to your mobile device and open it in the Firefly app. You can email it to yourself and open the attachment on your device, or transfer it with a USB drive if your device supports one.

After changing your show, run Export > Auto-Address again before exporting. Exporting does not automatically update the addresses. If you enter pin numbers manually, keep them within the 15 or 48 pins available on your module.

Module and timing limits

FWsim checks the following limits when exporting to Firefly. Here, a firing event means all pins firing at the same instant on one module.

Setting Limit checked by FWsim
Module numbers 1 to 100
Simultaneous firing At most 2 different pins on the same module
Time between single-pin events At least 0.1 seconds on the same module
Time around a two-pin event At least 0.5 seconds before and after it on the same module

For example, if two pins on module 1 fire together at 10.0 seconds, the previous event on module 1 must be at 9.5 seconds or earlier, and the next at 10.5 seconds or later. These timing checks apply separately to each module, so events on different modules can fire together or closer in time.

FWsim warns you if your show exceeds the simultaneous-pin or timing limits. Cancel the export to review the highlighted cues in the timeline, then adjust their timing or assign them to another module before exporting again.

What the CSV contains

The Firefly file includes ignition times, module and pin addresses, effect names, and firing-position names. It also carries effect information such as duration, prefire delay (rise time), caliber, and item number where available, along with firing notes and angles for cues with a single firing angle.

The CSV contains the firing script; it does not include the music audio. Transfer any soundtrack separately for use in the Firefly app.

For more on automatic and manual address assignment, see the data export guide.