Playback & media servers
disguise GX 3 troubleshooting
The disguise GX 3 problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called GX3). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common GX 3 errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
GX 3 connector reference for audio, MIDI, USB and networking when prepping a rack
Likely cause: Most GX 3 prep failures are connector-family mismatches rather than faults, because the chassis uses circular multipin XLR, HD-BNC and Toslink instead of the full-size connectors crews expect.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
GX 3 does not appear in the d3Net session, or a machine shows red fps in the session list
Likely cause: d3Net discovery depends on the launcher advertising the machine, so a machine with no launcher is invisible no matter how good the network is.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
GX 3 is dropping frames or playback stutters and you need to know whether the CPU or the GPU is the bottleneck
Likely cause: A genlocked server has a hard per-frame deadline.
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GX 3 media output is black or the display is not detected on a VFC output
Likely cause: EDID is the metadata handshake between the display and the GPU.
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GX 3 operating system is corrupted or the server needs a factory restore (Redisguise)
Likely cause: The OS image is a clean factory build, so restoring it clears driver, Windows and Designer-install corruption in one pass.
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GX 3 outputs will not genlock, or genlock is unavailable across the three media outputs
Likely cause: The GPU can only lock a set of outputs onto one timing domain if they all report the same display timings.
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How powerful is a GX 3 relative to other servers, and what is it the right tool for
Likely cause: Notchmark score is the practical yardstick for real-time generative load, and the three 4K VFC media outputs are the hard ceiling on how much canvas one box can feed regardless of GPU headroom.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Lighting console DMX over Art-Net or sACN is not reaching or not leaving the GX 3
Likely cause: Art-Net and sACN are addressed by universe and interface, so a wrong start universe, a wrong bound interface, or two devices claiming the same addresses all present as no data or erratic data.
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Need to know how many layers a GX 3 can actually play back before designing a show file
Likely cause: Designing to the published per-codec ceiling avoids building a file the server cannot sustain at frame rate.
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Racking, transporting or lifting a GX 3 safely
Likely cause: A deep 4U server cantilevers on front ears alone and can shear them or sag; supporting the rear transfers the load into the rack frame.
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What video inputs and capture does a GX 3 have, and what do you need for clean IMAG capture
Likely cause: HD-BNC is a smaller connector family than BNC, and 12G paths are far less tolerant of marginal cable, so connector and cable quality decide whether 4K locks.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Which Designer software release should a GX 3 be running, and how do you update it
Likely cause: Designer is the functional firmware of a disguise server, so the release number is what determines features, codec support and bug fixes.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the GX 3
- 1. Pick the disguise GX 3. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.