Figure 53

{{Infobox company | name = Figure 53, LLC | logo = File:Figure_53_Square_Logo_May_2020.jpeg | industry = Live entertainment, Software, Theatre | founded = 2006 | founder = Chris Ashworth<ref name="figure53websiteteams" /> | hq_location = Baltimore, Maryland | key_people = Chris Ashworth (CEO)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Easy QLab Control with Python Templates for CL/QL/TF Consoles - Yamaha - Other European Countries|url=https://europe.yamaha.com/en/news_events/2019/0610_50_python.html|last=|first=|date=|website=europe.yamaha.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529161040/https://europe.yamaha.com/en/news_events/2019/0610_50_python.html|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> | members = 18<ref name="figure53website" /><ref name="figure53websiteteams">{{Cite web|title=Team {{!}} Figure 53|url=https://figure53.com/team/|last=|first=|date=|website=figure53.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512020801/https://figure53.com/team/|archive-date=2020-05-12|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> | members_year = 2026 | website = {{URL|figure53.com}} }}

'''Figure 53, LLC''' is an American technology company based in Baltimore, Maryland.<ref name="figure53website">{{Cite web|title=Figure 53|url=https://figure53.com/|last=|first=|date=|website=figure53.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529153627/http://figure53.com/|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

Figure 53's flagship product is QLab, a proprietary cue-based multimedia playback system for macOS for use in theatre and other forms of live performance. Some of their other products include Go Button and QLab Remote.<ref name = "qlab">{{Cite web|title=QLab|url=https://qlab.app/|last=|first=|date=|website=qlab.app|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512025208/https://qlab.app/|archive-date=2020-05-12|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

== History == By the time Figure 53 was incorporated in Maryland in March 2006, QLab had been in development for over 2 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Notes from Figure 53 » 2005 » November|url=http://blog.figure53.com/2005/11/|date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125170927/http://blog.figure53.com/2005/11/|access-date=2020-05-29|archive-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> Over time, it has evolved into an industry standard for show control.<ref name = "yamaha">{{Cite web|title=QLab Setup Guidefor CL/QL/TF Series|url=https://download.yamaha.com/files/tcm:39-1286035|last=|first=|date=August 2019|website=|publisher=Yamaha Corporation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529152541/https://download.yamaha.com/files/tcm:39-1286035|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=QLab 3|url=https://jeromyhopgood.wordpress.com/tag/qlab-3/|last=|first=|date=February 16, 2016|website=entertainment design & technology|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529152510/https://jeromyhopgood.wordpress.com/tag/qlab-3/|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=QLab Training - Learn QLab 4 : Online Course - Stage Lighting Tutorials, Information and How To|url=https://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/qlab-training-online-qlab-course-uk/|last=|first=|date=|website=www.onstagelighting.co.uk|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529152447/https://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/qlab-training-online-qlab-course-uk/|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tech Talk: Improve Your Tech with QLab|url=https://danceatl.org/events/tech-talk-improve-your-tech-with-qlab/|last=|first=|date=|website=|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529152453/https://danceatl.org/events/tech-talk-improve-your-tech-with-qlab/|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

In 2018, Figure 53 announced the acquisition of the defunct Playhouse Theatre building, and revamped it to create The Voxel theatre in 2020. The Voxel serves both as a research lab for the company and as a theatre intended to promote and facilitate technological experimentation in performance art.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Voxel Opening as Home for DIY Theatre in 2020|url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/the-voxel-opening-as-home-for-diy-theatre-in-2020|last=|first=|date=2019-11-04|website=Baltimore magazine|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529162133/https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/the-voxel-opening-as-home-for-diy-theatre-in-2020|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ten years ago today, I decided to build a theater.|url=https://twitter.com/Chris_Ashworth/status/1219284158792589313|last=Ashworth|first=Chris|date=2020-01-20|website=@Chris_Ashworth|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Voxel|url=https://voxel.org/|last=|first=|date=|website=voxel.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529163316/https://voxel.org/|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=This 74-year-old Baltimore theater is being reincarnated once again|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/retro-baltimore/bs-fe-voxel-20180201-story.html|last=Kaltenbach|first=Chris|date=February 2, 2018|website=baltimoresun.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529163539/https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/retro-baltimore/bs-fe-voxel-20180201-story.html|archive-date=2020-05-29|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>

== Products == === QLab === QLab is a cue-based show control application for macOS that allows users to build and run lists of cues controlling sound, video, lighting and other media or control signals during live performances.<ref name="qlab" /><ref name="yamaha" /> The software is used by theatres, dance companies, touring productions, themed attractions, churches and other venues that require synchronized playback of multiple media streams.<ref name="yamaha" />

QLab is used "behind the scenes" in theatres and other venues around the world and is characterized as an industry-standard tool for theatre technology.<ref name="bmoreart2024">{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Alanah Nichole|title=The Voxel is a Cutting-Edge Theater Experiment|url=https://bmoreart.com/2024/09/the-voxel-is-a-cutting-edge-theater-experiment.html|website=BmoreArt|date=September 11, 2024|access-date=2025-12-03|language=en}}</ref>

=== Go Button === Go Button is an audio playback application for iOS devices that is designed for running sound cues in live shows using an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.<ref name="gobuttonsite">{{Cite web|title=Go Button|url=https://gobutton.app/|website=gobutton.app|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref>

== See also == * QLab * Show control

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Figure 53}} Category:Software companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Baltimore Category:Privately held companies based in Maryland Category:2006 establishments in Maryland Category:Software companies established in 2006 Category:American companies established in 2006