Quick Perform Files - MultiMon Docs

What is a Quick Perform File?

The .mmplay format is a streamlined project file designed for fast, reliable playback in live performance and presentation scenarios. Unlike the full .mmproj project format, Quick Perform files contain only the essential information needed to reproduce your video setup.

File Format Comparison

Feature	Project (.mmproj)	Quick Perform (.mmplay)
Video assignments	Yes	Yes
Playback settings	Yes	Yes
Video wall config	Yes	Yes
Audio routing	Yes	Yes
Edit history/undo	Yes	No
UI state	Yes	No
File size	Larger	Smaller
Double-click action	Opens editor	Auto-starts Perform Mode

What’s Stored in a Quick Perform File

├── Video Assignments
│   ├── Monitor → Video path mapping
│   ├── Per-video playback settings
│   └── Sync group membership
├── Playback Configuration
│   ├── Loop settings
│   ├── Volume levels
│   └── Playback speed
├── Video Wall Settings (if configured)
│   ├── Grid dimensions
│   └── Monitor-to-cell mapping
└── Audio Routing (if custom)
    ├── Track assignments
    └── Channel routing

When to Use Quick Perform Files

Scenario	Recommended Format
Active editing and development	`.mmproj`
Final presentation or show	`.mmplay`
Sharing with operators	`.mmplay`
Archiving completed projects	Both
Automated/scheduled playback	`.mmplay`
Desktop shortcut for quick launch	`.mmplay`

Benefits

Faster Loading

Smaller file size loads more quickly
No parsing of edit history or UI state
Ideal for time-critical show starts

Reduced Complexity

Contains only playback-essential data
Less chance of corruption affecting playback
Simpler file structure

Operator-Friendly

Double-clicking launches directly into Perform Mode
No editing interface to accidentally modify
Clear signal that this is a “final” configuration

Portable

Easier to transfer to show computers
Smaller email attachments
Works well on USB drives

Creating Quick Perform Files

Set up your video configuration
Go to File → Export Quick Perform File
Choose save location and filename
Click Save

From Save As

Press Ctrl+Shift+S (Save As)
Change file type dropdown to “Quick Perform (*.mmplay)”
Choose location and filename
Click Save

Workflow Recommendation

1. Create and edit in .mmproj format
           │
           ▼
2. Test thoroughly with F11 (Perform Mode)
           │
           ▼
3. Export to .mmplay when finalized
           │
           ▼
4. Test .mmplay on target machine
           │
           ▼
5. Use .mmplay for the actual show

Opening Quick Perform Files

Double-Click Launch

When file associations are enabled:

Double-click the .mmplay file
MultiMon opens and immediately enters Perform Mode
Videos begin playing automatically on their assigned monitors
Press Escape to exit to the main interface

This is the primary intended use - operators can start a show with a single double-click.

From Within MultiMon

Go to File → Open or press Ctrl+O
Select the .mmplay file
Configuration loads ready for playback
Press F11 to enter Perform Mode

Command Line Launch

For automated or scheduled playback:

MultiMon.exe "C:\Shows\myshow.mmplay"

This starts MultiMon and immediately enters Perform Mode with the specified configuration.

Converting Between Formats

Project to Quick Perform

Export via File → Export Quick Perform File
Original .mmproj remains unchanged
You can export multiple .mmplay versions from one project

Quick Perform to Project

Open the .mmplay file in MultiMon
Make any changes needed
Save as .mmproj with Ctrl+S or File → Save As

Note: The converted project won’t have the original edit history.

File Association Setup

To enable double-click launching:

Open Settings → File Associations
Check the .mmplay file type
Click Apply (may require administrator privileges)

See Settings - File Associations for more details.

Use Cases

Live Events

Create a .mmplay for each segment or act:

show/
├── act1_intro.mmplay
├── act2_performance.mmplay
├── act3_finale.mmplay
└── intermission.mmplay

Operators can double-click each file to transition between segments.

Scheduled Playback

Use Windows Task Scheduler with .mmplay files:

Create your .mmplay file
Open Task Scheduler

Create a new task that runs:

"C:\Program Files\MultiMon\MultiMon.exe" "C:\Shows\morning_loop.mmplay"

Set the schedule (e.g., daily at 9:00 AM)

Kiosk Mode

For permanent installations:

Create a .mmplay with looping content
Add a shortcut to the Windows Startup folder
The display starts automatically on boot

Multi-Operator Shows

Share .mmplay files with different operators:

Technical director gets the full .mmproj for changes
Show operators get .mmplay files for their stations
No risk of accidental configuration changes

Best Practices

File Organization

Keep your files organized:

project/
├── MyShow.mmproj          # Master editable project
├── exports/
│   ├── MyShow_v1.mmplay   # Version 1 export
│   └── MyShow_v2.mmplay   # Version 2 export
└── media/
    ├── video1.mov
    └── video2.mov

Versioning

Name files with dates or version numbers:

show_2025-01-25.mmplay
show_v2_final.mmplay
show_rehearsal.mmplay

Testing

Always test your .mmplay file:

Test on the actual show computer
Verify all video paths resolve correctly
Confirm monitor assignments match the venue
Run through the entire show duration

Portability

For portable setups:

Use relative paths when possible
Store video files in a subfolder alongside the .mmplay
Copy the entire folder structure to the show computer

portable_show/
├── show.mmplay
└── media/
    ├── background.mov
    └── content.mov

Backup Strategy

Keep the original .mmproj file backed up
Archive .mmplay exports with version numbers
Store backups in multiple locations before events

Troubleshooting

Videos Don’t Play

Verify video file paths are correct
Check if videos were moved after export
Try using relative paths for portability

Wrong Monitor Assignment

Monitor IDs may differ between computers
Re-assign monitors on the target machine
Save a new .mmplay specific to that venue

Double-Click Doesn’t Work

Enable file associations in Settings
May require administrator privileges
Try running MultiMon as administrator once

Performance Issues

Ensure videos are on a fast drive (SSD recommended)
Convert to HAP format for best performance
Check Settings for hardware acceleration

Next Steps

Learn about HAP Codec for optimal playback performance
Set up a Video Wall configuration
Configure Settings for file associations and hardware acceleration