In brief
- Live Link is installed automatically with V-Ray 5 update 1 and Corona 12 update 1.
- The standard port for DR is 20701, while port 20703 is used for DR2 with V-Ray 7.3.
- The Enable Object Render State option must be turned on for Anima 4D scenes.
- Moving objects, changing materials and playing animation are not supported during Live Link.
Exporting and reloading a scene into Chaos Vantage for every small change while working in 3ds Max wastes time. The Live Link feature instantly transmits camera, geometry, light, material, texture and environment changes from a scene prepared with V-Ray or Corona to Chaos Vantage, without any .vrscene import/export step.
Which versions does Live Link work with?
On the V-Ray side, Live Link tools are installed automatically with V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max update 1 and later versions. The Chaos Vantage Live Link settings window comes with V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max update 2 and Chaos Vantage 2.2 and later. On the Corona side, the equivalent Start/Stop Vantage Live Link session tool is included in the installation with Corona 12 for 3ds Max update 1 and later versions.
How to start Live Link with V-Ray?
Install the current V-Ray for 3ds Max version and Chaos Vantage; make sure you have valid licenses for both applications.
In 3ds Max, click the
Vantage toolbar › Initiate a Live-Link to Chaos Vantagebutton.The tool automatically detects whether the render engine is V-Ray GPU and asks to switch if needed, launches Chaos Vantage if it isn't running, and sends the scene via port 20701 for DR or 20703 for DR2.
Once the connection is established, a thick blue frame appears around the viewport and the status message in the bottom right corner changes to
[LIVE LINK].To stop the connection, click the same button again or open the VFB and stop the IPR.
The Vantage toolbar › Chaos Vantage Live Link settings window is used to customize port and preference settings.
| Setting | Recommended value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Port (DR) | 20701 | Standard single-server distributed render connection |
| Port (DR2) | 20703 | Required port when using DR2 with V-Ray 7.3 |
| Enable Object Render State | On (for Anima 4D scenes) | Mandatory for correct rendering of Anima 4D assets; may reduce interaction speed |
| Frame timeout | Adjusted according to scene complexity | Guarantees complete data transfer between frames |
Selecting the same port number on both the 3ds Max and Chaos Vantage sides is essential for the connection to be established.
Setting up Live Link for Corona
Click the
Corona toolbar › Start/Stop Vantage Live Link sessionbutton or start it fromRender Setup › System › Vantage Live Link.The tool launches Chaos Vantage if it isn't running and sends the scene via port 20701.
To close the connection, click the same button or select
Render Setup › System › Stop Live Link.
What can and can't be done during Live Link?
While the connection is active, it is possible to create cameras, set up camera animation, edit the environment and fog, add color correction effects, and render snapshots, HQ stills and HQ sequences within Chaos Vantage; the changes made can be saved as a .vantage file.
However, during the session it is not possible to move objects, hide/show them, reassign materials, edit lights, import external files (including Cosmos assets), or play animation. The session needs to be restarted for updates in animated V-Ray Proxy (.vrmesh) files to be reflected. When the session is closed, the scene remains loaded in Vantage but is considered dirty, and for full editing, a new .vrscene must be exported and loaded again from the host application.
To render animation directly from 3ds Max, the Vantage toolbar › Render animation with Chaos Vantage button is used; this prompts for the render camera and then directs to detailed render settings. The 3ds Max interface locks when rendering starts.
Impact on architectural visualization workflow
Live Link eliminates the export wait for studios that want to evaluate material and lighting experiments in real time, especially in interior and public architectural scenes. Offices using crowded scenes with Anima 4D need to turn on the Enable Object Render State option, which may somewhat reduce interaction speed, so having sufficient GPU resources is important. It should be noted that separate valid licenses are required for both V-Ray/Corona and Chaos Vantage, and version mismatches can prevent the feature from working.
Common mistakes
Selecting different port numbers in 3ds Max and Chaos Vantage; in this case the connection cannot be established.
Leaving the port at 20701 when using DR2 with V-Ray 7.3; in this scenario the port should be 20703.
Leaving the Enable Object Render State option off in scenes containing Anima 4D assets; this causes these assets to render incorrectly.
Trying to move objects, change materials or play animation during a Live Link session; these operations are not supported, and the scene must be re-exported for full editing.
Assuming the tools will appear with older V-Ray or Corona versions; the tools are only installed with the specified minimum versions (V-Ray 5 update 1+, Corona 12 update 1+).
Sources
3 sourcesSource texts are not republished; short quotes are marked, everything else is our own summary and commentary.
Live Link is a feature that can save serious time for architectural visualization offices in Turkey, especially during client presentations and material revisions. Being able to see changes in the scene instantly in Vantage without waiting for export makes quick decision-making processes easier, particularly for interior projects. However, it should be kept in mind that the feature is limited to specific minimum versions such as V-Ray 5 update 1 and Corona 12 update 1; the tools may not appear in installations with older licenses.
Since offices producing crowded scenes with Anima 4D need to turn on the Enable Object Render State setting, GPU power planning becomes important, as this option can reduce interaction speed. Additionally, the fact that operations like moving objects or changing materials are not supported during Live Link requires teams to structure their workflow accordingly; otherwise, re-exporting the scene may become necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Which V-Ray and Corona versions does Chaos Vantage Live Link work with?
Live Link tools are installed automatically with V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max update 1 and later versions, and on the Corona side with Corona 12 for 3ds Max update 1 and later versions.
Which port number should be used for Live Link?
Port 20701 should be used for a standard distributed render (DR) connection, and port 20703 should be used when using DR2 with V-Ray 7.3; the same port must be selected in both 3ds Max and Chaos Vantage.
Which operations cannot be performed during a Live Link session?
Moving objects, hiding/showing them, reassigning materials, editing lights, importing external files, and playing animation are not supported during a Live Link session.
