Five apps
The same license opens .max files in SketchUp, Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya and Houdini, each with its own renderers. It also opens them in 3ds Max, if you have it.
Houdini · Karma · Arnold · V-Ray · Redshift (beta)
Open .max files in Houdini. No 3ds Max.
Set dressing, archviz assets and client models often arrive as .max files. Oruva reads the 3ds Max scene itself and opens it in Houdini as a native .hip scene, with editable materials for Karma, Arnold or V-Ray.
14-day free trial10 conversionsNo credit cardAccount required
How it works
From .max to Houdini. No export step.
- 01
Add your folder
Point Oruva at the folder that holds your .max files and their preview pictures. It connects each picture to its model.
- 02
Send to Houdini
Right-click the picture, choose Send to, Houdini, then Karma, Arnold, V-Ray or Redshift. Missing textures are listed before sending.
- 03
Edit natively
A native .hip scene opens with real, editable node materials. Anything approximated is listed in a report.
98.5%
of 335 .max files picked at random from a real 73,871-file model library converted in our October 2026 test. Anything approximated is listed in the conversion report.
What comes across
- Files saved in 3ds Max 2009 through 2027
- Native Houdini geometry, object names and hierarchy
- Materials rebuilt as editable nodes for Karma, Arnold or V-Ray, with Redshift in beta
- TurboSmooth arrives as native subdivision; MeshSmooth, Shell, Edit Poly, UVW Map, Bend and Twist are applied
- Textures found by filename next to the .max, in nearby maps folders, or in a folder you add once
- Renderable splines, including Sweep, and V-Ray proxies (as regular geometry when the proxy file comes with the model)
Good to know
- Houdini 20.5–21.x on Windows today. Houdini 22 isn’t supported yet.
- Redshift in Houdini is in beta: it works and is supported, with less real-world testing.
- Forest Pack, RailClone and Corona proxies aren’t supported yet.
- Symmetry, Mirror, Chamfer and some other modifiers aren’t applied. Oruva uses the base mesh and warns you.
- Renders won’t always match 1:1. When a renderer can’t express something exactly, the report says so.
One license
More than a converter. Your whole library.
A library that finds things
Local AI tags and describes every preview, so you can search by words, colour or a photo. It runs on your computer.
Scenes built by ChatGPT or Claude
Give your assistant a photo or a sentence and it builds the scene with the models you own. Included with a paid license, on Windows.
Your options
Ways to open a .max without buying 3ds Max
| Option | Needs 3ds Max | Renderer materials in Houdini | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oruva | No | Editable nodes for Karma, Arnold or V-Ray | $99 once (launch price) |
| 3ds Max plus an exporter | Yes | Depends on the exporter | 3ds Max is $2,010 a year |
| The model’s FBX or OBJ download | No | Lost; rebuild them by hand | Free |
| Browser converters | No | Basic values at best | Free |
Questions
Before you download
Do I need 3ds Max installed?
No. Oruva reads .max files on its own.
Which 3ds Max versions can it open?
Files saved in 3ds Max 2009 through 2027, including the older versions most model libraries still use.
Which Houdini versions and renderers?
Houdini 20.5 to 21.x on Windows, with Karma, Arnold or V-Ray, and Redshift in beta. Oruva only offers renderers your Houdini can load.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Conversion runs on your computer. Your account is used for the license check only.
Does it work on a Mac?
Not yet. Oruva for Mac is coming.
What does it cost?
$99 once at the launch price, until 22 March 2027, then $149. It includes one year of updates, for one person on up to two computers. No subscription.
Try it on your own .max files.
Ten conversions, fourteen days, no credit card.