# Luminair — user reviews > 196 indexed App Store user reviews of Luminair by Synthe FX, LLC, rated 4.60/5 from 1,172 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminair/id920440588/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminair/id920440588.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 954 · 4★ 105 · 3★ 33 · 2★ 17 · 1★ 63 ## What do users think of Luminair? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 🚀 Reliable performance - 🚀 Flexible lighting control - 👍 Great customer support **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes and stability issues - 🔒 Subscription model concerns - 🔒 Paid updates for existing users - 🔋 Slow network performance **Commonly reported bugs** - Scenes not loading properly - Ethernet connectivity problems - Unexpected settings changes during use **Most requested features** - Allow one-time purchase option - Improve fixture profile management - Add more advanced effects and animation - Enhance multi-device/project workflow ## Newest reviews (15 of 196) ### 2/5 — Paid full price, now I get ads for the subscription *2026-07-03, version 4.4.11* Even though I paid full price for this app, they’ve since downgraded to a subscription model, and I keep getting nagged by annoying ads and reminders everywhere prompting me to subscribe. ### 3/5 — Is the developper went missing in the woods? *2025-10-04* This app that used to dominate Dmx control in the cinema industry is today seriously lacking, both in fixture library update and user experience. They have been promising RDM for three years now without any delivery, creating an effect is a real pain, a lot of fixture a missing, no way to modify a fixture profile (which is a pain when a lot of them are poorly made), no way to rearrange your fixture orders, i could go for hour about why it is not a good tool ### 2/5 — Freezing Lights *2025-06-08, version 4.4.6* The Luminar app is nice and interfaces with Propresenter, but too many times the app freezes and have to restart the app on the computer to get the lights to respond. ### 2/5 — Weak yet handy… *2025-05-05, version 4.4.4* Worthy of a solid meh. Gets job done with non intuitive interface built by someone who doesn’t do live show busking. Perhaps fine for architectural use or simple triggered haunted houses and the like, but who wants to pay yet another subscription for unchanging simple software. ### 3/5 — Good app LACKS NEW PROFILES *2025-03-23, version 4.4.4* I have been using Luminair for years mostly for interviews and smaller commercial jobs. But Recently, they have been seriously slacking with releasing new profiles for the most up-to-date and in demand lights. Entire aputure storm series is MIA. A good chunk of nanlux and even creamsource is nowhere to be found in this app. The create a profile feature is pretty nice, but even when I’m copying one to one from manufactures DMX charts, the profiles fall short, and sometimes fall apart . Finally bit the bullet and bought Blackout today and immediately found every profile I’ve ever needed in my entire life. This app helped me light for years, but you will get to a point where it’s not good enough for you especially on set Won’t be returning. -IATSE488 gaffer/electrician ### 2/5 — Necesitamos una nueva versión.- *2025-01-24, version 4.4.4* Necesitamos una actualización. Todas las apps que compiten con Luminair están actualizadas menos esta. Y eso que es paga. ### 4/5 — Still Serviceable *2025-01-02, version 4.4.4* After 10+ years, I’m still rocking the Apple Airport and ENTTEC ODE combo with the latest incarnation of Luminair, and it continues to be perfectly serviceable for the location broadcast television presentation studios that I light across Europe and beyond. I’ll run a lighting package of around twenty fixtures plus set LED and Luminair works just fine. Definitely more refined apps have come along, subsequently (Blackout), but Luminair is still swinging ### 2/5 — Longtime paying user, always a frustration *2024-11-15, version 4.4.4* A $100 app deserves a long-term review. Here it is: The interface looks simple but is not very easy to use. Don't expect someone to operate Luminair without training and practice. I've had dozens of clients call in a panic because the app has become inoperable for them. Usually it's because they accidentally closed a screen or maximized a particular region, and nobody on set could find the tiny icon that brings back the view they are familiar with. When it's not that, it's usually because they're not connected to the right network, or art-net auto-discovery isn't working, or auto-discovery is disabled (because it wasn't working last time) and IP addresses have changed. Even with everything configured properly, Luminair often needs to be restarted for the changes to take hold. Even with the app functioning properly, many buttons are very small and hard to hit. The faders have small click targets and are surprisingly hard to operate while looking at the lights you're trying to control. Some screen elements require a double-tap, some a tap-and-hold, and there's no particular logic to what you can do where. Especially when you aren't sure that you've successfully hit your target, the process of discovery feels slow and cumbersome. It's also worth noting that transmit frame rate is capped at something like 15fps when transmitting art-net over wifi. This is much slower than DMX (44fps), so animation always looks slow and choppy. For this reason, Luminair is insufficient for nearly any kind of animation or smooth fade on camera. It might work in a pinch if you're not picky, but the sequencer and FX modes are practically useless features so long as the transmit rate is so low. For all I know, some of these problems are probably fixed by now, but I've already lost days of my life to this app and I have no desire to spend another moment with it. The only reason I've come back to write a review is because I noticed that, despite having paid $150 for a lifetime license in 2021, Luminair has been charging my company a subscription of $150/year ever since for features we never wanted and never used. I patiently and politely requested a refund, but I think they'd prefer to keep the $450 and take the negative review. So here it is! ### 2/5 — Not Ready for Prime Time *2024-08-30, version 4.4.4* I’ve had Luminair on my iPad for at least 5 years now. It’s come a long way in that time, but there are still some fundamental problems with it that, for me, make it unusable. I already bring one laptop to my gigs to run my VSTs on an was looking to avoid bringing a second to run lights since I have my iPad on the gigs as well, running TouchOSC to control my VSTs. But Luminair is not up to the challenge, forcing me back to bringing two MacBooks if I want to run keys and lights. The biggest issue is with RTP MIDI. I cannot make it work with Luminair. If I have a single subnet with Luminair, my DMX controllers and my RTP MIDI setup, Luminair disables network access entirely or even crashes sometimes. This is on an M1 iPad running the latest version of iOS and Luminair. I also have a license for LightKrey on a MacBook. Lightkey works without issue with sACN/ArtNet and RTP MIDI. Luminair is just not stable with RTP MIDI. My light show requires me to have certain sequences, scenes triggered via MIDI and since Luminair disconnects network or outright refuses to allow me to assign RTP MIDI ports it effectively renders it useless for my needs. Additionally, the fixture profiles for certain fixture don’t seem to work or at least be as intuitively easy to use as the same fixture profiles in LightKey. Until this is resolved, I am back on LightKey and I have discontinued my Luminair Pro monthly renewal fee. If they ever fix these, I’ll consider revisiting the product, but in the meantime I cannot recommend or use this product. ### 2/5 — Landscape *2024-08-23, version 4.4.4* When turning phone to landscape, it either does not go all or the screen jumbles up a freezes. Fix? ### 1/5 — Kein Holzbergerstern 👎 *2024-08-04* Abo abzocke, obwohl ich alle Erweiterungen von Luminaire gekauft hatte. Ich bin enteignet worden. Das kommt in letzter Zeit immer öfter vor. Bin also zukünftig gezwungen Fremdgeräte zu kaufen. Es macht dann also zukünftig keinen Sinn mehr, teuere Apps zu kaufen, denn Morgen können sie auch Abo-Apps werden! Dann ist alles weg, meine Projekte kaputt, viel Arbeit für nichts. Nein Danke Ich bin nach Jahren immer noch der gleichen Meinung, schade es hat sich nichts geändert. Appel geht mit der Abofalle einen Irrweg. Kunden werden verprellt und sehen sich wie ich nach anderen Möglichkeiten um! Und wer mal weg ist, kommt dann nie wieder zurück. Das Ende für dieses App steht bestimmt jetzt schon fest. Leider 😱 ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2024-06-14, version 4.4.4* This app used to be great before they moved to the subscription model; devs have essentially abandoned development and ignored bugs submitted. It’s a mess and the new Sidus app is vastly superior. ### 2/5 — My rage knows no limit *2024-04-04, version 4.4.4* Today I spent 5 hours editing new devices/scenes for the new lighting hardware. Five hours of tedious repetitive hand patching of scenes later (due to an apparent lack of “apply this to all” kind of functionality), it was done and perfect. One reboot later, and Luminair erased everything. I need to step away now or it’s going to get ugly. ### 1/5 — Lights flashing at fade *2024-03-14, version 4.4.4* Our light flash at every fade until they are into next cue. I reached out for help 2 weeks ago and nothing, ### 4/5 — Buen controlador de luces que puede mejorar *2024-03-12, version 4.4.4* La app está bastante bien en general, aunque deberían mejorar la demora en actualizaciones del fixture cloud. Tampoco se encuentran algunos fixtures de marcas que tienen varios fixtures en Legacy o cloud. Por ejemplo los tubos Amaran PT (pixel tube) y Aputure y otros. No conecta con asterabox a través de conexión bluetooth. A la hora de editar y o mezclar las secuencias es poco intuitivo nada práctico ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Viel zu teuer *2026-03-01* Ich stehe nicht auf abos. One shot out. ### 1/5 — Tech support is not responding. *2026-01-31, version 4.4.11* I’ve been using Luminair since 2020 and upgraded to v4 to take advantage of color mixing. I’ve documented 2 bugs, one in which the output does not track the UI, and a second where the app hangs for 2-4 minutes at a time. I’ve provide my show files, and videos demonstrating the problems and gotten no bug fixes or work arounds. As long as they occur at home when I’m programming it’s an inconvenience. But when I’m setting up for a live show, or running one and the app hangs or freezes, it’s an embarrassment. Today my band played for two minutes in total darkness while I frantically got Luminair to work again. Tech Support is not responding anymore, so why are they taking my monthly subscription payment? ### 1/5 — Bad support *2025-11-18, version 4.4.11* The support doesn’t reply, automatic email says 2 business days, it’s now 7… ### 1/5 — In app purchase doesn’t work on mac *2025-10-27, version 4.4.10* Tried to use this app for controlling dmx device, downloaded only to find out it’s not working on mac. ### 1/5 — Unbrauchbar *2025-10-25, version 4.4.10* Alles was diese App tut ist eine Bezahloberfläche anzuzeigen. Kein Testen möglich. Sollte einfach direkt einen Kaufpreis haben, so ist das einfach nur frech ### 1/5 — Subscription is bad( *2025-07-28, version 4.4.9* Subscription is bad( ### 1/5 — :) *2025-04-07, version 4.4.4* I downloaded the slyyd from creamsource and i realized how complicated the luminair is ### 1/5 — Nicht zu empfehlen *2025-02-05, version 4.4.6* Der Preis ist absolut nicht gerechtfertigt. Die App ist nicht gut aufgebaut und mein USB Interface wurde gar nicht erst erkannt. ### 1/5 — Testen nur mit Abo? *2025-02-03, version 4.4.6* Leider nützt mir die App nichts, die „Testvariante“ ist nur nach Eingabe meiner Zahlungsdaten möglich. Auch scheint der Hersteller unliebsame Bewertungen löschen zu lassen. Nicht empfehlenswert! ### 1/5 — Fader range *2024-12-08* Fader range isn’t able to change because there is no “done” button ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Aputure *2026-02-23, version 4.4.11* I need to add Aputure 1200x to the library and all those that have not yet been added like xt52 ### 5/5 — Luminair pro *2025-08-09, version 4.4.10* My first time working with luminair its the best.even for a beginner. ### 5/5 — Add evoke 2400 *2024-10-02* Pls add evoke 2400 b very very need this light! ### 5/5 — Hey, it’s Great! *2024-04-16, version 4.4.4* Ok so what doesnt have a bug or two especially a new program. Even ms and apple have problems with new os or even updates that crash systems, it happens. BUT just try to get help or any support from them when u find an issue. Since v3 of luminair I bought and now subscribe to the best supported lighting program out - imho. I was extremely new with lighting and made plenty of mistakes totally my fault but the support guys ALWAYS responded quickly and resolved every issue i’ve had. Good luck finding a team as good as these guys anywhere. Now that i can load this on my macbook pro and use dmx with usb I feel the program has truly continued to expand to customers wants and needs. I am a permanent Fan and customer. Have tried many lighting programs and always come back here. So will be staying. Thanks guys for creating and maintaining an excellent platform for lighting control. ### 5/5 — Best lighting solution for my band *2024-03-26, version 4.4.4* I use this app to control 6 moving heads, 3 battens, and 3 pars for my function band. I trigger them all via a MIDI foot switch so I can play and control lights and I’ve been doing this for 3 seasons now without any issues. This is by far the best solution I have found on the market for this level of control and creativity. I am no a lighting engineer by trade (strictly audio!!) but I made sense of it and it’s advanced features. I would love the engineers of this app to expand upon its functionality and position it more towards lighting control for bands and venues. The ability for advanced chases on my battens would be amazing - I currently have to apply animations to each RGB led which is time consuming. The price is what it is - still cheaper than a decent, recallable controller and much, much more portable! ### 5/5 — Works good *2024-01-04, version 4.4.1* The app works good on macbook and iphone and feels polished. The icloud integration is great and everything is quick. The user guide is well written, and their tech support is responsive. Price is steep, but controlling DMX scenes from my phone is pure magic ### 5/5 — The best app for wireless control *2023-04-03* Great app with superb interface ### 5/5 — More Room to improvise I will definitely like to mail the details *2023-02-18* Thank you ### 5/5 — Long time user *2023-02-17, version 4.3.7* Just wanted to say after many years of using this app, it has been extremely useful at my level easy to use and works as it should. The updates come along seem to help things along. I looked on now everything works perfectly ### 5/5 — Awesome *2022-09-16, version 4.3.4* Showexpress/lightkey <<<<<<<< luminair. Thank you for making exceptional and beautiful software Synthe fx! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*