StageLight vs Ctrl Player v1
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
StageLight
This professional lighting control app allows users to manage and control lighting fixtures via Art-Net (DMX512 over IP). It offers a flexible interface, fixture libraries, MIDI integration, and the ability to record and playback cues and cue lists.
- Art-Net (DMX512 over IP) control
- Up to 10 DMX universes
- Fixture library based on Open Fixture Library
- MIDI controller integration
- Record and playback Cues and Cue Lists
- Ableton Link synchronization
- CITP and OSC protocol support
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StageLight is a professional lighting control app for the iPad based on Art-Net (DMX512 over IP). The software combines the classic hardware lighting console feeling with a modern and intuitive user interaction design. The user interface is characterized by intelligent use of available space in combination with a high level of flexibility. MULTIPLE UNIVERSES Manage and control fixtures and groups across up to 10 DMX universes. FIXTURE LIBRARY StageLight offers an extensive fixture library based on the Open Fixture Library. New additions include GDTF file import, continued support for StageLight legacy fixtures, and a fixture editor for creating and customizing your own fixtures. MIDI Connect a MIDI controller and turn StageLight into a hardware-style lighting console, or synchronize cue lists with your preferred DAW. CONTROL CHANNELS StageLight is fixture-based. You can assign a single device, a group, or a cue list to a channel across up to 200 pages. IMPORT AND EXPORT Import and export projects or custom fixtures. Project export supports selectable options for fixture patching, cue lists / effects, and settings. Additional print exports are available, including patch sheets, fixture labels, and fixture lists. Use any sharing service such as iCloud, Dropbox, or AirDrop to share projects with friends, colleagues, or between different iPads. CUES AND CUE LISTS Record cues and play them back in cue lists as sequences or chases. Various trigger and sync options are supported, including Global BPM, Ableton Link, and MIDI Clock. EFFECTS Effects in StageLight enable dynamic lighting transitions directly inside cue lists. This allows you to combine static scenes with moving or rhythm-based effects to create more vivid and flexible shows. ABLETON LINK Ableton Link is a technology that synchronizes beat, phase, and tempo between Ableton Live and other Link-enabled applications (DAWs) over the network. In StageLight, Ableton Link is used to synchronize chaser tempo. CITP StageLight uses the Controller Interface Transport Protocol (CITP) to record cues, retrieve thumbnails, and select fixtures in Capture. OSC In StageLight, you can use the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol to control supported devices with OSC commands. CRMX & W-DMX StageLight supports LumenRadio's Bluetooth DMX protocol, enabling communication with all LumenRadio and OEM products. STAGELIGHT API The StageLight API allows external control of key functions such as cue lists, fixture channels, and tempo. It is relevant for integrations with Companion and Stream Deck and extends StageLight with flexible connectivity to external control systems.
Ctrl Player v1
This app centralizes control of audio, entertainment, video, and lighting systems. It allows users to interact with custom interfaces for managing complex equipment, making automation and device control intuitive for any technical skill level. Multiple devices can connect to the same installation for synchronized control.
- Centralized control of audio, entertainment, video, and lighting
- Interact with custom Ctrl Suite interfaces
- Intuitive buttons, sliders, and steppers
- Supports MIDI, OSC, UDP, HTTP(S), TCP, MQTT, Serial, KNX, Telnet, Timecode
- Connect multiple devices for synchronized control
- Customizable interface with images and colors
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The intuitive app making it easier than ever to control your installation's audio, entertainment, video, lighting, and so much more. Player makes control of multiple pieces of complex equipment on your installation centralised & simple by allowing you to view and interact with your Ctrl Suite interfaces. Player presents the customisable buttons, sliders, steppers, images, device modules & more in a form that makes triggering automation, controlling devices intuitive and straightforward for any level of technical ability. Player setup has been designed to be as simple and user-proofed as possible. Connect and go. Once the App is opened, Player can be discovered and adopted into a Ctrl Engine session over your local network to allow users to start controlling the installation. Why limit yourself to one device? The Ctrl Suite architecture allows you to connect multiple Player devices on the same installation. The system state is synchronised between all of them over the Ctrl Engine. Within Ctrl Designer, your Player interfaces can be authored to trigger devices using the following protocol types: · MIDI / Musical Instrument Digital Interface · OSC / Open Sound Control · UDP / User Datagram Protocol · HTTP(S) / HTTP(S)/1.1 Methods, Headers, Body · TCP / Transmission Control Protocol · MQTT / MQ Telemetry Transport · Serial · KNX over IP · Telnet · Timecode Alternatively, you can map each interface button to be fed into a logic process within Ctrl Engine to manipulate the input in real-time for more advanced projects. We’re always adding custom interface modules to simplify interaction with specific services to help you create the ultimate unified control interface for your installation: · Session timers · Buttons · Sliders · Steppers · Titles · Text · Images · Audio controls · Tab navigation bars · Side navigation bars · Module Specific controls Ctrl Player displays all customisation options defined in Ctrl Designer: · Custom background images & logos · Custom background colours Contact our team through our website if you're looking at Ctrl Suite for a project or installation and want to try the entire system. This is for Version 1 of Ctrl Suite
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: StageLight at 84% against Ctrl Player v1's 0%. Ctrl Player v1's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. StageLight sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Ctrl Player v1 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StageLight | Ctrl Player v1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 84.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marko Seifert | ON LX Limited |
Customer experience
StageLight
Ctrl Player v1
In-app purchases
StageLight
- Upgrade S to XL$12.99
- Premium S$19.99
- Upgrade L to XL$24.99
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- Premium L + MIDI$29.99
- Upgrade S to XL$34.99
- Upgrade XL to Ultimate$34.99
- Premium XL + MIDI + CITP$49.99
- Upgrade L to Ultimate$59.99
- Upgrade S to Ultimate$69.99
- Ultimate + MIDI + CITP$79.99
Ctrl Player v1
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StageLight free?
Is Ctrl Player v1 free?
Do StageLight or Ctrl Player v1 have ads?
Which is updated more often, StageLight or Ctrl Player v1?
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