Comparison

Sidus Link vs Timecode Gen

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sidus Link

Control film lighting fixtures directly from your mobile device. This app offers advanced modes for white light, gels, color, and effects, with features for scene setup and collaboration. It supports over 100 fixtures and simplifies complex lighting workflows.

Highlights
  • Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network
  • White Light, Gel, Color, and Effect Modes
  • Unlimited Presets and QuickShots
  • On-set Workflow Management
  • Multi-device Control
  • Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration
Features
Read full description

Sidus Link provides a brand-new solution for film lighting control. Based on proprietary Sidus Mesh technology, it enables direct connection and control of over 100 film lighting fixtures using mobile devices like smartphones. Sidus Link integrates the most widely used and professional control functions and modes in the lighting field, including White Light Mode, Gel Mode, Color Mode, Effect Mode, and unlimited preset functions. With built-in Sidus Cloud and Creative Collaboration Group features, it simplifies workflows to help gaffers, DPs, and filmmakers quickly complete scene and lighting setups. Language Support: English Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Japanese Portuguese French Russian Vietnamese German 1. Sidus Mesh Intelligent Lighting Network 1.Decentralized film lighting network – No additional network equipment (gateways or routers) required; connect and control lighting fixtures directly via smartphones or other smart devices. 2.Multi-layer encryption ensures a secure and reliable lighting network, preventing interference and misoperation. 3.Supports 100+ professional lighting fixtures. 4.Multiple control devices (smartphones or other smart devices) can simultaneously control the same lighting network. 2. Basic Functions Supports four major control modes: White / Gel / Color / Effect. 2.1. White Light 1.CCT – Supports quick adjustment and touchpad-based control. 2.Source Type – Built-in common white light source library for fast selection. 3.Source Match – Quickly match any scene or cct 2.2. Gel Mode 1.Supports traditional CTO/CTB adjustments used in the film industry. 2.300+ Rosco® & Lee® lighting gels.Rosco® and Lee® trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners. 2.3. Color Mode 1.HSI & RGB modes for quick color adjustments. 2.XY Chromaticity Mode supports A Gamut (similar to BT.2020), DCI-P3, and BT.709 color spaces. 3.Color Picker – Instantly sample any visible color. 2.4. Effects Supports fine-tuning and control of all built-in lighting effects in Aputure fixtures. 2.5. Presets & QuickShots 1.Unlimited local presets. 2.QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups instantly. 3. Advanced Effects Sidus Link App supports: PICKER FX MANUAL MUSIC FX Magic Program Pro/Go Magic Infinity FX 4. Compatibility 1.Sidus Link App supports connection and control of all new Aputure film lights, such as LS 300d II, MC, etc. 2.Legacy Aputure lights will require additional accessories for app connectivity and control.* 3.Supports OTA management – Network firmware and lighting updates for continuous optimization. 5. Sidus On-Set Lighting Workflow On-set workflow management – Create scenes, add devices, and quickly complete lighting setups. Console Workspace Mode – Quickly configure scenes and lighting. Group Management – Fast grouping and control of multiple fixtures. Power Management – Real-time monitoring of battery levels and remaining runtime. Device-Controller Parameter Sync – Instantly retrieve detailed device status and settings. QuickShot Scene Snapshots – Save and recall lighting setups. CC Collaboration Group Workflow Supports multi-user collaboration for controlling and adjusting lighting setups. 6. Sidus Cloud Services Free cloud storage for presets, scenes, and effects (requires compatible hardware/software; existing devices will be supported via firmware updates). CC Collaboration Group Workflow Share lighting networks with group members. Supports quick sharing via temporary verification codes. 7. UX Design Dual UI modes – Precise parameter control & WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Fixture Locator Button – Added to device lists and group management for quick identification. Onboarding guides – Clear instructions on adding/resetting devices.

About

Timecode Gen

This app generates linear timecode (LTC) with support for various frame rates and audio output. It can create audio files with embedded timecode, operate in real-time using the device's current time, and manage cue playlists. It also allows for synchronized start/stop commands between devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Highlights
  • LTC SMPTE timecode generation (PAL, SECAM, 24-30 FPS)
  • Audio file creation with embedded timecode (AAC/.m4a)
  • Real-time generation using device's system time
  • CUE timecode playlist creation and management
  • Synchronized start/stop commands via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
  • Sync TX/RX modes for device command transmission
Read full description

Main Features: - Generate linear timecode support LTC SMPTE PAL SECAM 24, 25, 29.97DF, 30 FPS with audio output. - Creating audio files with timecode in compressed aac/.m4a(44,1kHz) format. - RealTime mode - generation timecode of current system time of device. (supported Sync Mode) - CUE timecode playlist. Can create CUEs with start time and end time.  Creating sequecies with CUE's, using two modes "Auto Play Next" and "Stop At End". - Sync devices with TC app, synchronously start/stop commands with connected nearby devices using Bluetooth or WIFI(on same network). Sync TX mode - Transmitter mode, device send commands to another device with RX mode. Sync RX mode - Reciever mode, device get commands: start, stop, set timecode from TX device. Always welcome for criticism and suggestions: royalblue.dev@gmail.com

Screenshots

Sidus Link4 screens
Timecode Gen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sidus Link at Free against Timecode Gen's $4.99. Sidus Link also leads on ratings volume (626 vs 4). Timecode Gen's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Sidus Link is free to download; Timecode Gen costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Timecode Gen holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidus Link has 626 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Sidus Link's written reviews are positive against 83% of Timecode Gen's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidus Link ships an update every 2 weeks, Timecode Gen every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sidus Link versus Timecode Gen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidus LinkTimecode Gen
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.3 (626 ratings)4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.7% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings626 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size381 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSidus Link Ltd.Anna Koynova

Customer experience

Sidus Link

All ratings626 ratings
Positive82.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews211 reviews
Positive69.7%
Neutral5.7%
Negative24.6%

Timecode Gen

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Sidus Link

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Inability to save/restore light settings
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Artnet support for lighting automation
  • Siri/voice control integration
  • Dedicated desktop/tablet app
  • Improved background operation and reconnection
  • More comprehensive tutorials and documentation

Timecode Gen

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sidus Link

No in-app purchases

None

Timecode Gen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidus Link free?
Sidus Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Timecode Gen free?
Timecode Gen costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidus Link or Timecode Gen?
Timecode Gen is rated higher. Sidus Link averages 4.3 out of 5 from 626 ratings, while Timecode Gen averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Sidus Link or Timecode Gen have ads?
Neither Sidus Link nor Timecode Gen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidus Link or Timecode Gen?
Sidus Link ships an update every 2 weeks, and Timecode Gen every 5 days. Most recently, Sidus Link was updated on August 26, 2026 and Timecode Gen on September 8, 2026.

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