PatchPrinter vs Blackout Next
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PatchPrinter
View your preproduction files on your iOS device without needing hard copies. Easily open and share PatchPrinter files from various sources like email or Airdrop. Navigate between files seamlessly in the organized list.
- View preproduction files
- Open from email attachments
- Open from WhatsApp
- Open via Airdrop
- Easy file switching
- Share files with colleagues
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Open your PatchPrinter (www.PatchPrinter.com) file and have a look at your preproduction without the need of using hardcopies. PatchPrinter for iOS shows all of the information which is available in the PatchPrinter file. You can open your PatchPrinter file from an email attachment, WhatsApp message, Airdrop, etc. Switching between files is easy in the Files list. Here you also can share your PatchPrinter file with your colleagues.
Blackout Next
This professional lighting console app offers an intuitive interface for controlling DMX, Art-Net, and sACN lighting systems. It features a vast cloud fixture database, custom fixture creation, and a robust multi-cuelist platform for organizing lighting looks.
- Cloud Fixture Database
- Custom Fixture Creation
- Intuitive Fixture Controls
- Multi-Cuelist Platform
- Dynamic Effects Engine
- MIDI Support
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Blackout is a revolutionary professional Art-Net/sACN DMX Lighting Console app for the iPad. Redefine your lighting with our incredibly intuitive interface and powerful effects engine. Features: - Cloud Fixture Database: Access over 44,000 fixture profiles licensed from Carallon, the leader in fixture profile services. - Create Custom Fixtures: Utilize our Fixture Creation Wizard to design your own profiles, perfectly matching your specific lighting needs. - Fixture Patching Made Simple: Effortlessly categorize and label LED fixtures with a streamlined Patch interface, ideal for batch management. - Intuitive Fixture Controls: Adjust parameters with ease in Fixture Controls and experience our NEW multi-dimensional color picker. - Robust Multi-Cuelist Platform: Organize and save lighting looks within Sequences, complete with customizable fade times, delays, and links. - Presets for Quick Access: Save and recall fixture parameters instantly, streamlining batch changes across multiple fixtures through our Favorites. - Dynamic Effects Engine: Explore limitless creative possibilities with our advanced Effects Engine, featuring intensity chases, color loops, and more. - Macro Functionality: Simplify complex lighting tasks into single-button actions for maximum efficiency. - Enhanced Data Visibility: Experience our reworked UI with new view states for displaying data in various formats, aiding quicker analysis and decision-making. - Advanced MIDI Support (Input & Output): Gain tactile control over your lighting with MIDI compatibility, suitable for both wired and wireless controllers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PatchPrinter at none against Blackout Next's 1. PatchPrinter also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.5 vs 18.0). Blackout Next's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (21 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. Blackout Next sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PatchPrinter asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PatchPrinter against 5.0 for Blackout Next. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackout Next has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
PatchPrinter ships an update every 3 months, Blackout Next fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PatchPrinter | Blackout Next |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (21 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 21 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.5 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 398 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bart van Stiphout | Blackout Lighting Console LLC |
Customer experience
PatchPrinter
Blackout Next
In-app purchases
PatchPrinter
No in-app purchases
Blackout Next
- Basic Plan$799.99
