Comparison

Mrmr OSC controller vs Photon 2

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

Head to head
About

Mrmr OSC controller

Transform your mobile device into a versatile controller for live installations, multimedia performances, and interactive exhibits. Create custom interfaces with a text editor and utilize open standards for seamless integration with VJ/DJ software and other multimedia tools.

Highlights
  • Custom interface creation via text editor
  • Multiuser support
  • Client peer-to-peer or client-server models
  • Open standards (zeroconfig, OSC)
  • Dynamic, reconfigurable widgets
  • OSC controller for VJ/DJ software
Features
Read full description

Mrmr (http://ecumedesjours.com/Mrmr/) is an ongoing research project to develop a standardized set of protocols and syntax conventions to control live installations and multimedia performances via mobile devices. The project was begun by Eric Redlinger, then researcher-in-residence at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU's experimental media center. Mrmr enables you to use ordinary cell phones and tablets as controllers in audio-visual performances, or to participate in interactive museum exhibits, or to use your mobile device in the place of the mouse or trackpad from your full-size computer. It also makes a great, free OSC controller for Max/MSP, VDMX and other VJ/DJ software. Key elements of the Mrmr project are: • create your own interfaces using only a text editor • multiuser by design / client peer-to-peer or client-server models supported • open standards (zeroconfig/bonjour/mdns, OSC) • dynamic interfaces: widgets can be reconfigured 'on the fly'

About

Photon 2

This app provides a professional lighting console for controlling DMX and Philips Hue devices wirelessly. It allows users to create custom interfaces, manage lights, and synchronize effects to music for live events, performances, and filmmaking.

Highlights
  • Wireless Art-Net/sACN DMX control
  • Philips Hue Entertainment integration
  • Customizable user interface
  • Scene and sequence creation
  • Beat synchronization to music
  • MIDI controller support
Features
Read full description

Let's create your show with Photon 2. The next generation of professional DMX & Philips Hue lighting console has been rebuilt from the ground up for a better live experience. User-friendly and customizable, Photon 2 is perfect for musicians, nightclubs, live events, filmmakers, theater, stages… ◈ Wireless (Art-Net or sACN through WIFI) and ready to use, Photon reinvents the way to control DMX devices & Philips Hue*** with its single interface for all your lights. ◈ Create presets, combine them in sequences and synchronize your lights to music. Our beat tracker listens and animates your devices to the music rhythm. Live events will have no more secret for you. ◈ Want to turn your iPad into a real elegant personalized lighting control platform? The app features ground-breaking concepts that let you create your own user interface designed to make tasks practical and more intuitive. Connect external MIDI controllers like keyboards, pads, timecoders or others apps/softwares to control your fixtures. FEATURES (FREE VERSION) - 16 DMX channels - Multi-touch interface designed and optimized for iPad - Light group management. Link multiple lights together to perform the same action (colors, positions, brightness...) - Supports advanced controls (gobos/fog machine, focus) - Scene management: create presets, animate them in sequences - Create your dashboard and organize it as you wish - Art-Net/sACN/DMX channel monitor - Art-Net/sACN in multicast or unicast - Philips Hue Entertainment connection*** - Database with hundreds of pre-configured devices (fixtures) - Fixture creator to configure your devices STARTER (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) - 128 DMX channels - Create as many buttons (widgets) on your dashboard as you want - Enjoy the power of automatic BeatTracker and sync your lights to live music - Ableton Link support: sync your lights with your favorite DJ app or musical instruments - Background operation mode (Live Mode) PHOTON+ (SUBSCRIPTION) Everything in Starter included, plus: - 512 DMX channels (full universe) - Multi-Dashboard: create multiple dashboards to organize your widgets by lighting type, zone, or function. Swipe between them instantly during live performance - MIDI inputs: control dashboard buttons/faders with physical MIDI controllers (pads) or virtual ones (apps) - All next features on going * Requires an Art-Net to DMX bridge. Photon relies on Open Lighting Architecture (Open Lighting Project). *** Philips Hue Entertainment requires a Hue v2 or Pro bridge.

Screenshots

Mrmr OSC controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mrmr OSC controller at none against Photon 2's 5. Mrmr OSC controller also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). Photon 2's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (81% vs 59%). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Photon 2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. Mrmr OSC controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Photon 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photon 2 has 72 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Mrmr OSC controller's written reviews are positive against 81% of Photon 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mrmr OSC controller ships an update every 2 months, Photon 2 every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Mrmr OSC controller versus Photon 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMrmr OSC controllerPhoton 2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings)4.5 (72 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.1% of reviews80.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings572 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer10base-t InteractivePhoton Studio

Customer experience

Mrmr OSC controller

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive59.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative36.4%

Photon 2

All ratings66 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral1.5%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative15.4%

In-app purchases

None

Mrmr OSC controller

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Photon 2

Subscriptions2
  • Photon+ Founder$29.991 Year
  • Photon+$59.991 Year
One-time3
  • Starter Plan$44.99
  • Pro Plan$64.99
  • Pro Plan$79.99

Questions

Is Mrmr OSC controller free?
Mrmr OSC controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Photon 2 free?
Photon 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mrmr OSC controller or Photon 2?
Photon 2 is rated higher. Mrmr OSC controller averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Photon 2 averages 4.5 from 72 ratings.
Do Mrmr OSC controller or Photon 2 have ads?
Neither Mrmr OSC controller nor Photon 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mrmr OSC controller or Photon 2?
Mrmr OSC controller ships an update every 2 months, and Photon 2 every 5 weeks. Most recently, Mrmr OSC controller was updated on September 17, 2026 and Photon 2 on September 17, 2026.

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