Blackout Next (Legacy) vs TheLightingController
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blackout Next (Legacy)
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.
TheLightingController
Design impressive light shows for your DMX lighting equipment. This mobile application is specifically built to function with the DMX interface "D1024W".
- Create lightshows
- DMX lighting control
- Works with D1024W interface
- Mobile lighting design
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Create stunning lightshows for your DMX lighting equipment with this powerful mobile app. This application is designed to work exclusively with the DMX interface “D1024W”. Learn more about the interface here: https://forum2.thelightingcontroller.com/viewtopic.php?t=172
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Blackout Next (Legacy) at 5.0 against TheLightingController's 1.0. Blackout Next (Legacy) also leads on ratings volume (21 vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). TheLightingController's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support 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
Both are free to download. Blackout Next (Legacy) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TheLightingController asks for nothing beyond the download.
Blackout Next (Legacy) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackout Next (Legacy) has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Blackout Next (Legacy) ships an update fortnightly, TheLightingController every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blackout Next (Legacy) | TheLightingController |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (21 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 21 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 359 MB | 102 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blackout Lighting Console Inc. | The Lighting Controller |
Customer experience
Blackout Next (Legacy)
TheLightingController
In-app purchases
Blackout Next (Legacy)
- Basic Plan$799.99
TheLightingController
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Blackout Next (Legacy) free?
Is TheLightingController free?
Which has better reviews, Blackout Next (Legacy) or TheLightingController?
Do Blackout Next (Legacy) or TheLightingController have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blackout Next (Legacy) or TheLightingController?
Other comparisons
