Comparison

ETC Library vs Blackout Next (Legacy)

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

Head to head
About

ETC Library

Access technical documentation for a wide range of products. Browse and share datasheets, application sheets, and brochures organized by product family. This virtual binder provides quick access to essential product information.

Highlights
  • Access to hundreds of technical documents
  • Organized by product family and category
  • View datasheets, application sheets, and brochures
  • Easy document sharing
  • Offline access to downloaded documents
Features
Read full description

ETC Library gives you quick and easy access to ETC’s technical documentation. This virtual binder lets you view, share datasheets, application sheets, brochures and more for all of ETC’s products – anytime, anywhere. Key features • Access to hundreds of documents, including all ETC datasheets • Material organized by product family and category for easy browsing • Share documents easily (Please note: This application intended to deliver basic technical information about ETC’s products and product families. If you are searching for more information than what is provided in this app, please visit www.etcconnect.com.)

About

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.

Highlights
  • Cloud Fixture Database
  • Custom Fixture Creation
  • Intuitive Fixture Controls
  • Multi-Cuelist Platform
  • Dynamic Effects Engine
  • MIDI Support
Read full description

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

ETC Library4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Blackout Next (Legacy) at 100% against ETC Library's 0%. Blackout Next (Legacy) also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). ETC Library'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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Blackout Next (Legacy) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ETC Library asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blackout Next (Legacy) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackout Next (Legacy) has 21 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of ETC Library's written reviews are positive against 100% of Blackout Next (Legacy)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ETC Library ships an update every 3 months, Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ETC Library versus Blackout Next (Legacy): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterETC LibraryBlackout Next (Legacy)
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (4 ratings)5.0 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings421 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS17 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB359 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElectronic Theatre Controls, Inc.Blackout Lighting Console Inc.

Customer experience

ETC Library

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Blackout Next (Legacy)

All ratings21 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ETC Library

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Blackout Next (Legacy)

One-time1
  • Basic Plan$799.99

Questions

Is ETC Library free?
ETC Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blackout Next (Legacy) free?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ETC Library or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is rated higher. ETC Library averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Blackout Next (Legacy) averages 5.0 from 21 ratings.
Do ETC Library or Blackout Next (Legacy) have ads?
Neither ETC Library nor Blackout Next (Legacy) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ETC Library or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
ETC Library ships an update every 3 months, and Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. Most recently, ETC Library was updated on October 24, 2026 and Blackout Next (Legacy) on October 16, 2026.

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