MagicQ Remote Control vs Blackout Next (Legacy)
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MagicQ Remote Control
Control your ChamSys lighting console remotely. Adjust focus, color, and test your rig. Edit and update lighting cues, palettes, and groups directly from your device.
- Remote control for MagicQ consoles
- Pan and tilt focusing controls
- Rainbow color picker
- Execute Window for rig testing
- Edit and update palettes, groups, and cues
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ChamSys Ltd MagicQ Remote Control ChamSys MagicQ systems provide leading edge control of stage lighting, LED pixelmapping and media systems. The MagicQ Remote enables remote control of MagicQ systems including MagicQ consoles and MagicQ PC Wing solutions. MagicQ Remote supports focusing with pan and tilt controls, colour adjustment using the rainbow colour picker and rig testing through the unique MagicQ Execute Window. Palettes, Groups and Cues can be edited and updated. ChamSys MagicQ software supports up to 102,400 channels (200 DMX universes) and is available to download and use for free from ChamSys website www.chamsys.co.uk. For instructions please use the in app link to the manual; go to Connection, Help and tap the Open Manual button. For bug reports, please submit them to our bugtracker: https://secure.chamsys.co.uk/bugtracker/
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.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Blackout Next (Legacy) at 5.0 against MagicQ Remote Control's 4.3. Blackout Next (Legacy) also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). MagicQ Remote Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume 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 (Legacy) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MagicQ Remote Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
Blackout Next (Legacy) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of MagicQ Remote Control's written reviews are positive against 100% of Blackout Next (Legacy)'s.
MagicQ Remote Control ships an update every 3 months, Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MagicQ Remote Control | Blackout Next (Legacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (21 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 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 | 14.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 359 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ChamSys Ltd | Blackout Lighting Console Inc. |
Customer experience
MagicQ Remote Control
Blackout Next (Legacy)
In-app purchases
MagicQ Remote Control
No in-app purchases
Blackout Next (Legacy)
- Basic Plan$799.99
Questions
Is MagicQ Remote Control free?
Is Blackout Next (Legacy) free?
Which has better reviews, MagicQ Remote Control or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Do MagicQ Remote Control or Blackout Next (Legacy) have ads?
Which is updated more often, MagicQ Remote Control or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
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