Club or bar
BothEMU suits reactive performance lighting; Relackout adds built-in music and venue operation.
Relackout vs EMU
EMU is desktop lighting software with audio-reactive effects and daw plug-in control.
Feature comparison
Free tier available. Official US product pricing: $99 upfront/year gives a perpetual licence immediately; $9.95/month earns one after 12 payments ($119.40). Both renew for updates until disabled; the retained version continues working after its update entitlement ends. [1]
| Feature | Relackout | EMU |
|---|---|---|
| DMX output & fixtures | ||
| Art-Net output | Supported Choose which universes are broadcast | |
| sACN (E1.31) output | Supported Built in | |
| USB DMX interfaces | Supported ENTTEC Open DMX USB and compatibles, several at once, one universe each | |
| Fixture library & custom fixtures | Supported Open Fixture Library import plus your own fixtures | |
| Smart Wi-Fi lights as fixtures | Coming soon Tuya smart lights | Unverified |
| Programming | ||
| Scenes / looks | Supported Fade in/out per scene, layered playback | |
| Cue lists / chases | Supported Loop, one-shot and manual GO modes with per-step fade and delay | |
| Effects engine | Supported Effect wizard with beat-locked timing | |
| Show timeline with audio | Supported Scenes and cues programmed on the song's waveform | |
| 3D stage preview | Supported Live 3D stage view in a separate window | |
| Show & production notes | Supported Multi-page notes per show | Unverified |
| Audio & music | ||
| Music playback & playlists | Supported Music library, playlists and master audio in the same app | |
| Sound-reactive lighting | Supported From the music playing or a mic/line-in, with presets | |
| BPM, tap tempo & MIDI clock | Supported Tap, presets, manual entry and MIDI clock | |
| Cues & fades follow live tempo | Supported BPM Mode scales cue timing and scene fades | |
| Live control | ||
| Custom touch mixer designer | Supported Design your own faders and buttons | Unverified |
| Phone/tablet remote | Supported Any browser on the local network, PIN protected, no app to install | Unverified |
| MIDI control & feedback | Supported Learnable mappings plus LED feedback | |
| OSC control | Supported Built-in OSC server | |
| Guided first-show setup | Supported Step-by-step from patch to live | Unverified |
| Venues & workspaces | ||
| Separate setups per venue | Supported Workspaces: own patch, scenes, cues, mixers per venue | |
| Copy between setups | Supported Copy wizard with patch mapping | Unverified |
| Output settings per venue | Supported Art-Net, sACN, USB DMX, OSC, MIDI feedback and remote per workspace | |
| Export & move a setup | Supported Single-file workspace export/import | |
| Platform & licensing | ||
| macOS | Supported Apple Silicon and Intel | |
| Windows | Supported Windows 10/11 | |
| Linux | Supported x64 and ARM64 (AppImage, .deb) | |
| Monthly, yearly or lifetime licence | Supported All three, you choose | |
| Full free trial | Supported 14 days, Standard features, real DMX output | |
Where Relackout leads
- Build song lighting and play audio in Relackout without a separate DAW.
- Use Relackout's built-in 3D stage preview rather than a 2D mapping canvas.
- Use built-in MIDI mapping and feedback without a Premium MIDI upgrade.
- Run Relackout on Linux as well as macOS and Windows.
Where EMU is strong
- DAW plug-ins link lighting automation directly to music production.
- Free-tier output and audio-reactive tools offer an inexpensive entry point.
Which fits your show?
DJ set
BothChoose EMU for DAW automation or Relackout for an integrated song-lighting timeline.
Theatre
RelackoutRelackout combines small-show cues, production notes and stage preview.
House of worship
BothEMU fits band/DAW workflows; Relackout fits teams wanting audio and lighting in one app.
Events venue
RelackoutRelackout offers venue Workspaces and custom operator surfaces.
Touring / large rig
BothNeither performer-focused desktop workflow automatically replaces a large touring console.
Switching guide
| In EMU | In Relackout |
|---|---|
| Fixture patch and GDTF/custom definitions | Recreate Patch & Fixture Setup using OFL definitions or custom fixtures. |
| Programs and Banks | Rebuild looks in Scene Designer and sequences in Cue lists. |
| Oscillators and Sound Tracker | Recreate effects in Effect Wizard and Sound-to-Light. |
| VST3/AU automation | Place lighting events against music in Show Timeline. |
| Shows and controller mappings | Create venue Workspaces, then configure MIDI and Mixer Designer controls. |
What carries over
Use your fixture addresses, channel modes, cue order and design notes as references for manual setup.
What to rebuild
Relackout does not import EMU show files. Rebuild looks, timing and controls; only fixture definitions in Open Fixture Library format can be imported.
Frequently asked questions
Is EMU now subscription-only?
No. The current official pricing offers perpetual ownership immediately with the annual payment or after 12 monthly payments. Renewals maintain update access.
Can Relackout import .emu or GDTF files?
No such imports are supported by the comparison contract. Rebuild EMU shows and obtain OFL fixture definitions or create fixtures manually.
Which is better when the DAW already runs the show?
EMU's plug-in workflow is a clear strength. Relackout is attractive when you want music playback and lighting events together inside the lighting app.
Sources
Checked on September 25, 2026
- EMU current features and US pricing Checked on September 25, 2026
- EMU user manual Checked on September 25, 2026
- EMU perpetual licensing terms Checked on September 25, 2026
- EMU 26 release notes: dockable groups and show output restoration Checked on September 25, 2026
- ENTTEC software comparison: EMU control interfaces Checked on September 25, 2026