EMU – Sound to Light Controller
EMU (DMXIS’s next generation) is a state-of-the-art, intuitive sound-to-light controller designed for professional live musicians and DJs. Easy to use software, EMU allows you to run automated or responsive DMX light shows, leaving you to focus on your show!
Purchase yearly and get 2 months free!
Turn your sound into light.
DMXIS’s next generation, designed for musicians, DJs and live artists, EMU is an easy-to-use audio to DMX software package that enables you to pre-program your entire light show in advance with its advanced attribute selector and visual lighting control interface, so you can concentrate on your live performance instead.
Simply step through the light show manually using EMU’s clean, intuitive interface. Use MIDI notes, or EMU’s VST3 plugin to trigger your lighting states as part of your DAW playback. You’ll be able to output up to 8 universes of DMX (4,096 control channels) to create some incredible effects as your bespoke light show automatically synchronizes to your performance, even if you change tempo live.
It’ll change the way your audiences see you forever!
Designed with live performances in mind, EMU’s hardware-style user interface is quick to learn and easy to use. EMU’s intuitive, tempo-based approach allows for the synchronisation of lighting and music with oscillators in real time.
With features such as lock, invert and duplicate along with a number of handy keyboard shortcuts, building your show is a breeze. Create static looks, dynamic chases & moving effects using virtual sliders to control each light’s parameters.
Thanks to its ‘bank and program’-based logic to store each look, EMU makes it familiar and easy for musicians to enter the world of lighting control without a steep learning curve.
All controls have large clickable areas, perfect for use with touchscreens.
Whether you want to control LED washes, moving heads, dimmer packs, smoke machines, scanners, moonflowers… You name it, you can control them using EMU’s DMX or Art-Net output.
ENTTEC has partnered with Crescit to give all subscribed users EMU a leading fixture library that receives regular updates. Crescit is a company with a background in developing software to help professional lighting designers research, compile, manage and share production information. They endeavour to add all known fixtures to their database.
With Crescit’s vast fixture library integrated into EMU, this makes laboriously creating custom fixture profiles to control your equipment a thing of the past.
If you find your fixture is missing from EMU’s library – simply add a request using the EMU forum with information for a member of the team to get it added.
Note: All unsubscribed users have access to the generic & ENTTEC fixture library.
EMU’s MIDI learn functionality allows for its controls to be either mapped to physical MIDI control hardware or software applications using a virtual MIDI loopback adaptor. When EMU has been linked to a MIDI input, toggling between the previous or next program or bank with external software is easy.
EMU even features the ability to view incoming MIDI Events to help you troubleshoot your configuration!
For users that want more direct control over every attribute in their show, EMU supports 1:1 fader mapping to an external MIDI; control level in real time for precise detail.
For Premium subscribers, control up to 8 universes (4,096 control channels) of Art-Net output using compatible controllers (Art-Net to DMX/SPI). This provides the extra capacity to create complex and extensive lighting setups.
EMU offers a Windows 32-bit or macOS 64-bit VST plugin capable of syncing the master playback state from your favourite DAW with the main EMU application, controlling program and bank changes directly from your DAW.
For users that want precise control over every attribute in their show, EMU allows for individual faders to be mapped 1:1 to the VST3 plugin to control every last detail.
Tempo is automatically synced from your DAW to EMU using the VST plugin, allowing those taking advantage of EMU’s inbuilt oscillators to ensure that all effects are in sync with the tempo even if it’s being changed live. EMU will care of everything, allowing you to concentrate on the show itself.
EMU’s Sound Tracker functionality allows you to set your lights to react directly to live audio. Define audio reactivity in certain programs by taking an audio input from a soundcard, microphone or virtual loopback adapter to accentuate and give particular elements of your show an even greater impact.
Filter by frequency band, simply set a default level and an attack/release time for each individual fader – then you’re away!
For those taking advantage of EMU’s inbuilt oscillators, use MIDI clock or use tap tempo through MIDI CC or a to set the global speed and synchronise all show file oscillators effortlessly in real time.
EMU is more than just a great accompaniment for live performance.
Use it to monitor incoming Art-Net data from 3rd party sources, or determine what Art-Net devices are on your network. Monitor the Art-Net output from EMU.
Let’s Get Stuck In!
Here, we’ll focus on a simple DJ setup by way of an introduction.
Join ENTTEC electrical engineer and Melbourne-based DJ and producer Jordan (aka Daggers) as he takes us step-by-step through how to configure your audio hardware and lighting fixtures with EMU sound to light controller software to create a sound to light show. Upgrading from DMXIS couldn’t be easier and you’ll be rocking some spectacular beats and lights in no time!
What’s New?
BETA RELEASE
LED Mapping
Create stunning light shows that sync with your music in real-time.
Design visually, control intuitively, and watch your performance come alive in light.
BETA RELEASE
LED Mapping
Create stunning light shows that sync with your music in real-time. Design visually, control intuitively, and watch your performance come alive in light.
Visual design interface
Auto-sync with your music
Adjust instantly live
Three-Step Simplicity
Set It. Map It. Rock It.
1
Define Your Space
This could be your setup. Add your LED strips and arrange them on the canvas. Drag-&-drop to position them exactly where they live in your physical setup.
2
Paint Your Vision
Choose from the growing scene library with more than 20+ customizable parameters. Select a scene and watch it play seamlessly on the EMU canvas.
3
Hit Play
Watch your lighting come alive in real-time on your physical LEDs as you work. Adjust scene parameters with faders and customize effects instantly on the fly.
Powerful New Features
Professional-grade tools for musicians and lighting designers
8 Universes of LED Mapping
Control hundreds of LED pixels across 8 universes for large-scale installations. Scale as big as you dream.
Map Any Fixture
Works with any DMX fixture – strips, panels & custom shapes. Your gear, your way.
Dynamic Scene Control
Save the same scene across programs with different parameters for smooth transitions. Real-time performance power.
Custom Shader Editor
Import your own visual effects using the built-in ISF shader editor. Unleash unlimited effects.
Sound-Reactive Control
Map scene parameters to VST or MIDI controllers. Control shader values with DAW automation or live hardware for dynamic sound-driven effects.
Precision Alignment
Snap-to-grid, color coding, and shortcuts make setup fast and precise. Professional results, faster.
Ready to Transform Your Light Show?
Download the beta and be among the first to experience EMU LED Mapping
What else do I need?
A hardware interface
You’ll need a DMX > USB interface in order to connect lights to your computer, and while there are many flexible output options available to do that, none is better suited or easier to use than ENTTEC’s official EMU hardware interface.
This lightweight, compact and portable device is the only interface engineered specifically to deliver optimum results when used in conjunction with EMU software.
Its dual XLR ports (3-pin and 5-pin) can output a combined single universe (512 channels) of DMX control, while its Ethernet port can send up to 8 universes for EMU software subscribers when used in conjunction with our ODE MK3 interfaces. Our EMU hardware is also the only interface available that will give you a phono jack for triggering your shows in real-time via MIDI or a simple footswitch.
What’s more, purchasing the EMU hardware will also score you one year’s FREE Premium EMU subscription so you can take advantage of literally every feature and benefit that EMU has to offer. After your free year, you’ll additionally receive a 30% subscription discount for life, so it makes for an awesome bundle.
Alternatively, if you want to get going in a hurry and already have an ENTTEC DMX USB Pro, you can indeed use this with EMU. The same goes for the ODE MK3, handy of course if you want to expand your setup over a network. And even your old DMXIS breakout box will do the trick!
In the meantime, do check out the official ENTTEC EMU hardware interface, and discover for yourself how it can help bring you and your audiences the complete EMU experience.
Lights!
Similarly to DMXIS, you’re going to need some light fixtures as well. Whether you want to use LED strips, PAR cans, moving head fixtures or anything else you can dream of, any DMX fixture by any manufacturer will work with EMU. ENTTEC offer an array of, LED pixel strip options, you might want to check some of these out too while you’re shopping …
Goose the Drummer uses EMU to control his lights!
Watch how he uses EMU and Ableton to create this amazing show!
System Requirements
Mac
macOS 10.15 “Catalina” or later, Dual core 2 GHz Processor or better, 4GB memory, 1024×768 display (min.).
Windows
Supports 64Bit variants of: Windows 8/ Windows 8.1 / Windows 10 / Windows 11 Dual core 2 GHz Processor or better, 4GB memory, 1024×768 display (min.).
Resources
Latest Release
Beta Version is available from updates page in EMU Software once downloaded
Release Versions:
Version # 25.10.30.6
## Build 25.10.30.6 ## Added Features & Bug fixes: - Added option to bind MIDI events to programs for fast switching between programs. Try it with MIDI learn button.
Version # 25.10.14.5
## Build 25.10.14.5 ## Added Features & Bug fixes: - Fixed an issue that could cause show state corruption when switching between programs too quickly.
Version # 25.09.30.13
## Build 25.09.30.13 ## Added Features & Bug fixes: - Improved startup time: EMU no longer loads all shows at launch — it now loads a show from storage only when you switch to it. - Fixed bug where EMU sometimes started with the first show instead of the last used one.
How do I get support or request a fixture file?
For EMU support or getting a fixture added to the Crescit library, visit our user forum.
When raising a request or reporting a suspected bug, include as much relevant information as possible. In addition to adding your desired outcome. This will allow the community to understand and replicate exactly what you’re facing. The clearer this information is, the faster a resolution can be found. We encourage you include the following wherever possible:
Screengrabs // Screen recordings // Photos // Videos
– EMU log file (found at ‘/Documents/EMU/Logs’ on Windows or ‘/Users/{UserName}/EMU/logs’ on macOS)
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