EMU – Sound to Light Controller

EMU is a state-of-the-art, intuitive sound-to-light controller for musicians, DJs and live artists. Run automated or responsive DMX light shows with ease, so you can focus on your show.

Start free — subscribe to unlock the full EMU, and own it forever. Yearly subscribers get a perpetual license right away; monthly subscribers earn theirs after 12 months.

Purchase yearly and get 2 months free!

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SKU: 70680

Turn your sound into light.

Designed for musicians, DJs and live artists, EMU is a free, easy-to-use audio to DMX software package that enables you to pre-program your entire light show in advance with its advanced attribute manager 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. Output 1 universe of DMX on the Free version, or upgrade to Premium for up to 8 universes (4,096 control channels) to create 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.

Transform your LED strips and panels into dynamic visual canvases with EMU’s new LED mapping page. Design pixel-mapped light shows visually by arranging your fixtures on a virtual canvas, then watch as animated scenes bring your physical LEDs to life.

Whether you’re working with LED strips in a line, a grid of panels, or custom shapes, EMU’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes setup a breeze. Simply add your fixtures, position them to match your physical installation, and choose from a growing library of animated scenes. Discover EMU LED Mapping.

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 EMU users 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.

And new in v26, EMU lets you import GDTF files directly and build your very own GDTF library. Simply grab a fixture file from gdtf-share.com, head to Patch Page > GDTF Library, and hit Import GDTF.

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 Audio Input 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.

New in v26, define unlimited custom trigger zones with the brand new equalizer UI, and let EMU keep time for you thanks to automatic BPM detection.

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.

PREVIEW – EMU 26.0.1

EMU, Evolved

See what’s new with EMU and
how creating light shows just got better.

Explore the update

EMU v26 — now with perpetual licensing

NEW LICENSING

Own EMU – Two Payment Paths

Pay $100 upfront or $10/month for 12 months.
Both paths lead to a perpetual license you own forever.

Perpetual license requires EMU v26 or later. See what’s new →

Perpetual means forever.

No downgrades. Renewal is only for new updates. Only available on EMU v26 or later.

FAQ

Licensing, explained

Free EMU is a full version of the software limited to 1 universe. It includes Art-Net output, DMX output to ENTTEC USB devices, Sound Tracker, DMX/Art-Net monitoring, GDTF import, and the custom fixture editor. A paid license adds multi-universe output (up to 32 universes), MIDI learn, MIDI clock sync, full VST3 fader mapping (512 faders instead of 16), bank and program change, the full Crescit fixture library with weekly updates, and ongoing software updates while your license is active.

No. EMU is a perpetual license. You own it outright. The monthly option is a 12-month installment plan, not a recurring subscription. After 12 payments, the software is yours forever with no further obligation.

Two reasons. It’s $20 cheaper ($100 instead of $120 total), and you own EMU straight away instead of waiting 12 months. If you know you want EMU, annual is the better deal.

You have a 3-month grace window. This is a total budget, not one single pause. As long as your combined gap time stays under 3 months, your paid months are saved and you pick up where you left off. If your combined gap time goes over 3 months, the clock resets and you start a new 12-month cycle. During any gap, EMU drops to the free tier. Full features come back the moment you resubscribe. The longest a monthly customer can take to earn perpetual is 15 months (12 paid plus 3 grace).

Yes. Each license covers 2 machines (two Hardware IDs). While you’re paying or within your updates entitlement period, you can swap Hardware IDs as often as you need. Once you’re on a perpetual license with no active subscription, each Hardware ID slot can only be changed once. Make sure you’re on the right machines before letting your subscription lapse.

No. Your perpetual license keeps working fully, including offline, with no internet validation. You keep every paid feature you had. You just won’t receive new features, new fixtures, bug fixes, or OS compatibility patches released after your update period ends.

Renewal is optional. Your existing perpetual license keeps working either way. If you do renew, it works like the original purchase. Annual renewal costs $100 and bumps your perpetual version to the current release straight away, with another year of updates. Monthly renewal restarts the $10 per month plan, and your perpetual version bumps to whatever is current after 12 payments.

Your existing subscription keeps working exactly as before, with the same features and updates while it’s active. The perpetual license is a new capability built into the new version of EMU, so it only applies to purchases made under the new model. Past subscription time doesn’t carry over. To earn a perpetual license, install the new version and start a new purchase at the same pricing you already know: $100 annual to own it immediately, or $10 per month to earn it after 12 payments.

COMPARISON

Plans and features

Free

Limited features

Premium

Full features + updates

Perpetual

Full features, no updates

Available universes

1 universe

32 universes

32 universes

Software updates

Art-Net output

DMX output to selected ENTTEC DMX USB Devices

Sound Tracker (sound to light)

Monitor incoming DMX/Art-Net

BPM sync via VTS3

Save Standalone shows onto the DIN Pixie or DMX USB Pro Mk2

Manage ENTTEC USB Devices

Custom fixture editor and GDTF import

Full access to Cresit fixture library

Weekly updates

Full access, no updates

Trigger Bank & Program change from MIDI

Number of Fader mappings from VST3

16 faders

512 faders

512 faders

MIDI clock sync

MIDI CC or Note to Faders mapping

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 the EMU software to create a sound to light show. Getting started couldn’t be easier and you’ll be rocking some spectacular beats and lights in no time!

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.

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!

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!

You can learn how to automate your lights with this online tutorial

System Requirements

Mac

macOS 14 “Sonoma” or later

Dual-core 2 GHz Processor or better

8GB memory

Graphics card with 4GB VRAM or better

Windows

Supports 64Bit variants of: Windows 10/11

Dual-core 2 GHz Processor or better

8GB memory

Graphics card with 4GB VRAM or better

Resources

Latest Release

Download EMU for free to access Preview versions from Settings > Updates page.

Download for free Buy License

Release Versions:

Version # 26.04.17.5

## Build 26.04.17.5

## Added Features & Bug fixes:
- Fixed issue where older Apple silicon macs would crash on startup

Version # 26.04.07.3

## Build 26.04.07.3

## Added Features & Bug fixes:
- Removed Beta tag for mapping production release

Version # 25.11.13.10

## Build 25.11.13.10

## Added Features & Bug fixes:
- Added MIDI event logging: all MIDI events are now visible in the MIDI tab for easier monitoring and debugging.

Version 26.420.5-preview

Reliability and polish across the Updates tab, saving, feedback, and first-launch dialogs.

Improved

  • Renamed the "Beta" update channel to "Preview" throughout the app. Your current channel choice is kept automatically — nothing to do.
  • Cleaner Updates tab — release notes now focus on New, Improved, and Fixed items, with no extra sections cluttering the view.
  • Refreshed the legacy-install migration dialog with a cleaner layout and two clear choices: "Remind Me Later" and "Remove Old Version".

Fixed

  • Ctrl+C in any text field no longer crashes EMU. Clipboard copy/paste works correctly throughout the app.
  • Oscillators could lose their assigned faders after saving and reopening a show. Your mappings are now preserved across save and reload.
  • Updates tab now shows only the release notes for your selected update channel. Previously entries from every channel were listed together.
  • Feedback dialog's description field now starts at the top of the box as expected, rather than floating in the middle.

Version 26.419.1-preview

Major Attribute Manager and Patch Page Overhaul

New

  • Updated UI
  • Perpetual Licensing
    • Yearly subscription now grants perpetual license and one year of updates
    • Monthly subscription now grants perpetual license after 12 consecutive months of subscription
  • Attribute Manager Enhancements
    • Color Picker now supports Cyan, Magenta, UV, Lime and Amber
    • Added missing fixture attributes from attribute manager
    • Gobo wheel with gobo images
    • Prism and Animation wheels with images when they are available
  • Patch Page UI
    • New and improved UI for patch page, with better UI have devices bindings over multiple universes
    • Drag device directly onto universe patch to patch all available universes
    • Create your own layout with dockable groups
  • GDTF Library
    • Import GDTF files directly into EMU and build a GDTF library
  • Audio Interface
    • Define unlimited amount of custom trigger zones
    • Equalizer UI to easily define trigger zones
    • Automatic BPM detection
  • Installer and Release Notes UI
    • Popup notification on major updates
    • Structured release notes in Settings with expandable versions
    • In-app updates for seamless updating

Improved

  • When adding a new fixture, defaults are loaded properly
  • Scene parameters on mapping page can directly have Oscillators and Audio effects applied to them
  • Fixtures without dimmer channels now have virtual intensity
  • Mapping scene selection now saves view choice between tile and list
  • USB device discovery performance improvements, now usb devices don't need rescan to be discovered
  • Fixture selection correctly propagates through the app
  • Performance improvements to fixture lookup and searching
  • Duplicating a fixture, places it in the next available address from the selected fixture
  • MIDI learn attribute manager without having to have fixtures selected
  • ENTTEC USB devices will automatically notify when there is a firmware update available

Fixed

  • Restoring attribute manager UI would restore the wrong channels
  • Inverted channels would revert when selecting non inverted channel
  • Snapping to points on the Mapping page which would collapse all selected points to the snap target

EMU User Manual


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)

Account & Licence Management Policy

Hear about latest EMU updates and releases

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