Download HitLight for Mac
The HitLight download requires an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later) running macOS 14 or later; there is no Intel Mac build. HitLight is in beta, with Venue / Install included and no credit card required. The native app outputs DMX to lighting hardware. The browser app supports authoring and 3D rehearsal on other platforms.
What do you get when you download HitLight?
You get three clients that share one show over the same account. The HitLight Mac app runs the engine and drives your rig. The browser app patches fixtures, builds scenes and visualises them on a 3D stage from any computer. The iOS remote fires cues from your pocket. Only the Mac app outputs DMX.
| Client | Requires | Outputs DMX? | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac app | Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS 14 or later | Yes — over USB, Art-Net or sACN. | The native macOS app is the only HitLight client that outputs DMX to real lighting hardware. It runs the engine, drives the rig, and hosts Auto Show. |
| Browser app | Any modern browser | No — authoring, 3D visualisation and remote control only. | The browser app patches fixtures, builds scenes, visualises the rig on a 3D stage and acts as a remote for a Mac that is connected to the hardware. The HitLight browser app cannot output DMX. |
| iOS remote | iPhone or iPad, via TestFlight | No — authoring, 3D visualisation and remote control only. | The iOS app is a remote: it follows show and Auto Show status, fires cues and virtual-console widgets, and can issue Stop or Blackout. It does not output DMX. |
The three stay in sync, so a show you build in the browser on a train is ready to go live the moment you open it on the Mac that is plugged into the rig.
What do you need to run HitLight?
Physical output requires the native app on macOS 14 or later and a supported DMX interface. You can patch and rehearse a show in the browser's 3D stage without lighting hardware.
- An Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later) on macOS 14+. HitLight does not run on Windows and there is no Linux build.
- HitLight Auto Show can follow room audio through the Mac's microphone or analyse and play locally imported MP3 and WAV recordings in Files mode. There is no direct DJ-software integration.
- A DMX interface, if you want real light. ENTTEC Open DMX USB, the ENTTEC DMX USB Pro, or any Art-Net or sACN node — see supported hardware. HitLight does not sell a dongle. Every account includes Venue / Install during the beta. After beta, Hobby / Student includes one full DMX universe (512 DMX channels); Pro unlocks multi-universe, Art-Net and sACN output without per-universe add-ons.
- HitLight requires internet for account sync, collaboration and the AI assistant. For local file performances, prepare a rig for offline use while online, then open its saved Offline performance on the same Mac. Local recordings and the prepared rig remain private to that Mac.
Where do you download HitLight?
Download the Mac beta directly from the link below; it arrives as a disk image you drag into Applications. The iOS remote is distributed through TestFlight and needs the Mac app to control anything. Every earlier build, with what changed in each, is listed on releases.
There is nothing to download for the browser app. It opens at app.hitlight.app and is the right place to start if you want to patch a rig and see it in 3D before buying an interface.
Is HitLight safe to install?
HitLight builds are Apple Developer ID signed and notarised by Apple, so macOS opens the app without the unidentified-developer warning. Updates are verified against a public key committed in the repository, which means a rotated signing key cannot quietly push you a build. Two things the app guarantees once it is running:
- A frozen app latches DMX output off until you restore it. A native watchdog running outside the interface latches DMX output to an all-zero frame within two seconds if the app stops responding. Output stays down until an operator explicitly restores it.
- Signed, notarised, and updated over a pinned key. Builds are Apple Developer ID signed and notarised. Updates are verified against a public key committed in the repository, so a rotated key cannot silently push you a build.
None of that makes your rig safe — that is still addressing, rigging, electrical work and a trained operator who can black the room out. Lighting safety covers what automatic control refuses to touch and why.
What does HitLight cost to download?
HitLight is in beta. Every account includes Venue / Install at no cost during the beta, with no credit card required. After beta, Hobby / Student stays free for non-commercial use. Pro costs USD 19 per month or USD 149 per year. Venue / Install costs USD 999 per site per year. Assistant usage is capped while we validate cost. Free DMX software for Mac explains what the beta includes and how pricing changes afterward.
What can HitLight not do?
HitLight does not run on Windows, has no Linux build, and cannot output DMX from the browser on any platform. It is public beta software, so features, quotas, file formats and availability may change, and it ships without an uptime guarantee. The full list, including what Auto Show will not drive, is on what HitLight cannot do — worth two minutes before you download anything.
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Try it on your own rig
Patch your fixtures, describe the look you want, and watch it on the 3D stage before you connect anything.
HitLight is in beta. Every account includes Venue / Install at no cost during the beta, with no credit card required. After beta, Hobby / Student stays free for non-commercial use. Pro costs USD 19 per month or USD 149 per year. Venue / Install costs USD 999 per site per year. Requires macOS 14 or later for hardware output.