ShowBuddy Alternative

A ShowBuddy alternative that costs less and does more

ShowBuddy Setlist is a solid backing track app. But to get full show control — DMX lighting, OSC, video — you also need Show Buddy Active, a separate license. The two together cost $318 minimum. Velvet Show does everything in one app for €59 (≈ $66, launch price, then €79).

Price comparison

Feature comparison

Feature	Velvet Show	SB Setlist	SB Active
Backing tracks & setlists	✓	✓	—
Lyrics on timeline	✓	✓	—
MIDI cues on timeline	✓	✓	✓
OSC output (native)	✓	—	receives only
MaestroDMX direct integration	✓	—	—
Import MaestroDMX cue list	✓	—	—
iPhone/iPad remote (native App)	✓ Free	—	TouchOSC required
iPad lyrics prompter	✓	—	—
Stage screen output	✓	—	—
Apple Silicon native	✓	Rosetta (DMXIS)	✓
macOS / Windows	macOS	Both	Both
Number of apps needed	1	2	2
Price	€59 (≈ $66) launch	$119	$199–$499

The key differences

• One app vs two. ShowBuddy Setlist handles your tracks and lyrics. Show Buddy Active handles your lights. You need both — that's $318 minimum, two separate windows to manage live.
• OSC output. Velvet Show sends OSC natively to MaestroDMX and any network-connected system. ShowBuddy Active can receive OSC (via TouchOSC) but doesn't send it.
• MaestroDMX integration. Velvet Show connects directly to MaestroDMX — import your cue list, trigger scenes via MIDI or OSC, control Master Brightness. No equivalent in ShowBuddy.
• iPhone remote. Velvet Remote is a free native iOS app that connects to Velvet Show over your local WiFi. ShowBuddy Active requires a third-party app like TouchOSC for wireless control.
• Price. Velvet Show is €59 (≈ $66) for everything — launch price, then €79. ShowBuddy Setlist + Active starts at $318.

What ShowBuddy does better

To be fair: Show Buddy Active has more advanced DMX capabilities — multiple universes, video output, a full fixture editor and a 2D visualizer. If you have a complex professional lighting rig and need deep DMX programming, Show Buddy Active is more powerful on the lighting side.

Velvet Show is the better choice if you want everything — backing tracks, lyrics, MIDI, OSC, lighting automation and iPhone remote — in one app at €59 (≈ $66, launch price), without managing two separate pieces of software on stage.

Migration from ShowBuddy

Your audio files are your audio files. Import them into Velvet Show directly. Rebuild your setlists in a few minutes. No lock-in, no subscription, no data export needed.