Philips Hue music sync and effects without a Sync Box
Make your lights react to music, or run candle and fireplace effects, using just your Hue Bridge and the app. No extra hardware.
What a Sync Box does, and what this app does
Signify's HDMI Sync Box sits between your video sources and your TV and matches your lights to what's on screen. It's the right tool if you want lights that follow the picture of a film or game.
HueCommand does not sync to video or screen content. It reacts to sound, picked up by your device's microphone, and it can run animated effects. Music, parties and atmosphere need no extra hardware, only your Bridge.
Music Reactive (free)
Choose a room in the Effects tab and turn on Music Reactive. The app splits incoming sound into bass, mids and highs and maps them to the colors of your lights, so beats and changes in the music show up in the room.
- Works with any color-capable Hue lights in the room you pick
- A sensitivity control (0.5 to 3.0) adjusts it for quiet or loud rooms
- On iPhone you can keep playing music from the same phone while it listens
- Audio is analysed on your device. Nothing is recorded, stored or uploaded
Music Reactive needs the app open in the foreground. It stops when the app goes to the background.
Entertainment streaming (Pro)
For faster, tighter sync, HueCommand can use the Hue Entertainment API, the same low-latency streaming interface that Signify's own sync products use. It streams color to the lights in an Entertainment area at 25 updates per second over an encrypted DTLS connection, with a live five-band frequency display (bass to treble).
- Create an Entertainment area in the official Philips Hue app first. HueCommand lists your areas and streams to them
- Your device must be on the same network as the Bridge, because streaming doesn't go through the cloud
- If the app says an entertainment key is missing, pair your Bridge again to generate one
Candle, fireplace and other effects
The Effects tab also has five animated presets for color lights: Candle Flicker, Fireplace, Ocean Waves, Northern Lights and Thunderstorm.
- Candle Flicker and Fireplace use effects built into Hue lights, so where every light supports them they run on the Bridge and keep glowing after you close the app (marked Stays on)
- The others are animated live from your device (marked Live). Tap Keep it on to save one as a scene that keeps running
Devices
Music Reactive and Entertainment streaming work on devices with a microphone: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. Apple TV has no microphone, so these features are not in the tvOS app, although effects are.
Free vs Pro: the app is a free download and everyday light control is free. Pro (monthly, yearly, or a one-time lifetime unlock) adds remote access, geofencing, multi-bridge, bridge backup, the energy dashboard, Entertainment streaming, AI scenes and more.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sync Philips Hue lights to music without a Sync Box?
Yes. HueCommand's free Music Reactive mode listens through your device's microphone and changes your Hue lights to match the music. You only need a Hue Bridge and color lights.
Can HueCommand sync my lights to my TV picture?
No. HueCommand reacts to sound, not video. To match lights to on-screen content, you need Signify's HDMI Sync Box or another Philips Hue sync product.
What is the difference between Music Reactive and Entertainment streaming?
Music Reactive is free and works with any color lights in a room. Entertainment streaming is a Pro feature. It uses the Hue Entertainment API at 25 updates per second and needs an Entertainment area set up in the official Hue app.
Do candle and fireplace effects need the app to stay open?
Usually not. Candle Flicker and Fireplace run on the Hue Bridge when your lights support them, so they keep going after you close the app. Other effects need the app open unless you save them with Keep it on.
Is my microphone audio recorded?
No. Audio is analysed on your device to work out light colors. It is not recorded, stored or sent anywhere.
Turn your music into light
Music Reactive and effects are free. Entertainment streaming comes with Pro.
Download on the App Store