Avid Control vs Smaart RTA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Avid Control
Control your audio and video software wirelessly from your iPad. This app offers deep, multi-touch control for recording, mixing, and navigating complex projects, enhancing efficiency and flexibility beyond traditional mouse and keyboard input.
- Wireless control of audio/video software
- Multi-touch mixing and recording
- Access hundreds of software commands
- Track and fader control
- Visual feedback and metering
- Customizable layouts and macros
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For full instructions please see: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/faq/Avid-Control-Support SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS • Qualified Mac or Windows-based computer running any supported EUCON-enabled application and EuControl 2026.4 (NOTE: The free EUCON 2026.4 software must be downloaded from Avid and installed before using Avid Control) • One of the following connections: - Accessible wireless network (5 Ghz Wi-Fi network recommended), or - Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter + USB 2-to-Ethernet Adapter to connect an Ethernet cable directly to iPad (be sure to disable Wi-Fi on your iPad when using this connection type) ABOUT AVID CONTROL Take wireless control of your favorite audio and video software—right from your iPad. With Avid Control, you can record and mix audio in Pro Tools, Media Composer, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Premiere and other media software, faster and more easily than working with a mouse and keyboard alone. The app combines the tight hardware/software integration and high-speed communication power of EUCON technology with the multi-touch advancements of iOS, so you get deep control, with great mixing flexibility. And when used with an Avid control surface (including the new Avid S1), you gain new touch workflows and custom control. Best of all… it’s free! Track and mix with just a touch • Speed up your efficiency using a host of controls • Record, mute, and solo tracks with a tap • Ride multiple faders to bring more life to your mix • Get insight into your mix with extensive visual feedback Get unrivaled audio and video control • Access and control hundreds of software commands • Punch in audio and toggle automation modes • Trigger complex macros that will save you tons of time • Switch control to different applications using a single app Mix faster with intelligent design • Gain multitouch control to speed up your efficiency • Interact with and control your mix in whole new ways • Perform keystroke shortcuts and more with a single tap • Bring tactile control with you, anywhere you go Navigate huge mixes easily • Get fast access to any channel with Tracks view • Quickly scroll through large mixes • Select, record-enable, solo, and mute multiple tracks • Keep an eye on levels with S6-style metering Free yourself from the cables that bind • Work in ways not possible with a wired mouse or control surface • Record yourself in a different room from your DAW • Control up to two networked workstations across a facility • Trigger playback or recording from anywhere Extend your control surface's workflows • Get enhanced touch control and customizable layouts • Navigate mixes faster with Tracks view • View a counter display and additional visual feedback • Recall layouts and trigger macros Work with your favorite audio and video software* • Avid Pro Tools • Avid Media Composer • Apple Logic Pro X • Steinberg Cubase • Steinberg Nuendo • Merging Pyramix • Mackie Control * Please see Avid’s Control app support page for a full compatibility list.
Smaart RTA
Analyze audio in real time with professional-grade tools. Visualize frequency content, manage feedback, and monitor sound pressure levels with precision and ease, all from your mobile device.
- Professional RTA graph with averaging options
- Spectrograph for feedback and frequency management
- SPL meter with A & C weighting
- Adjustable RTA graph settings
- Plot calibrated levels
- Target curves
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Professionals and enthusiasts alike can now access Smaart’s Real Time Analyzer, beautifully rendered Spectrograph, and crystal clear SPL meter without needing to set up a dedicated personal computer to run a desktop version of Smaart*. Smaart RTA is capable of the same accuracy, precision, and ease of use enjoyed by live sound engineers and FOH professionals across the world using the same underlying algorithms as its desktop siblings*, trusted by sound engineers to deliver accurate and actionable data in real time. *PLEASE READ Smaart RTA creates single channel measurements only. It does not support the dual channel transfer function measurements or impulse response measurements used for system alignment and optimization, including time alignment. -- SMAART RTA INCLUDES -- -PROFESSIONAL STANDARD RTA (REAL TIME ANALYZER) GRAPH- The RTA display helps engineers ensure an audio mix or playback balance aligns with the desired tonal response for a specific artist, performance, or specification – providing real-time analysis of frequency content and confidence that you are hearing what you are seeing. Features include: Fast, Slow, None averaging options for graph response ballistics. 1/48, 1/24, 1/12, 1/6, 1/3, 1oct Banding for precision frequency resolution. 1/3 octave x-axis frequency scale for intuitively identifying center frequencies and trends. -BEATIFULLY RENDERED SPECTROGRAPH- The Spectrograph is essential for managing and controlling feedback and identifying problem frequencies, allowing engineers to quickly visualize and address potential issues before they interfere with a performance. Features include: Adjustable dynamic thresholds to customize the amplitude levels represented by the spectrograph. 1000 slices in history, allowing you to ‘rewind’ the display to view events that already happened. Intuitive color palette to represent amplitude level (dark to bright, quiet to loud). -CLEAR SPL DISPLAY WITH DB LEVEL METER- The SPL view helps you ensure audio levels remain consistent from one show to the next or check levels for uniformity across various locations within a venue. Features include: Standard SPL metrics of A & C weighting, with fast and slow response times. NIOSH and OSHA exposure percentages correspond with nationally accepted U.S. recommendations and occupational health and safety guidelines. Large Level Meter display for distant viewing. The default settings for all functions in Smaart RTA mirror those in the desktop version of Smaart v9’s real time single channel measurements. -- ADDITIONAL SMAART RTA PRO FEATURES -- Smaart RTA Pro includes the functionality of Smaart RTA and unlocks all settings and advanced features, including: Adjustable RTA Graph Settings (frequency scaling, bars/lines, line thickness, grid interval, etc) Plot Calibrated Levels to view the RTA graph relative to SPL, rather than Full Scale level only. Target Curves (Cinema X Curves included, or import your own). Capture and store RTA data traces, allowing you to compare multiple responses across different locations or venues. Average multiple stored RTA data traces to view a spatially averaged frequency response. Adjustable RTA graph Y-offsets to apply a visual dB offset to live or captured data. Import/Export RTA files (.srf) to and from Smaart desktop. Additional SPL Traffic Light display for staying within venue SPL Limits. Internal and external microphone calibration for SPL. Due to Apple's distribution policies, free trials require a subscription selection. If you would like to try Smaart RTA before you buy, start with a subscription, then cancel it to avoid billing. Smaart RTA is $1.99p/m, $19.99p/y, or $59.99 Lifetime Smaart RTA Pro is $4.99p/m, $49.99p/y or $149 Lifetime Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.rationalacoustics.com/pages/smaart-mobile-apps-privacy-policy-terms-condtions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Smaart RTA at 4.8 against Avid Control's 2.7. Smaart RTA also leads on ratings volume (502 vs 72). Avid Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Smaart RTA sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Avid Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
Smaart RTA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smaart RTA has 502 ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Avid Control's written reviews are positive against 41% of Smaart RTA's.
Avid Control ships an update every 3 months, Smaart RTA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Avid Control | Smaart RTA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (72 ratings) | 4.8 (502 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.7% of reviews | 40.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 72 | 502 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Avid® | Rational Acoustics LLC |
Customer experience
Avid Control
Smaart RTA
Bugs and requests
Avid Control
Reported bugs
5 issues- Version mismatch
- Can't get pass registration screen
- Meters don't work
- Faders are sticking
- Connectivity issues
Requested features
3 requests- Pls Make Avid Control into some type of AUV3 Effect Plugin for mixing and mastering purposes
- 120hz support for iPad Pro please!!
- larger soft keys (or even better, adjustable)
Smaart RTA
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Avid Control
No in-app purchases
Smaart RTA
- Smaart RTA - Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Smaart RTA Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Smaart RTA - Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
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- Smaart RTA Pro - Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Smaart RTA - Lifetime$59.99
- Smaart RTA Pro - Lifetime$149.99







