Comparison

Sidecar MIDI Controller vs MultiTrack Recorder Plugin

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sidecar MIDI Controller

Transform your QWERTY keyboard or game controller into a powerful MIDI controller for your iOS music apps. Play melodies, trigger chords, and adjust synth parameters with ease, even while running other apps in the background.

Highlights
  • QWERTY keyboard piano mapping
  • Configurable pads for notes, chords, and messages
  • Scale-configurable virtual keyboard
  • Game controller support
  • AUv3 plugin integration
  • Slide-over and side-by-side mode compatibility
Features
Read full description

There are hundreds of great iOS synth apps, but playing them with on-screen keyboards can be a challenge. Sidecar turns your ordinary QWERTY keyboard into a powerful MIDI controller.  The lower part of the keyboard is mapped piano-style, letting you play melodies with the physical keys -- much easier to keep your fingers in the right place, and to get the notes you want. The app is configurable; you can have ten different set-ups, and switch between them quickly with a tap on the "QWERTY" row. There are also ten configureable pads for each set-up, which you can trigger with the number keys. Each pad can play a specific note, a chord, generate a program change message, or send a control code. Because Sidecar operates in slide-over and side-by-side mode on the iPad, you can use your physical keyboard with any MIDI app, even if the other app is running in the background. On screen, you have access to each of the pads -- map the knobs and sliders of your synth apps to MIDI CC messages, and then use Sidecar to adjust these sliders as you play. Sidecar also provides a scale-configurable virtual keyboard. Pick the scale you want, and then you can't hit a wrong note. In addition to external keyboards, Sidecar also supports many game controllers. The app is now universal; while the iPhone doesn't support slide-over, you can still take advantage of the configuration options of the app. * Easy MIDI Configuration With ten separately configurable MIDI destinations you can quickly set up a set of assignments for each of the MIDI apps that you use. Have a set of chords for Animoog, choose different presets for ToneStack, or assign pads to different samples for DM1. Each MIDI destination has ten configurable pads, which can be assigned to chords, single notes, a program change message, or a controller change message. For notes and chords, the touch position controls note velocity. For controller change messages, the location of a touch on screen can be used to determine the controller value. * QWERTY Keyboard Support Toggle on support for the external keyboard, and you can switch between the ten MIDI destinations quickly (using the keys in the QWERTY row). Toggle on or off any of the ten pads by pressing the number keys. The two lowest rows of keys are mapped as a standard piano keyboard, providing a musical play surface with an ordinary text keyboard. Note that QWERTY keyboards only send "key press" information to your iPad -- to silence a sounding note, you simply tap the space bar. * AUv3 Support Add the plug-in to your favorite DAW or looper, and Sidecar will give you easy access to multiple synths. Many AUv3 hosts will also let you map the keyboard keys to the transport controls. * Game Controller Ready Sidecar also supports the iON iCade game controller, mapping the buttons of the iCade to the pads. Because the iCade was designed for games, it sends button press and release information, which makes it easy to toggle on and off the pads. * MIDI Relay If you have an external MIDI controller, you can have it send MIDI events to Sidecar -- and these will be relayed to any of the ten MIDI destinations you select. Use this to quickly switch from one synth to another. *Control Background Synths Because Sidecar sends MIDI messages, it can be used to control background synthesizers, sequencers, and effects apps. Sidecar is designed to work along side your other iOS music apps.

About

MultiTrack Recorder Plugin

Record and layer up to 8 mono or stereo audio tracks per instance. This AUv3 compatible plugin offers advanced editing, mixing, and export capabilities for musicians and producers. Create loops, record vocals, or build full song arrangements for use in other DAWs.

Highlights
  • 8 mono/stereo tracks per instance
  • Integrated 8-channel mixer
  • CPU-friendly delay and reverb
  • Multi-level undo function
  • Sample accurate punch in/out
  • Drag and drop file support
  • Mix-down and looping capabilities
Read full description

This is an AUv3 compatible Multi-Track Recorder plugin specifically designed for AUM and other DAW's that don't support audio recording capabilities. MultiTrack can be used for a host of purposes such as a tool for recording and layering audio for export to other DAW's , creating that perfect loop for other third party applications or recording vocal sessions to accompany you in AUM. Its uses are endless. It features the ability to record up to 8 mono or stereo audio tracks per instance, with the ability to run multiple instances under the control of your host DAW. MultiTrack has the ability to run standalone using it's own transport or synced to a host which allows synchronous control of multiple instances. MultiTrack supports various recording modes including the ability to set punch in and out points for sample accurate recordings. Press the Host Sync in order to the advantage of the hosts transport controls or enable the remote button to enable host recording controls (great for NS2). Use the Audio Pool window to quickly and easily import, export and perform mix-downs of audio clips. Quickly and easily move audio files using drag and drop to the time line or between the audio pool and the Files App. Imported audio is automatically converted to the projects sample rate. The audio pool also features the ability to copy and paste audio directly from the iOS pasteboard as well as preview and manage your data. An intergrated 8 channel mixer allows you to control the level, pan and effect send levels. Although AUM allows some great routing options for third party effects, MultiTrack also includes an extremely CPU friendly beat synced delay and reverb which can be used where recording pre-effected instruments is not an option. MultiTrack allows per clip volume level as well as being able to control start and end cropping and fade in/out on a clip by clip basis. All these operations are quick and easy to make using the touch screen alone. Also included is the ability to perform operations such as splitting, normalising, reversing and time stretching of audio clips all with a multi-level undo built right in. A comprehensive set of selection, copying and duplication tools make editing a breeze. Each track has it's own mute, solo and metering which can also be used to monitoring incoming signal levels. Finally you have the ability to mix down a selected range of your song or create perfectly looped samples for use in other DAW's , samplers and drum machines such as DigiStix. Features: ○ 8 tracks per instance. ○ Mixer with level, pan and effect settings. ○ Mix mono or stereo clips on a track. ○ Built in CPU friendly delay and reverb. ○ Multi-level undo function. ○ Loop play and record modes (when not synced to host). ○ Mix-down facility. ○ Cut, copy, paste and duplicate clips. ○ Ability to sync to host tempo. ○ Metronome with count-in. ○ Drag and drop support with the Files App. ○ Backup and Restore of individual songs. ○ Automatic conversion of imported audio. ○ Zoom mode for use when cropping clips.

Screenshots

Sidecar MIDI Controller3 screens
MultiTrack Recorder Plugin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sidecar MIDI Controller at 4.9 against MultiTrack Recorder Plugin's 4.1. Sidecar MIDI Controller also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 59%) and price ($4.99 vs $6.99). MultiTrack Recorder Plugin's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13 vs 15.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99 and MultiTrack Recorder Plugin $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidecar MIDI Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 33 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Sidecar MIDI Controller's written reviews are positive against 59% of MultiTrack Recorder Plugin's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, MultiTrack Recorder Plugin every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sidecar MIDI Controller versus MultiTrack Recorder Plugin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidecar MIDI ControllerMultiTrack Recorder Plugin
Price$4.99 — better$6.99
Rating4.9 (14 ratings) — better4.1 (33 ratings)
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews — better59.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1433 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSecret Base Design4Pockets.com

Customer experience

Sidecar MIDI Controller

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative19.0%

MultiTrack Recorder Plugin

All ratings33 ratings
Positive69.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive59.5%
Neutral21.6%
Negative18.9%

In-app purchases

None

Sidecar MIDI Controller

No in-app purchases

None

MultiTrack Recorder Plugin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sidecar MIDI Controller free?
Sidecar MIDI Controller costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MultiTrack Recorder Plugin free?
MultiTrack Recorder Plugin costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sidecar MIDI Controller or MultiTrack Recorder Plugin?
Sidecar MIDI Controller is rated higher. Sidecar MIDI Controller averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while MultiTrack Recorder Plugin averages 4.1 from 33 ratings.
Do Sidecar MIDI Controller or MultiTrack Recorder Plugin have ads?
Neither Sidecar MIDI Controller nor MultiTrack Recorder Plugin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidecar MIDI Controller or MultiTrack Recorder Plugin?
Sidecar MIDI Controller ships an update every 3 months, and MultiTrack Recorder Plugin every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sidecar MIDI Controller was updated on September 21, 2026 and MultiTrack Recorder Plugin on September 25, 2026.

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