MIDI Macros vs KQ MIDI Modulate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDI Macros
Create custom buttons that send MIDI data to control synthesizers, FX units, DAWs, and digital mixers. Organize your controls into presets that can be stored locally or synced via iCloud.
- Create custom MIDI macro buttons
- Control synthesizers and FX units
- Integrate with DAWs and plugins
- Add buttons to digital mixers
- Send multiple MIDI messages per macro
- Store and sync presets via iCloud
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MIDI Macros enables you to create a collection of buttons (macros), which send out custom MIDI data when tapped. You can make macros to do whatever you want using MIDI: - toggle between synthesizer's presets - control your FX units' parameters - control your DAW and it's plugins - add extra buttons to your digital mixer - do all of the above simultaneously Look up the MIDI messages required for your setup in the device's manuals. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or need any help, via contact@oscarbouwmans.nl. Every macro can send multiple MIDI messages, to any of the connected MIDI devices. So, for example, one macro can toggle 3 different actions, on 3 different devices. Or 1 action, on 9 devices. Etc. MIDI Devices can be connected to your iOS device via USB*, Bluetooth, or WiFi. *requires the Apple Camera Connection Kit or other compatible adapters Macro sets can be stored in presets. Presets can either be stored locally on the iOS device, or in iCloud, allowing you to synchronise presets between your devices. A future update will allow presets to be sent to other devices using AirDrop. This way you can send presets from your iPad to your iPhone for example, or to a friend who has a similar setup.
KQ MIDI Modulate
This tool is designed for advanced MIDI users to manipulate and route MIDI signals. It offers extensive control over signal conversion, note triggering, and pad-based MIDI output, including AUv3 plugins. It does not produce sound on its own.
- MIDI signal conversion
- 8x16 pad output
- Free MIDI device routing
- AUv3 plugins included
- Note and control signal triggering
- Customizable signal filtering
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This is a tool for MIDI experts. Not recommended for beginners. - This app by itself does not produce sound. - It converts input MIDI signals and outputs them. - You can use 8x16 pads to output any MIDI signal. - You can route MIDI devices freely. - This app includes 2 AUv3 Plugins. - Compatible only with MIDI 1.0; MIDI 2.0 is not supported. - The developer uses this app conveniently with a MIDI wind controller. Convert Converts the values of control signals. Cannot be set per channel. Note Ctrl, Threshold: Transmit note on messages only if the value of the Note Ctrl is above the threshold. Key: Key of the note signal Vel1: Velocity of Note On Vel0: Velocity of Note Off CC: Control Change AT: Channel Aftertouch PB: Pitch Bend PC: Program Change N/A: Not applicable HR: High Resolution - when enabled, handles 14-bit signals. E: Envelope, tap to open the settings window. F: Filter, tap to open the settings window. LPF: Low-pass filter, smoothes out value changes. The higher the Strength value, the slower the change. HPF: High-pass filter, applies only abrupt value changes. The value automatically approaches the Return Base value. The higher the Strength value, the faster the change. Tap the graph to switch between line graph, history, and bar graph. Long press the graph and tap “Edit Curve” to edit the curve. "- 0 +" denotes the offset; this value is added to the input value. Press the button in the top left corner to switch to a minimized view. The "!" in the top right corner is the panic button. Pressing it sends All Notes Off and All Sound Off messages. Trigger Sends signals according to the rules upon receiving specified MIDI signals. You can specify channels. Harmony: Shifted note signals Channel Rewrite: Rewrite of channels Signal Trigger: Trigger of any MIDI signal Value Offset: Increment/decrement of value Filter: Suppression of transmission Pad Consists of 8x16 pads. Note: Note signal CC/AT/PB Oneshot: Control signal (when pressed) CC/AT/PB On/Off: Control signal (press/release) Program: Patch Change (bank selectable) Convert Offset: Offset specification for the Convert screen Load Preset: File loading on the Profiles screen Misc/SysEx: Any signal Latch: Pads become toggles. If a group is specified, the pads act as radio buttons. Options Key Delay: Delays Note On Velocity Convert: When outputting Vel1 in Convert, select whether to always convert or only when legato is not present MIDI Rx Channel: Receiving channel MIDI Tx Channel: Transmitting channel Filter Other Channel: Suppress transmission of channels other than receiving channel Duplicated Notes: Specifies handling of duplicated notes Note that: The application and description contain machine-translated text.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: KQ MIDI Modulate at 5.0 against MIDI Macros's 4.2. KQ MIDI Modulate also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). MIDI Macros's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $5.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
MIDI Macros costs $0.99 and KQ MIDI Modulate $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
KQ MIDI Modulate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of MIDI Macros's written reviews are positive against 67% of KQ MIDI Modulate's.
MIDI Macros ships an update every 3 months, KQ MIDI Modulate fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDI Macros | KQ MIDI Modulate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (9 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oscar Bouwmans | Ryouta Kira |
Customer experience
MIDI Macros
KQ MIDI Modulate
In-app purchases
MIDI Macros
No in-app purchases
KQ MIDI Modulate
No in-app purchases









