MIDI Macros vs EXPOCAL
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.
EXPOCAL
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EXPOCAL is the on-set exposure companion for cinematographers, DPs, and gaffers — every calculation you reach for between scouting a location and rolling, in one fast, dark-themed app. Nail exposure Incident metering math built on ISO 2720: dial in ISO/EI, shutter angle, and frame rate to get the exact T-stop — or work backwards from an aperture to the lux you need. Handles dual-base sensors and broadcast gain (dB) too. Match your gear Pick from a built-in library of 47 cinema cameras and 241 lenses. Check sensor coverage, mount compatibility, and how a lens, extender, or adapter behaves across your kit. Director's viewfinder Frame a shot right on your phone. Choose a camera and focal length and the live preview matches that lens's field of view — pinch or use the thumb zoom slider to find the frame before the camera is even built. Overlay mode draws the exact framing on a wide preview. Depth & focus Hyperfocal distance, depth of field, and aperture sweeps with sweet-spot, diffraction, and noise guidance. Light & color ND filter stops, white-balance mired shifts, and CTB/CTO/plus-green gel recommendations. Timecode Read SMPTE LTC straight from the audio input and show it full-screen, big enough to hold in front of a lens. When the sound has a clock and the camera does not, you film the number. The reader flywheels through dropouts and says when it has lost lock rather than pretending it hasn't. Export Generate clean PDF reports for scene and sensor planning. EXPOCAL gives estimates to support your judgment on set — always confirm critical exposures with your meter and monitor.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: EXPOCAL at Free against MIDI Macros's $0.99. EXPOCAL also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). MIDI Macros's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
EXPOCAL is free to download; MIDI Macros costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MIDI Macros ships an update every 3 months, EXPOCAL weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDI Macros | EXPOCAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (9 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oscar Bouwmans | JOHN MORGAN BROWN |
In-app purchases
MIDI Macros
No in-app purchases
EXPOCAL
No in-app purchases







