Comparison

MSC Show Control vs SysX Buddy

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

Head to head
About

MSC Show Control

This utility app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a remote control for show control software and lighting consoles that support MIDI Show Control. It allows for easy cue triggering and management with large, accessible buttons, ideal for live show environments.

Highlights
  • Remote control for lighting consoles
  • Supports MIDI Show Control (MSC)
  • Large buttons for live use
  • Network MIDI (RTP-MIDI) connectivity
  • Configurable MSC device ID
  • Live message readout
Features
Read full description

MSC Show Control turns your iPhone or iPad into a remote for any lighting console or show software that accepts MIDI Show Control (MSC) — Vista, QLab, MagicQ, grandMA2, Onyx, and more. Free to use. If it earns its place in your show kit, there's an optional tip jar — it unlocks nothing, it just keeps the app maintained. Set up your cuelists and cue shortcuts once, connect to the machine running your show, and fire cues from big, glove-friendly buttons built for live use. FEATURES • GO, STOP, RESUME and RELEASE per cuelist, plus a grid of one-tap cue shortcuts • Works over Apple network MIDI (RTP-MIDI): automatic discovery of hosts on your network, or connect manually by IP • grandMA2 “MSC over Ethernet” (UDP) transport • Per-server MSC device ID, configurable command format • Live hex readout of every message sent — see exactly what went on the wire • Cue numbers are sent exactly as you type them, decimals included • Screen stays awake during your show; no accounts, no ads, no analytics, no paywall WORKS WITH Any MSC-capable receiver. macOS hosts work out of the box via Audio MIDI Setup’s Network session. Windows hosts work with the free rtpMIDI driver. Built by a church tech, for everyone who runs cues from the booth.

About

SysX Buddy

Manage MIDI System Exclusive messages on your iPhone or iPad. This utility allows you to send, receive, edit, and organize SysEx data for vintage synthesizers and sound modules. It supports external MIDI devices and BLE-MIDI, bridging classic instruments with modern mobile technology.

Highlights
  • Send and receive MIDI SysEx messages
  • File manager with folder creation
  • Hex viewer for SysEx data
  • Create and edit SysEx files
  • Support for USB MIDI devices
  • Support for BLE-MIDI
  • iCloud Drive integration
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a dedicated SysEx manager. A reliable companion for your vintage MIDI gear. SysX Buddy is a straightforward and powerful app for sending, receiving, editing, and managing MIDI System Exclusive (SysEx) messages. SysEx messages were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s by classic synthesizers and sound modules. SysX Buddy helps bridge the gap between these vintage instruments and your modern iPhone or iPad. Key Features - Send and receive MIDI SysEx messages - Simple file manager with folder creation - View SysEx data in a hex viewer - Create and edit SysEx files in hex format - Send a dump request message when recording - Support for external MIDI devices (USB MIDI) - Support for BLE-MIDI (Bluetooth Low Energy) - Save files anywhere on your device --- with fully customizable folder locations, including iCloud Drive. Note that: - There might be some communication issues on iOS/iPadOS 14. - The application and description contain AI-generated contents. - The data in the screenshot are not included by the application.

Screenshots

MSC Show Control2 screens
SysX Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SysX Buddy at 100% against MSC Show Control's 25%. SysX Buddy also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). MSC Show Control's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MSC Show Control is free to download; SysX Buddy costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MSC Show Control ships an update every 4 days, SysX Buddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MSC Show Control versus SysX Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMSC Show ControlSysX Buddy
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrink Inspired MediaRyouta Kira

Customer experience

MSC Show Control

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

SysX Buddy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MSC Show Control

No in-app purchases

None

SysX Buddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MSC Show Control free?
MSC Show Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SysX Buddy free?
SysX Buddy costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MSC Show Control or SysX Buddy have ads?
Neither MSC Show Control nor SysX Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MSC Show Control or SysX Buddy?
MSC Show Control ships an update every 4 days, and SysX Buddy every 2 months. Most recently, MSC Show Control was updated on September 19, 2026 and SysX Buddy on October 9, 2026.

Other comparisons