Comparison

MSC Show Control vs PocketAdmin

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

PocketAdmin

This comprehensive toolkit provides IT professionals with essential network and system administration tools. It offers features for network visualization, server management, remote access, monitoring, diagnostics, and password management, all accessible from a mobile device.

Highlights
  • Network topology mapping
  • Server power and snapshot management
  • SSH terminal with SFTP
  • Real-time monitoring and alerts
  • Network diagnostic tools
  • Password management with Face ID
  • Team collaboration and sharing
Read full description

The source of truth for every network you run, at work or in your homelab. Save a switch, server or NAS once, with its logins and a photo of the rack, and every tool picks it up: SSH, Pinpoint, Topology, Uptime Watch, Backup Jobs. No more retyping IPs across five apps. Every tool is free, with no account, no ads and no analytics. You pay only to share your sites with a team. Built by a working sysadmin. SEE YOUR NETWORK • Topology: a live map of how your switches connect, drawn from LLDP and CDP • Pinpoint: which switch port an IP, MAC or device is on, even by scanning its label with the camera • Port Map, SNMP and a port sheet that can shut a port, cycle PoE or set a label • LAN Scanner, IP Manager and Subnet Calculator • Syslog & Traps: receive device events live SERVERS & BACKUPS • Hypervisor: Proxmox, vSphere and Nutanix guests: power, snapshots, migrate and clone • Out-of-Band: iDRAC, iLO and other controllers over Redfish or IPMI: power, boot, sensors, event log and fault alerts • Backup Jobs: did last night's backups run? Veeam, Veeam 365, Proxmox, Nutanix, TrueNAS, Synology, Rubrik, Cohesity, Commvault, Unitrends, Acronis and Duplicati • Vulnerabilities: known CVEs for the firmware your gear actually runs • Configs, Hardware Inventory and Bulk Run: one command across every device REMOTE ACCESS • SSH: a real terminal that runs vim, top, htop and tmux, with SFTP, port forwards and a special-keys bar • RDP, VNC, Telnet and a REST client MONITORING • Uptime Watch: HTTP, TCP, ping, DNS and any SNMP value, with alerts, Site Mode and a Live Activity • Expiry Watch: certificates and domains before they lapse • Domain Health: SPF, DKIM, DMARC and DNSSEC DIAGNOSTICS • Ping, Traceroute, Test-NetConnection, nslookup, Port Scanner, Wake-on-LAN • HTTP / TLS Checker, Whois, MAC vendor lookup, SMTP test, Bonjour • DHCP Probe for rogue servers, Path MTU, NTP, and Packet Capture reader • iperf3 and Internet Speed Test WI-FI & FIELD TOOLS • Network Info, Latency and Traffic Monitors, Link Metrics, Bluetooth Scanner, Roaming Forensics • Coverage Map: walk a room and map Wi-Fi with LiDAR • AR Measure for cable runs, QR generator, NFC reader and sound level meter PASSWORDS & FILES • Passwords: logins with one-time codes, Wi-Fi you can join, SSH keys and API tokens, behind Face ID. Imports from Bitwarden • Files: manuals, contracts, photos and clips, filed under the site or device they belong to • Active Directory: search users, unlock accounts and reset passwords, through the open-source PocketAdmin directory backend (or try the built-in demo) TEAMS Share sites, devices, logins, files and monitors with your team. Everything syncs through iCloud, with passwords encrypted end to end. Roles, a shared activity history, and a notification when a teammate changes something. Your personal logins never leave your phone. Creating a team needs the Team subscription, monthly or yearly, and the first month is free. Joining a team someone else made is free. Payment is charged to your Apple ID and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. BUILT FOR THE JOB • Favorites, recent tasks, and hide the tools you don't use • App Lock with Face ID • Shortcuts action to check your monitors • Credentials kept in the iOS Keychain, never in plain text From ping to packets, SSH to subnets, PocketAdmin is your whole IT toolbox in one pocket. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gdwentertainment.com/pocketadmin/privacy.html

Screenshots

MSC Show Control2 screens
PocketAdmin4 screens

Verdict

The call

MSC Show Control and PocketAdmin are too close to call on the numbers: across 7 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Both are free to download. MSC Show Control sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and PocketAdmin sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MSC Show Control ships an update every 4 days, PocketAdmin every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
MSC Show Control versus PocketAdmin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMSC Show ControlPocketAdmin
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrink Inspired MediaGDW Entertainment, LLC

Customer experience

MSC Show Control

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

PocketAdmin

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

MSC Show Control

One-time3
  • Espresso$1.99
  • Latte$4.99
  • Coffee for a week$9.99
8 purchases

PocketAdmin

Subscriptions8
  • Team 5 Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • Team 15 Monthly1 Month trial$39.991 Month
  • Team 50 Monthly1 Month trial$99.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Team 5 Yearly1 Month trial$159.991 Year
  • Team 100 Monthly1 Month trial$179.991 Month
  • Team 15 Yearly1 Month trial$319.991 Year
  • Team 50 Yearly1 Month trial$799.991 Year
  • Team 100 Yearly1 Month trial$999.991 Year

Questions

Is MSC Show Control free?
MSC Show Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PocketAdmin free?
PocketAdmin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MSC Show Control or PocketAdmin have ads?
Neither MSC Show Control nor PocketAdmin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MSC Show Control or PocketAdmin?
MSC Show Control ships an update every 4 days, and PocketAdmin every 5 days. Most recently, MSC Show Control was updated on November 2, 2026 and PocketAdmin on October 31, 2026.

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