MSC Show Control vs PocketAdmin
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
PocketAdmin
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PocketAdmin puts a complete network and IT administration toolkit in your pocket. Built for sysadmins, network engineers, and IT support pros, it replaces a bag of single-purpose utilities with one fast, native app, with no clutter and no sign-up to get started. Whether you're chasing a flaky connection, auditing a subnet, SSH-ing into a firewall, or resetting a locked account in the field, PocketAdmin has the tool ready. NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS • Ping: ICMP reachability and latency, with editable packet size, interval, count, and TTL, just like the command line • Traceroute: hop-by-hop path with a visual route map • Test-NetConnection (TNC): combined TCP port and ping check • nslookup: A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME and more • Port Scanner: find open TCP ports fast • Wake-on-LAN: power on a machine by MAC address • HTTP / TLS Checker: status, timing, redirects, and certificate expiry • LAN Scanner: discover every device on your network with IP, hostname, and vendor REMOTE ACCESS • SSH: a real, interactive terminal that runs full-screen apps like vim, top, htop, and tmux. Save hosts and credentials securely in the iOS Keychain, with a special-keys bar for esc, ctrl, tab, arrows, and pipes • Telnet: quick raw TCP sessions WI-FI & CONNECTIVITY • Network Info: connection, IP, DNS, and ISP at a glance • Latency Monitor: live ping graph with jitter • Traffic Monitor: live bandwidth graph • Link Metrics: RSSI, noise, channel, and rates • Wi-Fi Join: apply a network configuration • Bluetooth Scanner: nearby BLE devices and signal strength • Roaming Forensics: build a roam timeline from a log • Coverage Map: walk a room and map Wi-Fi coverage with LiDAR MEASUREMENT • iperf3: full-featured throughput testing with a live graph and complete flag control, including parallel streams, window size, and reverse mode • Internet Speed Test: quick download and upload throughput DIRECTORY • Active Directory: search users, unlock accounts, and reset passwords across multiple directory profiles, protected by Face ID. Works with the open-source PocketAdmin directory backend, or try the built-in demo instantly CONVERTERS & CRYPTO • Base64, URL, epoch-time, and UUID converters • Hash generator (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and more) • JWT decoder and X.509 certificate decoder • Subnet Calculator and Password Generator UTILITIES • Whois, MAC / OUI vendor lookup, SMTP mail-server test, Bonjour / mDNS discovery, and detailed System Info BUILT FOR THE JOB • Favorite the tools you use most for one-tap access • Recent Tasks history remembers what you ran • Hide the tools you don't need • Fast, native SwiftUI, in light and dark mode • Credentials stored in the iOS Keychain, never in plain text • No account required to use the toolkit From ping to packets, SSH to subnets, PocketAdmin is your whole IT toolbox in one pocket.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: MSC Show Control at every 4 days against PocketAdmin's every 9 days. On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MSC Show Control ships an update every 4 days, PocketAdmin every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MSC Show Control | PocketAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brink Inspired Media | GDW Entertainment, LLC |
In-app purchases
MSC Show Control
No in-app purchases
PocketAdmin
No in-app purchases





