Comparison

MIDI Expression Control vs WiDI MIDI Studio

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

Head to head
About

MIDI Expression Control

This application allows users to modify settings for MIDI Expression devices. Ensure your device has firmware version 2.6 or higher for iOS compatibility.

Highlights
  • Change device settings
  • Compatible with MIDI Expression devices
  • iOS firmware compatibility check
  • Free to download
Read full description

This is the Control Application for MIDI Expression devices. It lets you change settings for the devices. Please note that the iOS version of the Control Application is only compatible with devices running firmware version 2.6 and up.

About

WiDI MIDI Studio

Create custom MIDI control surfaces and sequences for your music production. Map buttons, pads, knobs, and faders to send MIDI events and control instruments or DAWs. Features an integrated step sequencer for composing musical ideas.

Highlights
  • Customizable MIDI control surface
  • Integrated step sequencer
  • MIDI CC and Note generation
  • MIDI network session support
  • Automate CC values
  • Group sequences for synchronized playback
Features
Read full description

WiDI is a control surface with an integrated step sequencer in which you create controls such as buttons, pads, knobs and faders to send MIDI events and play sequences. • CONTROL SURFACE AND SEQUENCER: A control is bound to a channel and a specific MIDI Control Change. You can either specify the CC number if you know it, or let the app learn it. Once placed on the surface, use this control to interact with your MIDI device. Alternatively, any CC event sent by your device will be shown live by the control(s) bound to this CC. Pads are special controls: they can either produce MIDI CC events, Notes or Program changes. If bound to a CC, the pad can act as an on/off switch (you specify the values for each state.) If bound to a note, each tap produces the specified MIDI note. This is especially useful to operate MIDI instruments without keyboards such as synthesizer modules or drum machines. A sequence can hold as many tracks as you wish, and send notes to different MIDI channels. Sequences can play in sync or running freely. You may also group sequences together to start or pause them at the same time. • MIDI: To interface WiDI with any MIDI instruments/devices connected to your Mac or PC, connect to a MIDI Network Session on your Mac or your PC. On a Mac, this is natively supported by macOS, and you do not need to install third party software (use Audio MIDI Setup.) On a PC running Windows, you might want to install rtpMIDI. As an alternative to MIDI Network Sessions, you may use the WiDI Desktop Application. It acts as a MIDI bridge between the network and your MIDI hardware. You can install the desktop application on as many computers as you want (it's free!). It's a very lightweight package that doesn't need to perform any installation procedure whatsoever. You may download the WiDI Desktop Application for macOS on the Mac App Store, or go to : https://www.hypertide.com/widi/ for both macOS and Windows archives. Additionally, any class-compliant MIDI interface natively supported by iOS can also be used directly by WiDI without the need of a network connection. • FEATURES: ○ Use any CoreMIDI-supported MIDI interface connected to your device ○ MIDI network session: use WiDI as an external control surface for any DAW such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, ... ○ Multiple iPhone and iPad can connect to your computer, allowing different control surfaces simultaneously ○ Integrated step sequencer: create sequences, each one holding as many tracks as needed ○ Sequences can run freely or in sync and start simultaneously if grouped together in fire groups ○ Auto discover MIDI CC : you don't need to know each one to add controls, WiDI learns CC numbers sent by your devices ○ Automate CC : sweep ranges or use the step modulator to design patterns to modulate controls values, supporting various advanced options like step-by-step or smooth variations, bouncing, repeating, changing speed ○ Add as many pads as you want to generate MIDI Notes, Control Changes or Program Changes ○ Flexible control surface : set layout and grid size for both portrait and landscape orientations ○ Re-arranging controls is as simple as drag & drop ○ Fully customizable user interface : themes, colors, display of values and labels, aspect ratios, grid spacing, grid coloring, background, ... ○ Integrated File Manager to load and save your surfaces, which are also accessible in the iOS Files app and your computer's iTunes connection ○ Exchange surfaces between devices with the integrated QR code generator and scanner ○ Or use the share feature, so you may import them on any device. We'd love to hear from you! Should you be in need of support or eager to request a new feature, please contact us at support+widi@hypertide.com

Screenshots

MIDI Expression Control4 screens
WiDI MIDI Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MIDI Expression Control at none against WiDI MIDI Studio's 1. MIDI Expression Control also leads on ratings volume (6 vs 2). WiDI MIDI Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. WiDI MIDI Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MIDI Expression Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MIDI Expression Control against 5.0 for WiDI MIDI Studio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Expression Control ships an update every 6 months, WiDI MIDI Studio every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MIDI Expression Control versus WiDI MIDI Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Expression ControlWiDI MIDI Studio
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert JonkmanHYPERTIDE SAS

Customer experience

MIDI Expression Control

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

WiDI MIDI Studio

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

In-app purchases

None

MIDI Expression Control

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

WiDI MIDI Studio

One-time1
  • WiDI Fully Unlocked Version$1.99

Questions

Is MIDI Expression Control free?
MIDI Expression Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WiDI MIDI Studio free?
WiDI MIDI Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Expression Control or WiDI MIDI Studio?
MIDI Expression Control and WiDI MIDI Studio are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do MIDI Expression Control or WiDI MIDI Studio have ads?
Neither MIDI Expression Control nor WiDI MIDI Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Expression Control or WiDI MIDI Studio?
MIDI Expression Control ships an update every 6 months, and WiDI MIDI Studio every 3 months. Most recently, MIDI Expression Control was updated on June 1, 2026 and WiDI MIDI Studio on September 9, 2026.

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