Comparison

DirectionalEQ vs Tandem MIDI Canvas

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

Head to head
About

DirectionalEQ

This audio plugin allows independent equalization of different directions within the stereo field. It offers five bands with advanced filter types, enabling precise adjustments to specific audio directions for a more nuanced sound. Designed for use within compatible music production host apps.

Highlights
  • Independent equalization of stereo field directions
  • Five bands with state-of-the-art filter types
  • 64-bit processing and 2x oversampling
  • Specify direction for each band's operation
  • Works as an Audio Unit or Inter App Audio plugin
Features
Read full description

Traditional EQs influence the spectrum of the whole stereo field simultaneously. L/R or Mid-Side-EQs allow you to treat the two channels or the mid and the side signal simultaneously. DirectionalEQ takes this concept one big step further: now you can equalize all directions in the stereo field independently! With five bands, each of them providing state-of-the-art filter types (including 64 bit processing and 2x oversampling) plus the unique ability to specify the direction in which the channel is operational. So you need more bass at 2 o’clock, less midrange at 11 o’clock and a bit more treble from the left? No problem at all, that’s exactly what this EQ has been made for! This app is intended to work as an Audio Unit or Inter App Audio plugin within a compatible host app like Garageband, Cubasis or Auria.

About

Tandem MIDI Canvas

Design and build custom MIDI controllers on your iPhone or iPad. Save presets, perform with motion and snapshots, and collaborate in real-time with others. Features smart snapping, layout templates, and morphing between states.

Highlights
  • Build custom MIDI controller layouts
  • Save and recall presets
  • Perform with motion and snapshots
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Smart MIDI setup
  • Morphing between states
Features
Read full description

Tandem turns your iPhone or iPad into a customizable MIDI controller you can actually trust on stage. Build your own layouts in minutes, map them fast, save reusable presets, and perform with powerful features like snapshots, morphing, motion control, and real-time collaboration. Whether you’re producing in the studio, playing live, teaching, or building DJ performance layouts, Tandem gives you a fast, flexible way to create controllers that fit your workflow instead of forcing you into someone else’s. BUILD THE CONTROLLER YOU ACTUALLY WANT Create custom layouts with knobs, faders, XY pads, drum pads, buttons, toggles, momentary buttons, endless encoders, transport controls, and gyroscope-based motion. Start from a blank canvas or jump in quickly with templates for mixers, synth performance rigs, drum layouts, dashboards, and more. Save your setups as presets and reuse them whenever you want. FAST WORKFLOW, BUILT FOR REAL USE Tandem is designed to help you build quickly and perform confidently. Features include: • Smart snapping and responsive grids • Spacing tools for clean layouts • Focus Mode for precision editing • Fast MIDI Learn • Helpful hints and a replayable tutorial walkthrough • Smart MIDI setup so new controls can automatically map to unused assignments SHAPESHIFT YOUR PERFORMANCE This is where Tandem becomes more than a controller. Save up to 8 snapshots of an entire layout, including all control values. Instantly jump between states or smoothly interpolate between them using a Morph Driver. It’s perfect for live performance, evolving sound design, transitions, and expressive macro control. RANDOMIZATION YOU CAN PLAY Map Randomize to a button or pad and generate musical variation on demand. Great for experimentation, happy accidents, sound design, and live moments that feel alive instead of static. COLLABORATE IN REAL TIME With Tandem Mode, multiple devices can share and control the same layout together. Host or join a session and collaborate live across devices—ideal for bands, classrooms, writing rooms, rehearsals, and shared performance setups. Locally and Remotely via SharePlay! DJ AND PERFORMANCE READY Tandem isn’t just for synths and studio control. It can also power performance-oriented layouts for transport, mixing, browser access, FX control, looping, hot cues, waveforms, and more. Build focused pages for the way you actually perform. THEMES THAT LOOK GOOD AND HOLD UP ON STAGE Use high-contrast, stage-ready themes or create your own look. Tandem includes a redesigned Theme Maker plus import/export support for themes and preset packages so you can share setups and visual styles. FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY Connect with: • USB-C • Bluetooth MIDI • Wi-Fi Background processing helps keep MIDI flowing while you work. Tandem isn’t just a MIDI controller app. It’s a controller builder with performance features you usually only get from dedicated hardware—wrapped in a workflow that’s fast, modern, and easy to come back to. Design your ideal controller, save your favorite setups, morph entire layouts, and perform anywhere—solo or together.

Screenshots

DirectionalEQ2 screens
Tandem MIDI Canvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tandem MIDI Canvas at 100% against DirectionalEQ's 33%. Tandem MIDI Canvas also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 19 months). DirectionalEQ's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $14.99) and ratings volume (14 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

DirectionalEQ costs $9.99 and Tandem MIDI Canvas $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tandem MIDI Canvas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of DirectionalEQ's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tandem MIDI Canvas's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DirectionalEQ ships an update every 19 months, Tandem MIDI Canvas every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
DirectionalEQ versus Tandem MIDI Canvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDirectionalEQTandem MIDI Canvas
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating3.6 (14 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian SiedschlagMitchell Cohen

Customer experience

DirectionalEQ

All ratings14 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative50.0%

Tandem MIDI Canvas

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

DirectionalEQ

No in-app purchases

None

Tandem MIDI Canvas

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DirectionalEQ free?
DirectionalEQ costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tandem MIDI Canvas free?
Tandem MIDI Canvas costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DirectionalEQ or Tandem MIDI Canvas?
Tandem MIDI Canvas is rated higher. DirectionalEQ averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Tandem MIDI Canvas averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do DirectionalEQ or Tandem MIDI Canvas have ads?
Neither DirectionalEQ nor Tandem MIDI Canvas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DirectionalEQ or Tandem MIDI Canvas?
DirectionalEQ ships an update every 19 months, and Tandem MIDI Canvas every 5 weeks. Most recently, DirectionalEQ was updated on October 26, 2026 and Tandem MIDI Canvas on October 10, 2026.

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