Comparison

MIDISynth Control vs Surface Builder

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

Head to head
About

MIDISynth Control

Control multiple MIDI synthesizers and drum machines from one app. Offers in-depth editing for built-in synths and customizable control maps for external gear. Sync with Ableton Link and add advanced features via in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Centralized control for multiple MIDI synths
  • In-depth editing for popular built-in synths
  • Customizable control maps for external synths
  • Global layout creation for multiple devices
  • Patch storage, randomization, and morphing
  • Ableton Link support for syncing
  • Arpeggiator and drum repeat functionality
Read full description

MIDISynth-Control provides a control hub for your MIDI synthesisers from a single application and also provides in-depth editing for a number of inbuilt, popular synths and drum machines. For the inbuilt synths, all controls are automatically provided, as well a librarian features and functionality specific to the synth. For all other synths it is possible to define your own control map for the controls you wish access to and then lay these out as you see fit. From here global layouts can be created allowing several synths & drum machines to be controlled from a single screen in the app. In-built synths: Novation Circuit & Tracks, Novation Circuit Mono Station, Novation Peak & Summit, Elektron Digitakt, Elektron Digitone, Korg Minilogue xd & Prologue In-built controllers: Novation Launchpad X, Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 As well as being able to store and retrieve patch and synth data to/from your mobile device each editor also provides bi-directional communication, patch randomisation features, patch morphing, XY controls, mixer view (if appropriate), and a performance mode (separate In-App Purchase). A fully featured arpeggiator and drum repeat functionality are available as an IAP. Ableton Link support is provided for syncing individual sequencers to a Link session. This can also be used for syncing LFO and ARP clocks if they exist on the synth. There is also a Link+ IAP available which allows up to 6 other USB devices to be synced to a Link session - this can be used standalone and no other purchases are necessary. Keyboard and drumpad functionality can be added for up to six external synths using the Keyboard/Drumpad+ IAP. No other purchases are necessary. With each module purchase a single user definable layout in available in a 2x2 to 8x8 grid. With the purchase of the Rand/Morph/Performance module this is increased to 6 user layouts. Each module offers a 3-day trial version with some restrictions in order for testing before purchase.

About

Surface Builder

Create custom MIDI control surfaces for audio applications. Design interfaces with buttons, knobs, and faders to send and receive MIDI data, control audio clips, and customize appearance. Supports AUv3 plugins and standalone use.

Highlights
  • Customizable MIDI control surfaces
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone modes
  • Send/receive MIDI data (notes, controllers, pitch bend)
  • Audio clip playback control
  • Multi-scene interface design
  • Drag and drop interface customization
Features
Read full description

Surface Builder is a tool for creating control surfaces that send MIDI data to one or more audio components in order to simplify remote control tasks. You start by creating a surface of a given size, adding buttons, knobs, faders, etc. to the surface and configuring them to generate the required MIDI output. Surface Builder allows you to send note on/off, controller change and program change values as well as being able to emulate modulation wheel and pitch bend data. Buttons can also be configured to send bulk MIDI data using a single key press. You can build surfaces that span multiple scenes and link between them for large complex interfaces. Incoming MIDI data can also be used to control or trigger elements of the interface, giving a bi-directional stream of MIDI data. Surface Builder can be added as a pure MIDI plugin which allows processing of MIDI only, or as an instrument plugin, allowing you to process audio passing through it. You can even load it as an intrument and configure a surface to start and stop audio clips either manually or remotely. Surface Builder was designed to be used as an AUv3 plugin within your favourite DAW, but it can also be used in standalone to send MIDI directly to MIDI hardware using direct access to their MIDI ports. Many different object types are supported including buttons, switches, lights, rotary knobs, faders, sliders, XY-Pad, keyboards, as well as text, image and box objects. Each object has many different styles and colours, so no two surfaces look the same. Drag and drop an audio file onto a button and that button becomes a clip player. Attach rotary knobs to control the clips volume and pan. Throw on top of that a LP/HP filter knob and you are cooking on gas. Drop PNG transparent image icons on buttons to customise the look and feel. A button can record and playback bulk MIDI commands, on both button press and release. So pressing a button could send the notes of a chord when pressed, and appropriate note offs on release. A surface can consist of up to 6 scenes for really complex designs. Buttons and switches can be used to switch scenes and also to show and hide other objects to make better use of screen space. Once your surface is complete switch to presentation mode to hide all the toolbars. Each surface can be saved with compressed audio and images all in a single surface file. Features ○ AUv3 and standalone modes. ○ Bluetooth MIDI support. ○ Drag and Drop interface. ○ Send and Receive Note On/Off. ○ Supports all Control Change parameters. ○ Supports Program Change commands with bank support. ○ Multiple Audio Clip playback. ○ Record and playback bulk midi data. ○ Multi-Scene. ○ Multi-level undo/redo. ○ MIDI Monitor ○ Presentation Mode. ○ iPhone and iPad compatible.

Screenshots

MIDISynth Control1 screens
Surface Builder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDISynth Control at Free against Surface Builder's $14.99. MIDISynth Control also leads on iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13). Surface Builder's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads 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

MIDISynth Control is free to download; Surface Builder costs $14.99 up front. MIDISynth Control sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Surface Builder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Surface Builder holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of MIDISynth Control's written reviews are positive against 80% of Surface Builder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MIDISynth Control versus Surface Builder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDISynth ControlSurface Builder
PriceFree — better$14.99
Rating3.4 (12 ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1215 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.3 — better13
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLee Huddleston4Pockets.com

Customer experience

MIDISynth Control

All ratings12 ratings
Positive58.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative36.4%

Surface Builder

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

MIDISynth Control

One-time11
  • Link+$5.99
  • Keyboard/Drumpad+$6.99
  • Control+$9.99
Show 8 more
  • Novation Circuit MonoStation$10.99
  • Rand/Morph/Performance$12.99
  • Novation LPX$12.99
  • Novation LCXL$12.99
  • Novation Circuit$19.99
  • Elektron Digitakt$19.99
  • Elektron Digitone$19.99
  • Novation Peak & Summit$27.99
None

Surface Builder

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDISynth Control free?
MIDISynth Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Surface Builder free?
Surface Builder costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDISynth Control or Surface Builder?
Surface Builder is rated higher. MIDISynth Control averages 3.4 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Surface Builder averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do MIDISynth Control or Surface Builder have ads?
Neither MIDISynth Control nor Surface Builder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDISynth Control or Surface Builder?
MIDISynth Control ships an update every 3 weeks, and Surface Builder every 3 weeks. Most recently, MIDISynth Control was updated on June 1, 2026 and Surface Builder on September 22, 2026.

Other comparisons