Comparison

MIDISpy vs RingsFX

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

Head to head
About

MIDISpy

This utility helps monitor MIDI connections across various platforms. It offers basic filtering for different MIDI message types and supports multiple connectivity options.

Highlights
  • Standalone and AUv3 support
  • Basic message filtering
  • Inter-App MIDI
  • USB MIDI
  • Bluetooth MIDI
  • Network MIDI
Features
Read full description

MIDISpy - MIDI Monitor A handy little utility for monitoring MIDI connectivity. Overview: - Standalone and AUv3 support - Basic Filters for Note, Control Change, Clock and SysEx messages Connectivity: - Inter-App MIDI - USB MIDI - Bluetooth MIDI - Network MIDI - AUv3 Requirements: - iOS9+

About

RingsFX

This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling synthesis emulation
  • Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
  • Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
  • External audio excitation
  • Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
  • 7 unique synthesis modes
  • 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
Features
Read full description

RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.

Screenshots

RingsFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDISpy at Free against RingsFX's $7.99. MIDISpy also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). RingsFX's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

MIDISpy is free to download; RingsFX costs $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RingsFX holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RingsFX has 26 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MIDISpy's written reviews are positive against 100% of RingsFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDISpy ships an update every 3 weeks, RingsFX fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MIDISpy versus RingsFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDISpyRingsFX
PriceFree — better$7.99
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.9 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings426 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai Aras4Pockets.com

Customer experience

MIDISpy

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

RingsFX

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MIDISpy

No in-app purchases

None

RingsFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDISpy free?
MIDISpy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RingsFX free?
RingsFX costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDISpy or RingsFX?
RingsFX is rated higher. MIDISpy averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while RingsFX averages 4.9 from 26 ratings.
Do MIDISpy or RingsFX have ads?
Neither MIDISpy nor RingsFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDISpy or RingsFX?
MIDISpy ships an update every 3 weeks, and RingsFX fortnightly. Most recently, MIDISpy was updated on September 30, 2026 and RingsFX on October 12, 2026.

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