Block Dashboard vs MusiKraken
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Block Dashboard
Configure ROLI Blocks in real-time without a computer. Adjust sensitivity, MIDI channels, and modes for various ROLI Block models. Run alongside other music apps for seamless control.
- Real-time configuration
- No computer needed
- Multi-device support
- Run with other music apps
- MPE/Single/Multi mode support
- MIDI channel changes
- Sensitivity configuration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Block Dashboard lets you make realtime configuration changes of your ROLI blocks without the need of a computer. Features: - Support ROLI Lightpad Block M, ROLI Lightpad Block and ROLI Seaboard block - Support multi connected devices at the same - Run in parallel with other music applications (lets you control the settings of your blocks while playing software synths) - Support MPE/Single/Multi mode - Support changes of midi channel - Support configuration of the sensitivity of each dimension (strike, press, glide, slide, lift) - Support Scale and Chord modes - For ROLI Lightpad block only: support loading of the default littlefoot note program, choice of the block mode (5x5, 4x4, 3x3, 2x2 grid). Note: It does not currently support presets. Closing the application will reset to default parameters.
MusiKraken
Transform your mobile device into a powerful, customizable MIDI controller. Utilize built-in sensors and connected hardware to create unique musical expressions and control instruments or software. Supports advanced MIDI features and audio unit plugins.
- Modular MIDI controller editor
- Device sensor inputs (touch, motion, camera, mic)
- Connect external devices (game controllers, Apple Watch)
- MIDI effects and routing
- Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin hosting
- MIDI 2.0 support
- OSC data output
Read full descriptionHide full description
MusiKraken is a modular MIDI Controller Construction Kit, empowering you to fully harness the capabilities of your mobile device's hardware. Winner of a 2022 MIDI Innovation Award! Make music using device sensors like Touch, Motion Sensors, Camera (face, hand, body and color tracking, including TrueDepth and LiDAR support) and Microphone, or connected devices like Game Controllers, Apple Watch or AirPods. Choose from several types of modules in the editor and connect the ports to create your own personal MIDI controller setup. Route the MIDI signals through effect modules to control multiple instruments simultaneously or invent creative new MIDI controller combinations. MusiKraken supports sending and receiving MIDI data over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or via Core MIDI (for example by using Inter-Device Audio and MIDI (IDAM)). And it can host Audio Unit (AUv3) instrument plugins. Or send the sensor data via OSC. MusiKraken is also one of the first apps to officially support MIDI 2.0! You already own a very powerful device with all kinds of sensors and connection possibilities. With this app you can use these sensors as inputs, combine them with all kinds of MIDI effects and send the resulting MIDI events to your computer, synthesizer, any other MIDI-capable app or Audio Unit to to create your own, expressive MIDI controller setup. Your device for example has a multitouch screen. Use this with the Keyboard module to slide on the keys to control multiple musical parameters simultaneously. Using MPE, MIDI 2.0 or the Chord Splitter also allows you to control these parameters separately per key. Newer devices also support tracking the finger radius (or pressure on older devices), which adds another dimension of control. Multitouch is also used by the Chords Pad to play the chords of a selected scale, or the Touchpad, which allows you control values via touch gestures. Another unique input sensor is the camera: MusiKraken supports tracking your hands in front of the camera, your body pose, your face or objects with specific colors. This way you can for example use your iOS device as a Theremin, jump or dance around in front of the camera to generate notes or control audio parameters, use your mouth to control the sound of a virtual trumpet, or any other combination. If your device has a TrueDepth or LiDAR sensor, you can also use the distances as input values. Your device also has motion sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer. They can be either used separately, or combined to get the current rotation of the device in three dimensions. Use this to generate sounds or control parameters while shaking or tilting your device. Your device also has a microphone, and MusiKraken can detect the pitch or amplitude of the signal. Your iOS device also allows you to connect to external devices. MusiKraken for example supports Game Controllers (trigger events on button or thumbstick changes, motion sensors, haptics and light on supported Game Controllers), Apple Watch (motion sensors, digital crown, touch, heart rate) or the motion sensors within AirPods. The real power comes once you start combining the sensors with the effect modules. There are effects that can be used to change or filter the MIDI events. Some effects allow you to combine multiple input sources into new output values. Or splits chords into separate notes so that they can be sent to different channels. Important: Please note that some of the modules only work on iOS devices with specific hardware: ARKit Face Tracking and the TrueDepth module need a TrueDepth front camera, and Hand and Body Pose Tracking needs at least iOS 14, and might be too slow on older devices. HealthKit is used in the app to access Apple Watch data like heart beat or motion sensors. The app only uses sensor data to generate MIDI events.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MusiKraken at 97% against Block Dashboard's 51%. MusiKraken also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 8 months). Block Dashboard's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, 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
Block Dashboard costs $3.99 and MusiKraken $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MusiKraken holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Block Dashboard's written reviews are positive against 97% of MusiKraken's.
Block Dashboard ships an update every 8 months, MusiKraken every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Block Dashboard | MusiKraken |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 2.9 (14 ratings) | 5.0 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.3% of reviews | 97.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #195 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 110 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christophe Tornieri | Snarp |
Customer experience
Block Dashboard
MusiKraken
In-app purchases
Block Dashboard
No in-app purchases
MusiKraken
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Block Dashboard free?
Is MusiKraken free?
Which has better reviews, Block Dashboard or MusiKraken?
Do Block Dashboard or MusiKraken have ads?
Which is updated more often, Block Dashboard or MusiKraken?
Other comparisons















