Comparison

Midi Controller vs Sonari Remote

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

Head to head
About

Midi Controller

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile MIDI controller. Send notes, control changes, and program changes wirelessly or via USB to any compatible DAW or hardware. Customize your workspace with unlimited, dynamic controls.

Highlights
  • USB, WLAN, and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Customizable buttons, pads, and sliders
  • Send Notes, CC, and Program Change values
  • Works with macOS and CoreMidi compatible hardware
  • No additional software required
  • Dynamic control creation
Features
Read full description

MidiController turns your iPhone/iPad into a complete MIDI controller, that works over USB, WLAN or Bluetooth. No additional software needed! Send all possible Notes, Continuous Controller / Control Change and Program Change values to the connected device. Build your workspace from the ground up with unlimited, custom Pushes/Buttons and Sliders. All Pushes/Buttons and Sliders are completely customisable - customize every value of every control possible and how the control behaves. You can even create dynamic controls (e.g. Program Change values that count up or down). • Works with every macOS: From 10.5 (Leopard) up to the newest 10.15 (Catalina) • Works on every iPhone and iPad • Also works with external hardware (e.g. synths,...) that supports Apple (CoreMidi) • If your hardware/PC does not support CoreMidi, you can use an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge to make MidiController work with ALL MIDI devices Works with every application that supports MIDI-Input. Example DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation): * Logic X Pro * Ableton Live * Avid Pro Tools * Propellerhead Reason * Steinberg Cubase * Cockos Reaper * and many more (in principle every application that supports midi input) ** NOTES ** • MidiController does not play any sound itself, it only sends out MIDI-Information to connected devices. • MidiController is primary created to work with macOS-Devices. If you want to use MidiController with hardware that does not support Apple CoreMidi, you might need an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS per lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. • MidiController does not receive any MIDI-Information, it generates and sends them itself depending on the user-input. ______________________________________________ APP USAGE INFO & MIDI CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Should you choose to upgrade to a midi controller subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Midi Controller Terms of Service: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Terms-Conditions-9fc801bf71f94e4cae7b31b72c7e13e3 Midi Controller Privacy Policy: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-ee4011f149ac417bbedbfea3f0250a96

About

Sonari Remote

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Touch a note. Tilt your iPhone. Shape a sound with your breath. Sonari Remote adds low latency touch, motion and gesture control to Sonari on your Mac. Requires Sonari: MIDI Controller on an Apple silicon Mac on the same local network. This free companion controls the Mac instrument; it does not make sound on its own or connect directly to other music apps. SIX WAYS TO PLAY - Touch: play notes, chords, drum pads and ribbons on the screen. The notes follow the Mac's key and scale. - Hold: tilt, turn and lift your iPhone to shape a note. Add another control with your thumb. - Air: use breath and voice to change the sound, or hum a melody to control pitch. - Face: play with a smile, raised brows, jaw movement or a turn of your head. Requires a TrueDepth camera. - Camera: track your hands from a second angle, alongside or instead of the Mac's camera. - Space: turn the room into zones you can reach into and play. Requires an iPhone with LiDAR. Choose one way at a time. The app explains which features your iPhone supports. LOW LATENCY CONTROL, THROUGH YOUR MAC Play Sonari's built-in instruments or control software instruments through the Mac's MIDI and MPE output. Sensor processing stays on your devices, with musical control sent over your local network. Response depends on your iPhone, network and Mac audio setup. Add motion and breath expression while your other hand plays in front of the Mac camera. PICK THE SOUND. START THE MUSIC. Browse the Mac's sounds, choose a playing surface, change the key and scale, and start or stop the performance from your iPhone. Touch layouts include keyboards, drums, chords and continuous expression controls. TURN A SOUND INTO AN INSTRUMENT Record a sample of up to 30 seconds and send it to your paired Mac. Play it back as a new instrument in Sonari. CONNECT ONCE, PLAY AGAIN Open both apps on the same local network and pair them. They reconnect automatically. No cable or account is needed. Musical control travels over an encrypted connection between your devices. FREE COMPANION Sonari Remote has no in-app purchases or subscriptions. Sonari on the Mac offers a free 14-day trial, followed by a one-time purchase for continued playing. Requires iOS 26 or later and Sonari on macOS 26 or later. Allow Local Network to connect. Motion, microphone and camera access support the ways you choose.

Screenshots

Midi Controller4 screens
Sonari Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sonari Remote at none against Midi Controller's 2. Midi Controller's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Midi Controller sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Sonari Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Midi Controller versus Sonari Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMidi ControllerSonari Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (42 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings42 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMizo LLCShubhra Saha

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Midi Controller

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly: MIDI Controller7 Days trial$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime: MIDI Controller$29.99
None

Sonari Remote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Midi Controller free?
Midi Controller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sonari Remote free?
Sonari Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Midi Controller or Sonari Remote have ads?
Neither Midi Controller nor Sonari Remote shows ads.

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