Condukt vs Knobbler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Condukt
Transform your iPhone, iPad, or Mac into a powerful, customizable MIDI controller for your synthesizers and music hardware. Easily connect and control parameters by name, eliminating the need for manual programming. Build unique control surfaces and recall settings instantly for seamless live performance.
- Plug and play USB-C MIDI connection
- Parameter control by name
- Customizable control surfaces
- Snapshot recall for live performance
- Multi-device simultaneous control
- Themable interface
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Turn your iPhone, iPad or Mac into a customizable MIDI controller. Plug in your synth, pick parameters by name, and start playing in seconds. Condukt connects to any class-compliant USB MIDI device. No adapters. No manual CC programming. Just plug in and go. ▸ PLUG AND PLAY Connect your synth via USB-C. Condukt recognizes it instantly. Pick parameters from a list, filter cutoff, oscillator pitch, envelope attack, and you're controlling it. No more digging through manuals for CC numbers. ▸ RUNS IN YOUR AUv3 HOST (NEW) Load Condukt as an Audio Unit inside AUM, Loopy Pro, Logic Pro for iPad, Cubasis or Drambo. It follows host transport and tempo, so every sequencer starts on the host's downbeat. Run as many instances as you like, each with its own board, clock and patch cables, and your host project saves and restores all of it. ▸ SEVEN SEQUENCERS Conduktor, Phrase, Drum, Arpeggiator, Turing Machine, Cartesian and Painter. Draw chords with a finger or Pencil, program a XOX drum grid with polyrhythmic track pages, or let a Turing Machine find the pattern for you. One clock runs them all. ▸ POWERED BY midi.guide Condukt uses the midi.guide open-source database with MIDI definitions for hundreds of synths, drum machines, and effects. Community-maintained and constantly growing. ▸ BUILD YOUR OWN BOARDS Create custom control surfaces tailored to your workflow. Sequencers, faders, crossfaders, recall buttons: arrange them however you want. Save multiple boards for different setups. ▸ DO WHAT YOUR HARDWARE CAN'T - Add multiple LFOs to synths that only have one - Shape any parameter with the new Step Modulator - Control the same parameter across multiple tracks with a single fader - Instant snapshot recall for live performance - Sophisticated generative sequencers ▸ MULTI-DEVICE CONTROL One board can control multiple synths simultaneously. A single "Filter" fader can adjust cutoff on your Minifreak, Digitakt, and Moog at the same time. ▸ PERFORMANCE LAYOUTS Switch between layouts on the fly. Page 1 for sound design. Page 2 for performance. Page 3 for mixing. All within the same board. ▸ SNAPSHOT RECALL Store and recall control settings instantly. Tap and hold to save. Quick tap to restore. Perfect for live sets. Add crossfaders and morph between saved scenes. ▸ FULLY THEMEABLE Condukt looks as good as it works. Custom themes make your controller visually distinctive, whether you're performing on stage or filming content. ▸ WORKS WITH Elektron (Digitakt, Syntakt, Octatrack, Analog Four, Model:Cycles, Model:Samples), Arturia (Minifreak, Microfreak, MiniBrute), Moog (Subharmonicon, DFAM, Mother-32, Matriarch), Teenage Engineering, Novation, Korg, Roland, Sequential, and hundreds more. ▸ MADE FOR MUSICIANS Built by synthheads for synthheads. We've been working on this project for 5+ years, and Condukt is the app we always wanted. Start free with the Hello board, subscribe monthly, or buy Lifetime once and be done. No account required. Just plug in and play. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Knobbler
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful, auto-labeling control surface for Ableton Live. Seamlessly navigate tracks, control parameters, and build custom interfaces that save with your Live sets. Keep your focus on creativity without leaving the music-making flow.
- Auto-labeling and auto-coloring control surface
- Multitouch parameter control
- Customizable interface saved with Live sets
- Real-time parameter updates with units
- Fast track, group, and device navigation
- Channel strip mixer controls
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Knobbler turns your iPhone or iPad into an auto-labeling, auto-coloring, multitouch parameter control and navigation surface for Ableton Live. 30 day fully-functioning trial of all features. The Mixer, Clips, Session, and Nav pages are available during the trial and after a one-time purchase of Knobbler or a subscription. Ableton Live 12 Suite or Ableton Live 12 Standard with the Max for Live add-on is required. Simply add the free Knobbler4 device to your Live Set and use the Knobbler app to use your iPhone or iPad to control devices and parameters. ** Control every parameter and build a customized interface, including sliders and X-Y pads that is saved with your Live sets. ** Navigate your tracks, groups, racks and devices faster and easier than ever. ** Full screen Cilps and Mixer views keep you connected to your music. ** Session View gives you a combined clips and mixer view for full control. ** Full access to capture and recall rack variations. ** Navigate cue points and locators in your set. ** Engage Spring mode for momentary effects. Visit https://plugins.steinkamp.us/m4l-Knobbler4 to download the Ableton Live device to use with this app. Map parameters in your Ableton Live set to unmapped sliders on the tablet with a single touch. No need to enter and exit a mapping mode. Access every parameter in the currently selected device, directly on the phone or tablet. Parameter mapping configuration is saved with your Live Set, so you can switch between songs with minimal friction. Track, device, and parameter names are kept synchronized with your Live Set as you change them, even track colors! Parameter sliders and values are updated in real time, with the same units (e.g. dB, ms, %) displayed as what you see in Live. Double tap a slider on the tablet to reset the parameter to its default value. Swipe in the Navigation controls on the right side to dive into your tracks, groups, racks, and devices faster than ever before. Swipe in from the left to show a channel strip with familiar mixer controls, including color-coded sends. Works on phones and tablets, even in multi-window view on the latest IOS 26. Knobbler is there to keep you out of the computer and in the creative moment, unlocking more of your music making potential. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Condukt at free against Knobbler's free with in-app purchases. Condukt also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Knobbler's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.1). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Condukt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Knobbler sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Condukt holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Condukt's written reviews are positive against 88% of Knobbler's.
Condukt ships an update every 3 weeks, Knobbler weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Condukt | Knobbler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better | 4.8 (16 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 87.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pencil Research | ZACHARY STEINKAMP |
Customer experience
Condukt
Knobbler
In-app purchases
Condukt
- Condukt Unlimited$4.991 Month
- Unlock Condukt$39.99
Knobbler
- Knobbler Monthly$0.991 Month
- Knobbler Annual$9.991 Year
- Knobbler Lifetime$19.99





