MXBus vs The Gnome
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MXBus
This app empowers musicians to control their own monitor mixes directly from their iOS device when using Behringer X32/X-Air or Midas consoles. It offers features like stereo channels, namable groups, and automatic console discovery for a streamlined sound check and live performance adjustment.
- Monitor mix control for musicians
- Supports Behringer X32/X-Air and Midas consoles
- Stereo channels for screen real-estate
- Namable groups and automatic console discovery
- Control send levels for channels, aux tracks, and effects
- Reorder channels within groups
- Springboard and Lock Screen widgets
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MXBus is a monitor mixing app for all Behringer X32 and X-Air mixing consoles that allows musicians on stage to control their own monitor mix with their iOS device. It also supports the Midas versions of these mixers (M32* and M-Air) It features stereo channels to save screen real-estate, namable groups and automatic console discovery. Musicians can control the send levels into their monitoring mix bus for all channels aux tracks and effects returns. You can even reorder the channels within your groups to your liking. It makes the sound check painless and allows you to adjust the mix during the gig. Some key differentiating Features: • Linked channels are treated as a stereo channel to save screen space. • Double tapping a fader knob sets it 0. • Double tapping the panning control on a stereo channel pans the signal hard L/R. Another double tap reverses the panning. • NEW: Springboard and Lock Screen widgets for quicker access. And as always: The app is built with data privacy in mind - no adds, no tracking! The PRO pack unlocks even more features like: • Decayed meters with peak memory • Compression meters • Gate LEDs • Channel mute buttons (X32) • Group mute buttons (X32) • Unlimited groups • Scenes • Bus EQ • Bus Compressor
The Gnome
This app is a powerful practice and rehearsal tool designed to improve rhythmic accuracy and technique. It offers advanced features like polyrhythm generation, customizable sound sets, and pattern sequencing for detailed click track creation. Users can also experiment with rhythmic feels and receive real-time feedback on their timing.
- Process-oriented rhythmic practice
- Flexible click track creation
- Polyrhythm generation with 4 channels
- Customizable sound sets and beep generation
- Step sequencer for rhythmic patterns
- Real-time timing accuracy feedback
- Tempo and time automation
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The Gnome is a powerful practice and rehearsal tool. The Gnome provides process-oriented features that help strengthen your internal pulse, refine your sense of rhythmic feel, and build technique. You can also use The Gnome to build click tracks with flexible meter representation, full tempo automation, and scalable playback speed. - The simple Home Screen provides easy access to the most basic Gnome functions. If you just need a basic metronome, you’ll find it here. - The intuitive, DAW-like Mixer screen includes four channels that can each be assigned to a different rhythmic rate (subdivision), making it a snap to subdivide a beat, or generate polyrhythms. - The intermittent clicks feature allows The Gnome to play for a number of counts, and then rest in silence for a number of counts. You can also easily alternate back and forth between two Gnome channels, making it extremely easy to practice switching between two different rhythmic subdivisions (triplets to sixteenths, for instance). - The Sound Set Editor allows you to assign each of the four channels one or more of the over 250 sounds from the built-in Sound Library, or any sound file(s) you share to the app. You can even generate your own customized beep sounds with assignable frequency, waveform, and simple envelope settings (fade-in, length, fade-out). The sonic possibilities of The Gnome are virtually limitless. - The Pattern Editor is a simple yet powerful step sequencer that allows each channel of The Gnome to play rhythmic patterns. There are 32 patterns available to each of the four Gnome channels, and each 'step' of a pattern can be assigned to a specific sound in that channel's Sound Set, as well as its own dynamic level. - The Meter Builder allows you to quickly create Gnome patterns to represent common time signatures. - The Pattern Sequencer allows you to combine a channel’s 32 patterns in any order you wish. The “Global Pattern Sequencer” on Channel 1 allows for the creation of full click tracks with automated and fully scalable tempo changes, and is capable of triggering patterns on the other channels through the “Pattern Link” feature. The Pattern Sequencer is designed to be usable in individual practice as well as ensemble rehearsals. - The innovative Groove Editor allows you to define precise rhythmic feels by altering the proportions of the subdivisions within a beat. Add a touch of shuffle to a rhythm, explore rhythmic feels from around the world, or use the Groove Editor as a springboard for rhythmic experimentation. - The fun and unique Timing Gauge uses the microphone to assess the user's rhythmic accuracy, providing realtime visual and statistical feedback on your rhythmic tendencies. Quick calibration and customizable settings ensure accurate and meaningful readings. - The Tempo Ramp provides simple tempo and time automation. In Continuous Mode, you can gradually speed up toward a 'peak' tempo, hold that tempo for a specified length of time (measured in either seconds, or beats) and then slow back down to the starting tempo. In Stair Step mode, The Gnome will hold the specified tempo for the specified amount of time (again, measured in seconds or beats) and then increment toward a goal tempo or time. - It is easy to save and organize Gnome Preset files, so any settings you wish can be recalled with one tap. Create a series of practice routines, settings for different exercises or pieces, or even create presets for your students. Presets can be shared very easily. The Gnome also features an audio export function, making it possible to generate .m4a or .wav files of the app’s audio output. - The Gnome features a built-in contextual help system, providing instant access to full documentation simply by swiping inward from the left side of the screen. The help system always provides documentation for the screen you are currently viewing, so you can always learn more about any feature of the app on-demand.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MXBus at Free against The Gnome's $4.99. MXBus also leads on ratings volume (121 vs 13) and device support (3 vs 1). The Gnome's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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
MXBus is free to download; The Gnome costs $4.99 up front. MXBus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. The Gnome asks for nothing beyond the download.
The Gnome holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MXBus has 121 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MXBus's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Gnome's.
MXBus ships an update monthly, The Gnome every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MXBus | The Gnome |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (121 ratings) | 5.0 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 121 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 116 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andreas Keldenich | Brian Mueller |
Customer experience
MXBus
The Gnome
Bugs and requests
MXBus
Reported bugs
18 issues- Faders moving/sliding on their own without user input
- App crashes when changing aux channels
- Mute button switches to channel info screen
- Scene saving not working properly (iOS 26)
- Mix recall/fader recall feature broken after updates
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- Glitchy fader behavior when locking/unlocking phone
- Inverted fader behavior (turning down turns up)
- Random channel muting/unmuting
- Connection failures with error codes (Error 49, Error 65)
- App not saving changes on iOS 26
- Bus EQ affecting all buses instead of individual ones
- Pan controls not functioning in Pro version
- Bus labels showing blank on M32
- Scenes not loading saved mix-bus selection
- Network permission not requested on first launch (iPad)
- App not recognizing mixer on certain network configurations
- Compatibility issues with iOS 15.6.1 and iPadOS versions
- Scenes lost after iOS/app upgrades
Requested features
15 requests- Panning control for individual channels
- Support for Behringer Wing consoles
- Individual group controls for sends
- Main L/R mix access
- FX send control from channels
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- Compression and advanced EQ on channels
- Mute status indicator from console
- Custom channel ordering/arrangement
- Demo mode for training
- Android version of the app
- Support for Allen & Heath SQ, QU, CQ boards
- Support for Soundcraft Ui24r
- Offline scene editing capability
- More mute groups
- Mackie DL version
The Gnome
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MXBus
- MXBus PRO Package$2.99
The Gnome
No in-app purchases









