MXBus vs VARI Series
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
VARI Series
Wirelessly control and customize your VARI powered speakers with an intuitive touch interface. Manage full-range speakers and subwoofers, adjust EQ settings, save presets, and control various audio parameters for an enhanced sound experience.
- Wireless speaker control
- Intuitive touch interface
- EQ customization (4-10 bands)
- Save personal presets
- Master volume and tone control
- Subwoofer and routing management
- Bluetooth control
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Control VARI V3412, V3415, V4112, V4115, V4412 and V4415 powered speakers wirelessly with an intuitive touch interface. By controlling the master speaker of a Smart Stereo setup, you can manage a pair of full-rage speakers plus a connected subwoofer. V3412/V3415 features controlled by app > Select and customize 5 Voicings with 4 bands of EQ > Save your personal Preset to VARI’s hardware memory > Control Bass and Treble > Control Sub Cut, Routing and Bluetooth > Set App Code V4412/V4415 features controlled by app > Digital mixing, with digital level control for each input > Set 3-band EQ and high pass filter for Input 1 and 2 > Set Reverb, Chorus and Compressor for Input 1 and 2 > Set Pan/Balance for each input > Control Master Volume, Bass and Treble > Select and customize 10 Voicings with 7 bands of EQ > Save 6 Presets to VARI’s hardware memory > Set Mix/Sub Out Mode, Level, Polarity and Sub Cut > Set System Delay and Mix/Sub Out Delay > Customize Reverb settings > Control Left/Right, LED modes and LCD sleep > Set App Code V4112/V4115 features controlled by app > Select and customize 10 Voicings with 7 bands of EQ > Save 6 Presets to VARI’s hardware memory > Control Master Volume, Bass and Treble > Control Sub Cut, Location and Left/Right > Control LED modes and LCD dimming > Set App Code
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VARI Series at none against MXBus's 1. VARI Series also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 70%) and rating (4.4 vs 4.2). MXBus's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (117 vs 5). 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
Both are free to download. MXBus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VARI Series asks for nothing beyond the download.
VARI Series holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MXBus has 117 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of MXBus's written reviews are positive against 100% of VARI Series's.
MXBus ships an update monthly, VARI Series every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and June 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MXBus | VARI Series |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (117 ratings) | 4.4 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 117 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Andreas Keldenich | Guitar Center, Inc. |
Customer experience
MXBus
VARI Series
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
VARI Series
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MXBus
- MXBus PRO Package$2.99
VARI Series
No in-app purchases









