Comparison

MXBus vs VARI Series

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

MXBus4 screens
VARI Series3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MXBus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VARI Series asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MXBus ships an update monthly, VARI Series every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and June 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MXBus versus VARI Series: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMXBusVARI Series
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (117 ratings)4.4 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings117 — better5
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB34 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperAndreas KeldenichGuitar Center, Inc.

Customer experience

MXBus

All ratings117 ratings
Positive80.3%
Neutral6.8%
Negative12.8%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive70.3%
Neutral13.2%
Negative16.5%

VARI Series

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
Show 13 more
  • 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
Show 10 more
  • 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

1 purchases

MXBus

One-time1
  • MXBus PRO Package$2.99
None

VARI Series

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MXBus free?
MXBus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VARI Series free?
VARI Series is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MXBus or VARI Series?
VARI Series is rated higher. MXBus averages 4.2 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while VARI Series averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.
Do MXBus or VARI Series have ads?
Neither MXBus nor VARI Series shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MXBus or VARI Series?
MXBus ships an update monthly, and VARI Series every 8 months. Most recently, MXBus was updated on September 4, 2026 and VARI Series on June 26, 2026.

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