MusiKraken vs RX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MusiKraken
Transform your mobile device into a powerful, customizable MIDI controller. Utilize built-in sensors and connected hardware to create unique musical expressions and control instruments or software. Supports advanced MIDI features and audio unit plugins.
- Modular MIDI controller editor
- Device sensor inputs (touch, motion, camera, mic)
- Connect external devices (game controllers, Apple Watch)
- MIDI effects and routing
- Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin hosting
- MIDI 2.0 support
- OSC data output
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MusiKraken is a modular MIDI Controller Construction Kit, empowering you to fully harness the capabilities of your mobile device's hardware. Winner of a 2022 MIDI Innovation Award! Make music using device sensors like Touch, Motion Sensors, Camera (face, hand, body and color tracking, including TrueDepth and LiDAR support) and Microphone, or connected devices like Game Controllers, Apple Watch or AirPods. Choose from several types of modules in the editor and connect the ports to create your own personal MIDI controller setup. Route the MIDI signals through effect modules to control multiple instruments simultaneously or invent creative new MIDI controller combinations. MusiKraken supports sending and receiving MIDI data over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or via Core MIDI (for example by using Inter-Device Audio and MIDI (IDAM)). And it can host Audio Unit (AUv3) instrument plugins. Or send the sensor data via OSC. MusiKraken is also one of the first apps to officially support MIDI 2.0! You already own a very powerful device with all kinds of sensors and connection possibilities. With this app you can use these sensors as inputs, combine them with all kinds of MIDI effects and send the resulting MIDI events to your computer, synthesizer, any other MIDI-capable app or Audio Unit to to create your own, expressive MIDI controller setup. Your device for example has a multitouch screen. Use this with the Keyboard module to slide on the keys to control multiple musical parameters simultaneously. Using MPE, MIDI 2.0 or the Chord Splitter also allows you to control these parameters separately per key. Newer devices also support tracking the finger radius (or pressure on older devices), which adds another dimension of control. Multitouch is also used by the Chords Pad to play the chords of a selected scale, or the Touchpad, which allows you control values via touch gestures. Another unique input sensor is the camera: MusiKraken supports tracking your hands in front of the camera, your body pose, your face or objects with specific colors. This way you can for example use your iOS device as a Theremin, jump or dance around in front of the camera to generate notes or control audio parameters, use your mouth to control the sound of a virtual trumpet, or any other combination. If your device has a TrueDepth or LiDAR sensor, you can also use the distances as input values. Your device also has motion sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope and Magnetometer. They can be either used separately, or combined to get the current rotation of the device in three dimensions. Use this to generate sounds or control parameters while shaking or tilting your device. Your device also has a microphone, and MusiKraken can detect the pitch or amplitude of the signal. Your iOS device also allows you to connect to external devices. MusiKraken for example supports Game Controllers (trigger events on button or thumbstick changes, motion sensors, haptics and light on supported Game Controllers), Apple Watch (motion sensors, digital crown, touch, heart rate) or the motion sensors within AirPods. The real power comes once you start combining the sensors with the effect modules. There are effects that can be used to change or filter the MIDI events. Some effects allow you to combine multiple input sources into new output values. Or splits chords into separate notes so that they can be sent to different channels. Important: Please note that some of the modules only work on iOS devices with specific hardware: ARKit Face Tracking and the TrueDepth module need a TrueDepth front camera, and Hand and Body Pose Tracking needs at least iOS 14, and might be too slow on older devices. HealthKit is used in the app to access Apple Watch data like heart beat or motion sensors. The app only uses sensor data to generate MIDI events.
RX
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Play the wind synth you know with a whole new set of sounds. Warm woodwind tones for a soft ballad, bright synth leads for a bold solo. RX-79 is a breath synthesizer that turns your wind controller and iPhone or iPad into a full sound module. Saxophonist SJsax shaped every sound and every response by actually playing it. [Find the right sound for every song] 41 built-in sounds. 14 acoustic sounds including soprano, alto and baritone sax, clarinet, oboe, flute, trumpet, euphonium and harmonica, and 27 electric sounds including brass, leads and basses. Play the same melody in many different moods. Tap the preview button in the sound list to hear a sound even without a controller. [Fit it to your breath] Adjust breath sensitivity, response curve, attack and decay, and set breath noise, tonguing and note-to-note connection to match your playing style. [Make it your own] Shape each sound with brightness, resonance, drive, vibrato, delay and reverb. Save the settings you like to the USER list and give them names. Saved sounds stay on this device. [SJ PACK: 10 signature sounds, sold separately] Extra sounds that carry SJsax's playing feel. Before buying, you can play each sound yourself for 30 seconds. Note: SJ PACK is an in-app purchase sold separately from the app (one-time purchase). [Connection] Connect a USB MIDI wind controller. RX-79 responds to breath (CC2, CC11, aftertouch), pitch bend and vibrato (CC1). Depending on the ports and power needs of your controller and iPhone or iPad, you may need a separate cable or adapter, such as a USB camera adapter. Sound plays even with the silent switch on, and you can play along with backing tracks from other apps. No internet connection required. No personal data is collected. Connection and support https://sjsax.com/rx79/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MusiKraken at none against RX's 1. RX's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, device support 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
MusiKraken costs $9.99 and RX $9.99 up front. RX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MusiKraken asks for nothing beyond the download.
MusiKraken ships an update every 4 weeks, RX weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MusiKraken | RX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (24 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 97.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Snarp | sung ju KIM |
In-app purchases
MusiKraken
No in-app purchases
RX
- SJ PACK$5.99









