Comparison

MIDIRegs vs Mandolin Chords Compass

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

Head to head
About

MIDIRegs

This app acts as a MIDI control surface for Uilleann bagpipes, allowing users to control hardware or software synthesizers. It models the drones and regulators of traditional pipes, offering customizable MIDI channels and velocity settings.

Highlights
  • Uilleann bagpipes drone and regulator simulation
  • CoreMIDI compliant MIDI control surface
  • Control of hardware or software synthesizers
  • Customizable MIDI channels and velocity
  • Auto-chord and single play modes
  • Global transposition settings
Read full description

MIDIRegs is a Uilleann bagpipes Drones/Regulators CoreMIDI-compliant MIDI control surface for the iPhone. MIDIRegs doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is for playing hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via CoreMIDI hardware interfaces connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments such as IK Multimedia SampleTank or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your device. MIDIRegs is modeled on the drones and three regulators (Tenor, Baritone, and Bass) found on a full set of Uilleann pipes. MIDIRegs makes it possible to have drones and regulators that sound like any instrument patch available on a CoreMIDI virtual synth running on the device. You may also use the app to play sounds on a hardware MIDI synthesizer connected via a CoreMIDI interface attached to the dock connector of your device. Since the drones and regulators messages may be sent on two different MIDI channels, each can play a different synthesizer patch. Touch the regulator play mode icon just below the drone switch to toggle between regulator auto-chord play and single play modes. Touch the MIDI icon for the settings page. Choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIRegs will show up as an input option labeled "MIDIRegs" in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MIDIBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. Set the overall transposition for the entire instrument using the Transpose (Semitones) slider. Any transposition from between -12 to +12 semitones can be selected. Default is zero, corresponding to a concert D set. Set the MIDI transmit channel for the drones and regulators using the Drones Channel and Regulators Channel sliders. Any channel from 1-16 may be selected. Default is channel 1 for the drones and channel 2 for the regulators. Multiple devices can simultaneously talk to the MIDI synth, just make sure each device is on its own set of MIDI channels. Note-on events are sent with a fixed velocity. Set the velocity using the Drones Velocity and Regulators Velocity sliders. Any value from 0-127 may be selected. Default value is 100. If you ever have "stuck" notes, you may touch the "!" icon on the main screen to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message and stop the sounds. All settings are saved when exiting MIDIRegs and restored the next time it is run. Here's the settings changes required for two popular synth apps: IK Multimedia SampleTank: - In Settings (touch the gear icon), enable "Background Audio" Sonosaurus ThumbJam: - In "Prefs", under "MIDI Control", in "MIDI General Options" enable "Use CoreMIDI" and "Active in Background" Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings.

About

Mandolin Chords Compass

Access a vast library of mandolin chords with a virtual fretboard and authentic sound. Perfect for beginners and experienced players, it offers offline functionality and supports multiple mandolin family instruments. Master any song with this comprehensive practice and composition tool.

Highlights
  • Massive chord library
  • Virtual fretboard visualization
  • Authentic chord sound playback
  • Supports Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello
  • Offline functionality
  • Left-handed mode
  • One-time purchase
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Take your mandolin playing to the next level. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned musician, Mandolin Chords Compass gives you instant access to a massive library of chords across the entire fretboard—accurate, intuitive, and easy to explore. Master 24,000 Chords With Precision And Simplicity:
 Quickly find the right voicing by selecting the chord root, type and addition and explore the options with just a few clicks. View each chord on a virtual fretboard and hear its authentic sound. It supports Mandolin, Mandola and Mandocello! All-in-One Professional Tool for Players and Creators: + Visualize chords in 17 fretboard positions + Listen to chord sounds + Left-handed mode, retina graphics, and adjustable volume + Designed for offline use, no internet or subscriptions required Built for Practice, Composition, and Teaching:
 Ideal for self-taught learners, classroom instructors, or songwriters creating custom progressions. Whether you're developing skills or composing original music, this app is your complete mandolin companion! Get Full Access with a One-Time Purchase:
 No subscriptions. No recurring fees. Just powerful features you own forever. Across all of your Apple devices —iPhone, iPad and Mac! Elevate your music and master the mandolin today! Get Mandolin Chords Compass and start playing with confidence!

Screenshots

MIDIRegs2 screens
Mandolin Chords Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mandolin Chords Compass at 3.9 against MIDIRegs's 3.0. Mandolin Chords Compass also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 2) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). MIDIRegs's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 17%). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MIDIRegs costs $4.99 and Mandolin Chords Compass $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mandolin Chords Compass holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mandolin Chords Compass has 32 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of MIDIRegs's written reviews are positive against 17% of Mandolin Chords Compass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDIRegs ships an update every 37 months, Mandolin Chords Compass every 64 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
MIDIRegs versus Mandolin Chords Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDIRegsMandolin Chords Compass
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)3.9 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings232 — better
Update frequencyEvery 37 months — betterEvery 64 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#187 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS1615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael EskinMax Schlee

Customer experience

MIDIRegs

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Mandolin Chords Compass

All ratings31 ratings
Positive71.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative25.8%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative83.3%

In-app purchases

None

MIDIRegs

No in-app purchases

None

Mandolin Chords Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDIRegs free?
MIDIRegs costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mandolin Chords Compass free?
Mandolin Chords Compass costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDIRegs or Mandolin Chords Compass?
Mandolin Chords Compass is rated higher. MIDIRegs averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Mandolin Chords Compass averages 3.9 from 32 ratings.
Do MIDIRegs or Mandolin Chords Compass have ads?
Neither MIDIRegs nor Mandolin Chords Compass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDIRegs or Mandolin Chords Compass?
MIDIRegs ships an update every 37 months, and Mandolin Chords Compass every 64 months. Most recently, MIDIRegs was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mandolin Chords Compass on November 11, 2026.

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