Tabletop vs MidiQuestEssentialsi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tabletop
Create music with a modular studio environment. Mix and match over 40 virtual instruments, effects, and sequencers to compose songs, beats, and mashups. Expand your sound palette by purchasing additional devices.
- Modular music creation environment
- Over 40 virtual instruments and effects
- Mix and match devices
- Create beats, songs, and mashups
- Piano roll timeline editor
- MIDI support
- Share music to SoundCloud
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Tabletop is an expandable studio with over a dozen included musical devices. Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Select from over 40 devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog. Need help? Email support@retronyms.com and we’ll answer your questions. Retronyms has partnered with industry giants like Akai Professional and Arturia to create some of the Tabletop-Ready Apps, like iMPC, iMini, and iProphet! Using the Tabletop features of time stretching and pitch shifting, you can slice loops and time stretch them to different tempos and pitches in iMPC Pro. You can also use sliced loops from purchased AudioCopy sound packs inside Gridlock and iMPC Pro. Loops from these sound packs will automatically match the tempo of your sessions. Tabletop is an audio playground where you can create beats, compose songs, mix live, make mashups with samples from your iPod library, and more... the possibilities are endless. Plug the output of a keyboard into a delay to add an echo, or wire it up to a mixer and adjust the pan. Chain up multiple effects to create new and evolving sounds. FEATURES: • 43 devices including effects, sequencers, drum machines, and synths • 14 devices are included for free • 64 bit audio support • Access powerful Tabletop-Ready Apps • Piano Roll style timeline editor • Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and create notes • Control Tabletop’s keyboards, drum pads, knobs, faders, and other parameters • Correct note timing with Fix to Grid • Edit note length and velocity • Undo changes and edits with Tabletop’s History Menu • Features Core MIDI Support • Works with any MIDI-compatible hardware • Customize control mapping with Midi Learn mode • Connect multiple devices • Share your music to SoundCloud and interact with other Tabletop users
MidiQuestEssentialsi
This application serves as a comprehensive editor and librarian for MIDI SysEx data, supporting a vast array of popular hardware instruments. It allows users to manage and manipulate sound parameters for a wide range of synthesizers and other MIDI devices.
- SysEx Editor
- SysEx Librarian
- Supports over 900 MIDI instruments
- Parameter management
- Sound editing
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Midi Quest is a SysEx Editor/Librarian supporting over 900 of the most popular MIDI hardware instruments including: 360 Systems : MIDI Patcher Access : Virus A Akai Pro : EWI4000S, MAX25, MAX49, MPD24, MPD26, MPD32, MPK25, MPK49, MPK61, MPK88 Alesis : D4, DM5, DMPro, MidiVerb IV, NanoBass, NanoPiano, NanoSynth, QS 6, QS 7, QS 8, QSR, QuadraSynth+Piano Casio : CZ-1, CZ-1000, CZ-101, CZ-3000, CZ-5000, VZ-1, VZ-10 Clavia : Nord Lead 2, Nord Rack 2 Crumar : Bit-01, Bit-99 Dave Smith : Evolver, Mono Evolver, Mopho, OB-6, Poly Evolver Rack, Prophet 08, Tetra E-MU : Audity 2000 (v1), B-3 Turbo, B-3, Carnaval, Classic Keys, Launch Pad, Mo' Phatt Turbo, Morpheus, MPS+, MPS, Orbit/2, Orbit 3, Orbit, Planet Earth Turbo, Procussion, Proteus/1, Sound Engine, Ultra Proteus, Vintage Keys+, Virtuoso 2000, XL-1 Turbo, XL-1 Encore Electronics : Jupiter-8, Moog Source, OB-8 Ensoniq : DP/2, DP/4, ESQ-1, ESQ M, KMX-16, KMX-8, KS-32, KT 76, KT 88 Plus, KT 88, Mirage+ MASOS, MR Rack, MR 61, MR 76, SD 1, SQ1 Plus, SQ1+/32, SQ1+, SQ1, SQ2/32, SQ2, SQ80, SQR Plus, SQR, TS10, TS12, VFX-SD II, VFX, ZR 76 Evolution : EVS-1 Fender : Chroma Polaris JL Cooper : FaderMaster, MSB+, MSB Kawai : GMega, K1, K3, K4, K5, K5000, Spectra, XD-5, XS-1 KMX : 8x8, MIDI Central Korg : 01/W, 03R/W, 05R/W, 707, A2, A4, DS-8, DSM-1, DSS-1, DVP-1, DW-6000, DW-8000, EA-1, ER-1, EX-800, i1, i2, i3, i30, i4S, i5M, i5S, iS35, iS40, is50, iX300, Karma, Kronos, M1, M3/R, MicroKorg XL+, MS2000, N1, N264, N364, N5, NS5R, NX5R, OASYS, Poly-800 II, Polysix, Prophecy, SG-ProX, SG-Rack, T1, T2, T3, TR 61, TR 76, Trinity Plus/Pro, Triton 61, Wavestation, X2, X3, X3R, X5, X5D, X5DR, Z1 EX, Z1 Kurzweil : K2000, K2500 Lexicon : LXP-1, LXP-15, LXP-5, Reflex Line 6 : Bass POD Pro, Floor POD Plus, POD Pro, POD (V.1), Pocket POD Lintronics : Memorymoog M-Audio : Venom Marion Systems : MSR-2, ProSynth, SR-16 MIDI Solutions : Pedal Controller MOTU : 7s Novation : A-Station, Bass Station Rack, DrumStation Rack, K-Station, KS-Rack, KS4, KS5, Nova, Super BassStation, X-Station 25 Oberheim : Matrix-1000, OB-8, Xpander Octave Plateau : Voyetra 8 Peavey : AEQ2800, DPM-V3, DPM3, Spectrum Bass Quasimidi : Quasar, Turbo-Volcon Rane : MPE-14, MPE-28 Roland : A-880, BOSS DR-5, BOSS GT-6, BOSS SE-50, CM-32L, CM-32p, CM-64, D-10, D-110 (nhs), D-110, D-20, D-5, D-50, D-550, D-70, D2, DEP-3, DEP-5, E-660, Edirol SD-20, EG-101, Fantom FA-76 (v2), GM-70, GP-16, GP-8, GR-09, GR-30, GR-33, GR-50, GS Compatible, JD-800, JD-990, JP-8000 (Alt), JP-8080, Juno-1, Juno-2, JV-1000, JV-1010, JV-1080, JV-2080, JV-80, JV-880, JV-90, JX-305, JX-8P, M-BD1 Bass&Drums, M-DC1 Dance, M-GS64, M-OC1 Orchestra, M-SE1 String Ensemble, M-VS1 Vintage Synth, MC-303, MC-307, MC-505, MKS-50, MKS-7, MKS-70, MKS-80, MT-100, MT-32, P-55, PAD-80, PMA-5, R-5, R-8 MkII, R-8, R-8M, RS-5, RS-9, S-330, S-50, S-550, SC-50, SC-55, SC-55ST, SC-88 Pro, SC-88, SC-880, SC-88ST Pro, SC-88VL, SC-Pro, SH-32, SK-50, SK-88 Pro, SK-88, Sound Canvas, SPD-11, SPD-20, SPD-8, SRV-2000, SRV-3030, TD-5, TD-7, U-110, U-20, U-220, VC-1, VM-3100 Pro, XP-10, XP-30, XP-50, XP-60, XP-80, XV-2020, XV-3080, XV-5050, XV-5080, XV-88 Sequential : Max, Multitrak, Prophet 10, Six-Trak Studio Electronics : ATC-1, SE-1 TC Electronic : G-Major/2, G-Sharp, G-System, M350 TC-Helicon : VoiceDoubler, VoiceLive, VoiceOne, VoicePro, VoiceWorks Plus TECH 21 : SansAmp PSA-1.1 Waldorf : 4Pole, MicroQ, Microwave II EX, Pulse 2, Pulse, Q Yamaha : AN1x, AN200, CBX-K1XG, CS2x XG, CS2x Performance, CS6R, CS6x, DMP9-16, DMP9-8, DX1, DX100, DX11, DX21, DX27, DX5, DX7IID, DX7IIFD, DX7, DX7S, DX9, EX5, EX5R, EX7, FB-01, FS1R, Motif, Motif ES, MU10, MU100, MU100R, MU128, MU15, MU5, MU50, MU80, MU90R, MX49, MX61, PLS1, ProMix 01, RM1x, RM50, RX11, RX7, S30, S80, S90, SY22, SY35, SY55, SY77, SY85 (v2 ROMs), SY85, TG100, TG300, TG33, TG500, TG55, TG77, TQ5, TX216, TX7, TX802, TX816, TX81Z, V50, VL1 V2, VL1, VL7 V2, VL70m, W5, W7, YS100, YS200
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tabletop at 54% against MidiQuestEssentialsi's 0%. Tabletop also leads on rating (3.3 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (85 vs 2). MidiQuestEssentialsi's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and MidiQuestEssentialsi sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Tabletop holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabletop has 85 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 0% of MidiQuestEssentialsi's.
Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, MidiQuestEssentialsi every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tabletop | MidiQuestEssentialsi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (85 ratings) — better | 1.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 10.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.4 GB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Retronyms Inc | Sound Quest |
Customer experience
Tabletop
MidiQuestEssentialsi
Bugs and requests
Tabletop
Reported bugs
3 issues- Synth parameters not saving properly
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable audio export
Requested features
4 requests- MIDI support
- Improved sequencing capabilities
- More free sound modules
- Waveform editing and sample management
MidiQuestEssentialsi
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Tabletop
- EKKO$1.99
- WHIRL$2.99
- Verve$2.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- XFADE$2.99
- TT-303$2.99
- Cueboard$2.99
- GLITCHBOARD$3.99
- Deadbeat$3.99
- X0X Drum Deranger$7.99
- RS4000$9.99
- Bundle E$24.99
MidiQuestEssentialsi
- Dave Smith Tetra$24.99
- Yamaha Reface CS$24.99
- Yamaha Reface CP$24.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- TC-Helicon VoiceWorks$29.99
- Roland D-50$39.99
- Waldorf Blofeld$39.99
- Untergeek Matrix-6R$39.99
- Dave Smith Toraiz AS-1$49.99
- Korg N364$54.99
- MQEssentials v1 All Instrument$199.99









