Comparison

TC vs MIDI Device Manager

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

Head to head
About

TC

This app is a fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for iPad. Create unique sounds using touch gestures, device motion, and a variety of on-board modules. Explore a vast sonic landscape with extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • 185 built-in presets
  • Unlimited user patches
  • Multi-touch and device motion control
  • 23 modular synthesis objects
  • Built-in recording and AudioCopy
  • Audiobus support
Read full description

TC-11 is the only fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for the iPad. Choose from the 160 included presets, or build your own using touch controls, device motion, and on-board modules. Create music with the next evolution of synthesizer control! iDesignSound App of the Week 12.17.2011 - idesignsound.com "This thing is ALIVE! TC-11 is really fascinating and I'm having some fun experimenting with it. It is very, very cool!" - Jordan Rudess, keyboardist, Dream Theater "TC-11 is making my jaw drop every few minutes; realizing new and increasingly complex routing options. Rating: Essential." - Tim Webb, discchord.com "Creating, routing, configuring, and general tweaking is unbelievably robust and complex. This is a big leap forward in design. A madhouse of sonic possibilities at your touch." - David Israel, smitematter.com FEATURES: √ 185 built-in presets √ Unlimited user patches √ Audiobus + State Saving √ Fully controlled by multi-touch / device motion √ Built-in recording + AudioCopy √ 23 modular synthesis objects √ 22 oscillator waveforms √ 4 controller modules: AHDSR, LFO, Table, Sequencer √ Email custom patches to your friends √ Full display customization MULTI-TOUCH CONTROL: There are no on-screen knobs, keys, or sliders to fiddle with; all synthesis is driven by your multi-touch performance. Touch relationships like distances / angles / timings perform all the controller functions. It's just you and the full screen multi-touch performance area. EVERY synthesis parameter can be controlled by ANY multi-touch controller. The patch possibilities are limitless! DEVICE MOTION CONTROL: Use the iPad's accelerometer, gyroscope, and even the compass to attack your synthesis patch! Tilt and move the iPad to change any filter, effect, or module. You can create real vibrato by moving the iPad during performance, or change the speed of a sequencer by tilting forward and backward! SYNTHESIS: TC-11 has 8 voice polyphony for full, real-time synthesis. The audio engine has been highly optimized to deliver crisp, responsive performance. Choose from 22 oscillator waveforms, 3 oscillator types, 3 filter types, 4 unique effects, amplitude modulation, and panning control. Fully programmable AHDSR, LFO, and sequencer modules make TC-11 the most capable iOS synthesizer in the world. Use TC-11 in your band during live performances. Add TC-11 into your laptop orchestra. Experiment and create with the next evolution of synthesizer control! Download the complete user guide to read more: http://www.bitshapesoftware.com/instruments/tc-11/tc-11-user-guide-2.0.pdf

About

MIDI Device Manager

This application offers professional MIDI control and management for musicians. It allows users to control individual devices, multiple devices simultaneously, and entire live scenes or setlists through an intuitive one-touch pad interface. It can also import patch names directly from instrument backup files or capture them automatically.

Highlights
  • One-touch programmable control pads
  • Control multiple MIDI devices simultaneously
  • Import patch names from instrument backup files
  • Capture patch names automatically
  • Create Live Scenes and Setlists
  • Trigger pads from external MIDI controllers
  • Bluetooth and USB MIDI support
Features
Read full description

Control Your Entire MIDI Environment MIDIDeviceManager is a professional MIDI control and management application built around an intuitive one-touch pad interface. Control individual devices, multiple devices simultaneously, complete Live Scenes and entire Live Setlists from a single application. Pads can be triggered directly from the screen or remotely using compatible MIDI foot controllers, external MIDI controllers and other MIDI-enabled applications. Unlike traditional patch editors, MIDIDeviceManager is designed to control devices rather than edit sounds. Your Patch Names, Already There Typing hundreds of patch names by hand is the reason most musicians never finish setting up their rig. MIDIDeviceManager can read a backup or bulk dump file produced by your instrument's own software and turn it into a searchable index — every patch name, in the right bank and slot, without connecting anything. Where an instrument supports SysEx communication, MIDIDeviceManager can also request its patch list directly over MIDI. And where neither is possible, it can step through the equipment's patches and capture the names automatically as it goes. Confirmed with equipment like Line 6 Helix, ASM Hydrasynth and Korg minilogue xd, with more added regularly. Universal MIDI Compatibility MIDIDeviceManager works with virtually any MIDI-compatible hardware using standard MIDI messages including: • Program Change • Control Change • Bank Select (MSB/LSB) • MIDI Learn • Passive MIDI Monitoring • External MIDI Triggering • Standard and device-specific SysEx communication Device Pads, Scene Pads and Live Setlist Pads can all be triggered from external MIDI controllers, foot pedals or other MIDI applications, allowing MIDIDeviceManager to integrate naturally into virtually any MIDI setup. MIDIDeviceManager recognises multi-port MIDI interfaces and Bluetooth adaptors, and identifies your equipment correctly even when it is connected behind one. Selected devices get deeper, dedicated support — from the classic POD 2 and GT-Pro to the modern GR-55 and BigSky — with more added regularly. And it isn't only hardware: MDM can drive other MIDI-enabled apps too. If it speaks MIDI, MDM can talk to it. Key Features • One-touch programmable control pads • Sliders and Buttons for continuous and on/off control • Custom Pad colours for at-a-glance identification • Control one or multiple MIDI devices simultaneously • Device management • Import patch names from instrument backup files • Capture patch names automatically by stepping through your instrument • Search, sort and filter patch lists using categories or custom text • Create reusable Live Scenes • Create Live Setlists for performances • Trigger pads from external MIDI pedals and controllers • Trigger pads from other MIDI-enabled applications • MIDI Learn • Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI support • Keeps receiving MIDI in the background on iPhone and iPad (iOS 26+) • Continues receiving MIDI alongside another app in iPad Split View • Automatic detection of the patch currently selected on your instrument • Live connection status for every device • Built-in help at each step • SysEx Lab for advanced device work • Backup and Restore Why SysEx Matters Standard MIDI devices are normally controlled using one of the available MIDI channels. When compatible devices support SysEx communication, MIDIDeviceManager can communicate directly with individual devices using their unique manufacturer and device identifiers. Multiple compatible devices can therefore share the same MIDI connection while remaining individually addressable. This enables more scalable MIDI systems and advanced device management beyond the limitations of standard MIDI messaging. Requirements Compatible with iPhone and iPad. Supports USB MIDI and Bluetooth MIDI. Some advanced features require compatible external MIDI hardware. Background MIDI reception requires iOS 26 or later. On earlier versions, MIDIDeviceManager must stay on screen to receive MIDI.

Screenshots

TC4 screens
MIDI Device Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI Device Manager at Free against TC's $24.99. MIDI Device Manager also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). TC's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MIDI Device Manager is free to download; TC costs $24.99 up front. MIDI Device Manager sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. TC asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TC ships an update every 5 weeks, MIDI Device Manager every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
TC versus MIDI Device Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCMIDI Device Manager
Price$24.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (68 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBit ShapeChristian Mc Cormick

Customer experience

TC

All ratings68 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews172 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative9.9%

MIDI Device Manager

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

TC

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes upon opening after recent updates
  • Black screen crashes when launching
  • Crashes when adding patches to folders
  • Crashes within Audiobus after 13.1 update
  • AudioCopy button crashes on iPad 3
Show 4 more
  • Unable to download latest version
  • Glitches and crashes with complex patches
  • Audiobus integration issues causing crashes
  • Performance issues on older iPad models

Requested features

12 requests
  • MIDI support and DAW synchronization
  • Ability to record and playback motion gestures
  • Sample import and granular synthesis capabilities
  • Microtonal tuning support (Scala files)
  • Note hold function per surface
Show 7 more
  • Mixer for oscillator volume balancing
  • Scale constraint for melodic playing
  • Garage Band export support
  • Real-time preview during patch editing
  • Polyphonic aftertouch support
  • Multiple FM oscillators
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity

MIDI Device Manager

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

MIDI Device Manager

One-time2
  • 30-Day TrialFree
  • Unlock MDM$22.99

Questions

Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MIDI Device Manager free?
MIDI Device Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TC or MIDI Device Manager have ads?
Neither TC nor MIDI Device Manager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TC or MIDI Device Manager?
TC ships an update every 5 weeks, and MIDI Device Manager every 10 days. Most recently, TC was updated on October 29, 2026 and MIDI Device Manager on October 28, 2026.

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