Comparison

MIDI Designer Pro X vs Midi Studio

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

Head to head
About

MIDI Designer Pro X

This app is a professional-grade, customizable MIDI controller for music production. It allows users to control any MIDI-enabled hardware or software, with extensive community-created layouts and powerful 'superpowers' for advanced MIDI manipulation. It supports AUv3 plugins and offers robust network, Bluetooth, and USB MIDI communication.

Highlights
  • Control any MIDI-enabled hardware/software
  • AUv3 MIDI Processor Extension
  • Reliable MIDI communication (Network, Bluetooth, USB)
  • Extensive user layout library (350+ layouts)
  • Powerful 'Superpowers' for MIDI manipulation
  • Community support and layout sharing
Features
Read full description

MIDI Designer Pro X (MDPx) is the culmination of over a decade of improvement. We launched MIDI Designer Pro in 2012 and relaunched it in 2016 as MIDI Designer Pro 2. MDP2 was the first and only professional-grade MIDI controller built natively for iOS, earning critical acclaim. Since launch, over 80 updates have greatly expanded its capabilities. Our user-created library now covers 375+ MIDI targets across music hardware and software. In 2024, MDPx took a significant leap forward with the expressive "Spaceship" theme on iPad and Mac and major iPhone usability advances. It now adds AUv3 support in hosts such as AUM, Cubasis, and Logic. A new subscription model — Premium — allows even more users to use the App in their music-making and discover the App Store's best MIDI controller for themselves. CAPABILITIES • Control all MIDI-enabled hardware and software: keyboards, synths, effects, pedals, DAWs, plug-ins, DJ, VJ & lighting rigs, other iOS apps, robots, cruise ships, rail guns, particle accelerators • AUv3 MIDI Processor Extension: Host MDPx inside AUM, Cubasis, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts. • Solid MIDI Communications Infrastructure: Sets the industry standard for reliable and robust MIDI interactions over Network, Bluetooth and USB. • Active Community of Authors: A vibrant ecosystem supporting legacy and current music synthesizers, sound engines, DAWs, and all MIDI-controlled devices. • Extensive User Layout Library: More than 350 layouts for over 80 manufacturers, contributed by the Community. • Comprehensive Support: Whether you're just starting or tackling complex MIDI implementations, with the Community we are here to assist. • MIDI Designer's 'Superpowers': A suite of powerful features exclusive to MIDI Designer that we have developed over the last 10+ years, including: • Ableton Link and Link Control Loopers • Supercontrols and subcontrols as the basis for many features (with no scripting!): • Snap sub to value over time • Sequential subs • Subcontrol chaining • Button groups (radio buttons) with Bounceback™ • Steppers • Live Transpose • Group Presets • Named Ticks • Accelerometer • Simplified Sysex Messages with variables and bit changers • Snap to Value over Time • Global Presets • Pedalboards • Popup Panels (Show/Hide) • Two-up Page Layout for iPad/Mac • Streambyter Plugin by Audeonic for advanced MIDI transformation MDPx is easy to use, infinitely flexible and customizable, and battle-tested in performance. It's the only professional-grade MIDI controller built from the ground up for iOS to control ANYTHING via MIDI. dream | create | play COMMUNITY The MIDI Designer Community has built layouts for popular MIDI targets. Here are just a few: • Ableton Live • Air Music Tech: Xpand!2 • Arturia: Synclavier V, Analog Lab 4 • Audiofier: Riffendium • Chase Bliss: Mood MKII, Reverse Mode C, Thermae • Clavia: NORD LEAD 4 • DSI: Prophet 12 • Elektron: Octatrack MKII • E-MU: Planet Phatt • Eventide: Pitchfactor, Modfactor • Fractal: Axe-FX • Hauptwerk: St. Anne's Symphonic Organ • Kawai: K1, K1r • Korg: Volca Series, 707 • Line 6: POD X3, POD XT, POD HD500, POD Go • Meris: Enzo, Polymoon • M-Audio: Venom • Novation: MiniNova • Moog: Voyager, Animoog, Little Phatty, Slim Phatty, MF-104m Analog Delay • Omnisphere • Pigtronix: Infinity Looper • Roland: Jupiter-Xm, RD-2000, RD-88, FA-06/FA-07/FA-08, VG-99, JX-3P, JX-8P, MKS-30, MKS-50, MKS-80 • Sample Logic: Morphestra 2 • Sonokinetic: Noir • Soundiron: Steel Tones • TC Electronic: Nova Drive NDR-1 • ValhallaDSP: ÜberMod, VintageVerb, FreqEcho, Shimmer, Room • Yamaha: DX7 (TX7), TQ5, SY77 (TG77), DX21, Reface DX, AN200/PLG-100AN/AN1X FIND OUT MORE Web: midiDesigner.com/mdpx Community Layouts: midiDesigner.com/community Manual: midiDesigner.com/manual EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Midi Studio

This app acts as a modular MIDI control surface, allowing users to remotely control software and hardware via Wi-Fi or USB. It offers various touch controls like faders, knobs, and XY pads for music production and studio setups.

Highlights
  • Modular MIDI control surface
  • Wi-Fi and USB connectivity
  • Faders, knobs, buttons, XY pads
  • Customizable layouts (Pro version)
  • CoreMidi message support
  • Velocity sensitive keys
Features
Read full description

Warning: This app is a Midi controller and does not include a sound engine or synth. -----------REVIEWS----------- Midi Studio is a fantastic midi controller app that do not provide a sound but to control the sound in the studio. It's pretty unique and should be the one stand out from the crowd. - Best10Apps.com! #Midi Studio is rated as a killer app by Apps4iDevices.com! #Midi Studio was rated as App-of-the-Week by iDesignSound.com! -----------ABOUT----------- Midi Studio is a modular MIDI control surface for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad.

It supports sending CoreMidi messages over a Wi-Fi network using the UDP protocol for sending and receiving MIDI messages.

The application allows to remote control and receive feedback from software and hardware that implement the MIDI protocols such as Apple Logic Pro/Express, Ableton Live, Max for Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Loops and many others.

The interface provides a number of different touch controls to send and receive messages:

Faders / Rotary controls / Encoder controls / Push buttons / Toggle buttons / XY pads / LEDs / Labels, etc. !!!WARNING, by default app not include "Ability to create custom layouts". This feature available only through built-purchase or you can buy a "Midi Studio Pro" version. Midi Studio Features: -[Ability to create custom layouts] -[CoreMidi] -[WI-FI] -[USB adapters, like "Apple camera connection kit", etc], with original Apple's pc to iPhone/iPod cable it will not work! -[True Velocity Sensitive ] (with the force of impact) -[Modulation] -[Drums] -[Faders] -[Knobs] -[Buttons] -[Touch pads] -[Two Keyboards] -[Different Keys Size] -[Custom Key Scale] - (Like: Major, Minor, Klezmer, etc...) iPAD VERSION INCLUDE: -Keyboard Layout - free -Drums Layouts - free -Drums 4x4 - free -All XY Pads - free -Live Pad - free -Mixer - free -Ability to create custom layouts - Built-in purchase only -CD PLAYER layout - Built-in purchase only -VINYL PLAYER layout - Built-in purchase only -DJ MIXER layout - Built-in purchase only -Surface and Transport Layouts (DAW CONTROL) - Built-in purchase only -Live Drums Layout - Built-in purchase only Transport and Surface Layouts works with: -Generic mode -Logic Pro -Live -Cubase/Nuendo -HUI / PRO TOOLS -Reason -Reaper -FL Studio iPHONE/iPOD VERSION INCLUDE: -Keyboard Layout - free -Drums Layouts - free -XY Pads - free -Mixer - free -Ability to create custom layouts - Built-in purchase only -Live Drums Layout - Built-in purchase only For more info visit: www.wiksnet.com

Screenshots

MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens
Midi Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI Designer Pro X at Free against Midi Studio's $1.99. MIDI Designer Pro X also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). Midi Studio's advantage is iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 18.6). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download; Midi Studio costs $1.99 up front. MIDI Designer Pro X sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Midi Studio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MIDI Designer Pro X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 272 and 65 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of MIDI Designer Pro X's written reviews are positive against 64% of Midi Studio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 5 days, Midi Studio every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MIDI Designer Pro X versus Midi Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Designer Pro XMidi Studio
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.6 (272 ratings) — better4.0 (65 ratings)
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better64.4% of reviews
Number of ratings272 — better65
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.65.1.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB500 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConfusion Studios LLCVITALIY TARASYUK

Customer experience

MIDI Designer Pro X

All ratings271 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews165 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative17.0%

Midi Studio

All ratings65 ratings
Positive75.4%
Neutral4.6%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews177 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral8.5%
Negative27.1%

Bugs and requests

MIDI Designer Pro X

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Midi Studio

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during use
  • MIDI keyboard and drum pads frequently break or become unresponsive
  • Dropped MIDI events during performance
  • Connectivity issues between iOS devices
  • In-app purchase store causes crashes
Show 7 more
  • Developer website shows revoked certificate
  • Latency issues on WiFi connections
  • UI quirks when editing layouts
  • Device slowdown when app is running
  • Inconsistent drum pad transposition (two semitones instead of one)
  • Crashes on specific iOS versions (iOS 11.3.1 reported)
  • iPhone performance issues (crashes on iPhone, works on iPad)

Requested features

12 requests
  • Bluetooth MIDI support as alternative to WiFi
  • MIDI learn function for easier configuration
  • IAA (Inter-App Audio) or Audiobus support
  • Editable drum pad layouts with half-step intervals
  • Configuration profiles for switching between instruments
Show 7 more
  • LED feedback on fader positions
  • Full-screen optimization for larger devices
  • Comprehensive user manual and tutorials
  • Standalone sound generation capability
  • USB connection option for lower latency
  • System message options
  • Preset configurations for popular DAWs included by default

In-app purchases

9 purchases

MIDI Designer Pro X

Subscriptions8
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$1.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$2.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$2.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$4.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$14.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$24.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$29.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • MDPx Premium Lifetime$124.99
10 purchases

Midi Studio

One-time10
  • Live Drums Layout$0.99
  • CD Player Layout$0.99
  • Vinyl Player Layout$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Buy ready-made layout$1.99
  • Buy Control$1.99
  • DJ Mixer Layout$1.99
  • Buy Gold Layout$4.99
  • Daw Control Layouts$4.99
  • Buy Premium Layout$9.99
  • Create Custom Layouts$14.99

Questions

Is MIDI Designer Pro X free?
MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Midi Studio free?
Midi Studio costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Designer Pro X or Midi Studio?
MIDI Designer Pro X is rated higher. MIDI Designer Pro X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 272 ratings, while Midi Studio averages 4.0 from 65 ratings.
Do MIDI Designer Pro X or Midi Studio have ads?
Neither MIDI Designer Pro X nor Midi Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Designer Pro X or Midi Studio?
MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 5 days, and Midi Studio every 5 weeks. Most recently, MIDI Designer Pro X was updated on November 6, 2026 and Midi Studio on November 6, 2026.

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