Comparison

MIDI Designer Pro X vs MidiBus

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

Create custom MIDI controllers for any MIDI-enabled hardware or software. Offers extensive customization, a large user-created layout library, and robust MIDI communication. Ideal for musicians and producers seeking a personalized control experience.

Highlights
  • Control any MIDI-enabled device
  • Network, Bluetooth, and USB MIDI
  • Extensive user layout library
  • Customizable control surfaces
  • Advanced MIDI transformation features
  • Ableton Link integration
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

MidiBus

Synchronize MIDI clock signals between apps and devices with adjustable BPM and time signatures. Monitor the accuracy and stability of MIDI clock sources, including the app itself. Discover surprising performance metrics from your connected gear.

Highlights
  • MIDI clock sync generation
  • Adjustable BPM and time signature
  • Multiple MIDI destinations
  • MIDI clock signal monitoring
  • Accuracy and stability measurement
  • iOS MIDI development library based
Features
Read full description

MidiBus is a MIDI clock sync generator and monitor. Choose your bpm, time signature and MIDI destinations. Press the play button and all selected apps and devices will receive a synchronised, rock-solid MIDI sync clock source. On the flipside, monitor the MIDI clock signals of apps and devices (including MidiBus itself) and measure how accurate and stable they really are. You might be very surprised at the results. MidiBus is based on the iOS MIDI development library of the same name. Full details at http://midib.us

Screenshots

MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens
MidiBus1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDI Designer Pro X at Free against MidiBus's $2.99. MIDI Designer Pro X also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (271 vs 2). MidiBus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On ads 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; MidiBus costs $2.99 up front. MIDI Designer Pro X sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MidiBus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MidiBus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Designer Pro X has 271 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of MIDI Designer Pro X's written reviews are positive against 94% of MidiBus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 10 days, MidiBus every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
MIDI Designer Pro X versus MidiBus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Designer Pro XMidiBus
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.6 (271 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews93.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings271 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.65.1.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConfusion Studios LLCAudeonic Apps

Customer experience

MIDI Designer Pro X

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

MidiBus

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%

In-app purchases

14 purchases

MIDI Designer Pro X

Subscriptions10
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$1.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$3.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium Mac Only$4.491 Month
Show 7 more
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$4.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$7.991 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$19.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$34.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac Only$44.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$44.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$79.991 Year
One-time4
  • Extra Features Pack$4.99
  • Automatic Backups$4.99
  • Audeonic Stream Byter Plugin$4.99
Show 1 more
  • MDPx Premium Lifetime$199.99
None

MidiBus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI Designer Pro X free?
MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MidiBus free?
MidiBus costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiBus?
MidiBus is rated higher. MIDI Designer Pro X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 271 ratings, while MidiBus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiBus have ads?
Neither MIDI Designer Pro X nor MidiBus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Designer Pro X or MidiBus?
MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 10 days, and MidiBus every 5 months. Most recently, MIDI Designer Pro X was updated on October 24, 2026 and MidiBus on October 9, 2026.

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