Comparison

MIDI Designer Pro X vs SlowEar

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

SlowEar

Features
Read full description

耳コピしたいのに、速すぎて全然聞き取れない… そんな苦労を、この超シンプルツールで一掃。 あなたの音楽ファイルを読み込んで、 テンポを**遅くする**(音程はそのままキープ)。 スライダーで滑らかに30%から100%まで調整。 さらに秒単位の精密ボタンでピンポイント操作: -2.0s -0.5s -0.01s +0.5s +2.0s +0.01s 苦手フレーズを瞬時に巻き戻し・微調整しながら、 ゆっくり何度も聞き直せます。**速くする機能は一切なし**——耳コピに集中するために、余計なものは削ぎ落としました。 対応形式(すべてピッチ維持でスロー再生) ・MP3 (.mp3) ・M4A (.m4a) ・AAC (.aac) ・WAV (.wav) ・AIFF (.aiff) Struggling to transcribe songs by ear because they're just too fast? This ultra-simple tool makes that frustration disappear.Load your music file and slow down the tempo while perfectly preserving the original pitch.Use the smooth slider to adjust from 30% to 100% of the original speed. For precise control, tap the fine-tune buttons:-2.0s -0.5s -0.01s +0.5s +2.0s +0.01s Instantly rewind and fine-tune those difficult phrases, then listen slowly as many times as you need.No speed-up function whatsoever. I removed everything unnecessary so you can stay fully focused on ear copying.Supported formats (all with pitch preserved during slow playback): • MP3 (.mp3) • M4A (.m4a) • AAC (.aac) • WAV (.wav) • AIFF (.aiff) --- 中文 --- 想扒谱却太快听不清?SlowEar 在保持原音高的同时放慢速度(30–100%)。平滑滑块加上以秒为单位的精确按钮,可快速回放并反复练习难点。没有加速功能,只为专注慢速聆听。支持 MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF。 --- 한국어 --- 곡이 너무 빨라 귀카피가 어렵나요? SlowEar는 원래 음정을 유지하면서 속도를 30~100%로 늦춥니다. 부드러운 슬라이더와 초 단위 정밀 버튼으로 어려운 구간을 되감아 반복 연습할 수 있어요. 빠르게 재생 기능은 없이 느린 청취에만 집중. MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF 지원. --- Español --- ¿Las canciones van demasiado rápido para sacarlas de oído? SlowEar reduce la velocidad (30–100%) manteniendo el tono original. Un control deslizante suave y botones precisos al segundo te permiten rebobinar y repetir las frases difíciles. Sin función de acelerar. Compatible con MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- Français --- Morceaux trop rapides pour les relever à l'oreille ? SlowEar ralentit le tempo (30–100%) tout en conservant la hauteur d'origine. Un curseur fluide et des boutons précis à la seconde permettent de revenir en arrière et de répéter les passages difficiles. Aucune accélération. Compatible MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- Deutsch --- Songs zu schnell zum Heraushören? SlowEar verlangsamt das Tempo (30–100%) bei gleichbleibender Tonhöhe. Ein sanfter Schieberegler und sekundengenaue Tasten lassen dich schwierige Stellen zurückspulen und wiederholen. Keine Beschleunigung. Unterstützt MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- Português --- Músicas rápidas demais para tirar de ouvido? O SlowEar reduz o tempo (30–100%) mantendo o tom original. Um controle deslizante suave e botões precisos ao segundo permitem voltar e repetir os trechos difíceis. Sem função de acelerar. Compatível com MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- Italiano --- Brani troppo veloci da trascrivere a orecchio? SlowEar rallenta il tempo (30–100%) mantenendo l'altezza originale. Un cursore fluido e pulsanti precisi al secondo permettono di riavvolgere e ripetere i passaggi difficili. Nessuna accelerazione. Supporta MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- Русский --- Песни слишком быстрые, чтобы снимать на слух? SlowEar замедляет темп (30–100%), сохраняя исходную высоту тона. Плавный ползунок и точные посекундные кнопки позволяют отматывать и повторять сложные фрагменты. Без ускорения. Поддержка MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF. --- العربية --- هل الأغاني أسرع من أن تنسخها سمعيًا؟ يبطئ SlowEar الإيقاع (30–100%) مع الحفاظ على طبقة الصوت الأصلية. منزلق سلس وأزرار دقيقة بالثانية تتيح لك الإرجاع وتكرار المقاطع الصعبة. لا توجد ميزة تسريع. يدعم MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV/AIFF.

Screenshots

MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens
SlowEar3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SlowEar at none against MIDI Designer Pro X's 9. MIDI Designer Pro X's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.2). On price, 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

Both are free to download. MIDI Designer Pro X sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. SlowEar asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 5 days, SlowEar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MIDI Designer Pro X versus SlowEar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Designer Pro XSlowEar
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (272 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings272 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.6 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConfusion Studios LLCHIROSHI SHINKAWA

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
None

SlowEar

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 SlowEar free?
SlowEar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MIDI Designer Pro X or SlowEar have ads?
Neither MIDI Designer Pro X nor SlowEar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Designer Pro X or SlowEar?
MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 5 days, and SlowEar every 3 weeks. Most recently, MIDI Designer Pro X was updated on November 6, 2026 and SlowEar on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons