Comparison

MIDI Designer Pro X vs TKFX

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: apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

TKFX

This app transforms your iOS device into a comprehensive controller for Traktor DJ software. It offers intuitive control over decks, loopers, mixers, and especially Traktor's effects via an X/Y pad. Enjoy plug-and-play functionality without complex MIDI mapping.

Highlights
  • Full decks, looper, and mixer control
  • Jog dial for each deck
  • X/Y pad for effect control
  • Plug & Play setup
  • Wireless or USB connection
  • Single or group effect unit modes
Features
Read full description

TKFX is a full-fledged Traktor controller for iOS devices. Besides full decks, looper and mixer control with a jog dial included, it allows you to control Traktor effects in a powerful and intuitive way using a X/Y pad for each effect unit. Select the effect you want to use, assign effect parameters to X/Y pad axis, enable the effect in the wished deck and touch the pad. The effect is automatically applied. TKFX is completely plug and play which means that you don’t need to waste countless hours in MIDI mapping. TKFX knows all about Traktor’s decks and effects, just select the deck or effect you want and all it’s parameters and functions will be automatically available on the respective buttons. TKFX supports effects unit operation in single or group mode. Key features: - 2 or 4 deck units mode - Full decks and looper control - Cue-points control - Jog dial for each deck (CD or Vinyl mode) - Full mixer control and crossfader - Browse & load tracks - X/Y pad - Plug & Play - Link function - Hold function - BPM sync - 1 or 4 effect units mode - 4 memory banks - Single or group mode - Wireless or USB wired connection For detailed documentation please visit www.imaginando.pt/products/tkfx PRESS REVIEWS "TKFX is excellent fun to use and DJ effects respond especially well to this kind of real-time effect control." - Hollin Jones - AskAudio Magazine "But wouldn’t it be nice to use a tablet for X/Y control of effects? TKFX does that, and nothing else – but it does it damned well." - Peter Kirn - Create Digital Music "I recommend this app for anyone who likes to use the effects inside of Traktor, as it offers you an instant way to add and manipulate effects with ease" Alan Churchill - Traktor Tips "In conjunction with a dedicated hardware controller, TKFX is a simple but effective solution for extended Traktor FX control." - Declan McGlynn - Resident Advisor

Screenshots

MIDI Designer Pro X4 screens
TKFX3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MIDI Designer Pro X at every 11 days against TKFX's every 2 months. MIDI Designer Pro X also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 66%) and ratings volume (269 vs 45). TKFX's advantage is iOS requirement (14 vs 18.6). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and TKFX sells 8 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Designer Pro X has 269 ratings behind it against 45, 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 66% of TKFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 11 days, TKFX every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MIDI Designer Pro X versus TKFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI Designer Pro XTKFX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (269 ratings) — better4.4 (45 ratings)
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews — better66.0% of reviews
Number of ratings269 — better45
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.614 — better
Further details — not scored
Size205 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConfusion Studios LLCImaginando Lda

Customer experience

MIDI Designer Pro X

All ratings269 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews165 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative17.0%

TKFX

All ratings45 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral6.7%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive66.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative30.0%

In-app purchases

14 purchases

MIDI Designer Pro X

Subscriptions10
  • MDPx Premium iPhone Only$1.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad Only$2.491 Month
  • MDPx Premium iPad, iPhone$2.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • MDPx Premium Mac Only$4.491 Month
  • 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 Only$44.991 Year
  • MDPx Premium Mac, iPad, iPhone$49.991 Year
One-time4
  • Extra Features Pack$4.99
  • Automatic Backups$4.99
  • Audeonic Stream Byter Plugin$4.99
Show 1 more
  • MDPx Premium Lifetime$124.99
8 purchases

TKFX

One-time8
  • Unlimited Banks$1.99
  • Unlimited Decks$1.99
  • Unlimited Units$1.99
Show 5 more
  • Unlimited Effects$1.99
  • Unlimited Parameters$1.99
  • Unlimited Functions$1.99
  • Unlimited Usage$8.99
  • Unlock Decks$8.99

Questions

Is MIDI Designer Pro X free?
MIDI Designer Pro X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TKFX free?
TKFX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Designer Pro X or TKFX?
MIDI Designer Pro X is rated higher. MIDI Designer Pro X averages 4.6 out of 5 from 269 ratings, while TKFX averages 4.4 from 45 ratings.
Do MIDI Designer Pro X or TKFX have ads?
Neither MIDI Designer Pro X nor TKFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Designer Pro X or TKFX?
MIDI Designer Pro X ships an update every 11 days, and TKFX every 2 months. Most recently, MIDI Designer Pro X was updated on September 23, 2026 and TKFX on September 2, 2026.

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