PlayFadePause vs QLab Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PlayFadePause
Control theatrical audio with complex sound cues from your mobile device. Play multiple sounds simultaneously, crossfade between tracks, and manage show files easily. Ideal for small-scale productions, rehearsals, and conferences.
- Simultaneous multi-sound playback
- Seamless crossfading between cues
- Networked cue firing via OSC
- Adjustable sound effect fades
- Infinite or timed looping
- Import audio from various sources
- Exportable show files
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At last theatrical audio control for situations where you can't afford (or can't fit) a laptop - now free for one show file, and also free to import shared show files. Now fully free! Making full use of all the features of your device, PlayFadePause allows you to run a complete show with complex sound cues, all from the press of a simple GO button. Features include - Play multiple sound cues at the same time, at different (preset) volumes - Easily crossfade between cues without creating multiple fade cues - Fire cues over a network using OSC - Fade running sound effects up or down, automatically stopping the cue when the fade is complete if required - Loop sound effects infinitely, or for a certain number of times. - Easily crossfade between two tracks - Adjust in and out times for play cues - Set and fade the pan and speed of tracks - Set cues to auto follow, with delays if required - Import audio from your iTunes library, from email attachments, from dropbox or from other PlayFadePause show files - Export show files as a bundle (including all audio files) through the standard iOS share interface - Manage show files in an easy to use interface - Set the app to force the device's volume to remain at full while the app is running - Stop the device from sleeping while the app is active - De-bounce guard to avoid double tapping Go Perfect for running small scale shows, for using in rehearsals or for conferences PlayFadePause is free for one show, with an In App Purchase available to unlock unlimited shows and sharing features
QLab Remote
Control and edit live show cues remotely from your iOS device. This companion app for macOS software allows you to flag cues, adjust audio levels, and modify video geometry from anywhere in the venue. It offers a free read-only mode and optional in-app purchases for full editing capabilities.
- Remote control of QLab workspaces
- Edit cue properties
- Adjust audio levels and video geometry
- Flag cues and edit notes
- Real-time cue updates
- Read-Only Mode for safe viewing
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QLab Remote is the official iOS companion app for remote control of QLab, the award-winning live show control software for macOS. QLab Remote requires a connection to QLab 3.0 or later. Some features require a specific minimum version of QLab 4 or 5. See https://qlab.app/docs/v5/networking/qlab-remote/#requirements for details. Get out of the booth and edit your QLab workspace from wherever you are. Flag cues as you sit in tech rehearsal. Adjust audio levels from the front row. Change the geometry of a video cue from the stage. QLab Remote is free to use in "Read-Only Mode", which allows you to view a workspace & follow along worry-free and also includes the unlimited ability to flag cues & edit cue notes. Optional In-App Purchases are available to unlock show control, editing, and light tools features. FEATURES - Automatically finds any QLab workspace on the network. - Updates in QLab are instantly reflected in QLab Remote and vice versa. - Open multiple windows on iPad to view workspaces side-by-side on one screen. - Quickly flag and edit notes for cues. - Easily switch between cue lists. - Watch active cues update in real-time. - Enable "Read-Only Mode" to follow along without worrying you'll accidentally trigger a cue. - Edit basic properties for all cues, such as name, number, notes, color, armed, flagged, etc. - Adjust audio levels and patches for audio, mic, and video cues. - Change display geometry for video, text, and camera cues. - Double-tap a cue to quickly edit it. Please contact support@figure53.com with issues or feedback.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: QLab Remote at 4.7 against PlayFadePause's 4.5. QLab Remote also leads on ratings volume (26 vs 2). PlayFadePause's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. PlayFadePause sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and QLab Remote sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
QLab Remote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QLab Remote has 26 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of PlayFadePause's written reviews are positive against 63% of QLab Remote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
PlayFadePause ships an update every 5 weeks, QLab Remote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PlayFadePause | QLab Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (26 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews — better | 62.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 26 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Williamson | Figure 53 |
Customer experience
PlayFadePause
QLab Remote
In-app purchases
PlayFadePause
- Save Shows$2.99
QLab Remote
- Light Tools$19.99
- Show Control & Editing$39.99









