E3 Controller vs MIDI Opener
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
E3 Controller
Control your Disklavier E3 or DKC-850 remotely from your iOS device. View song titles and access all functions previously available with the infrared remote. Requires a wireless router connection to your piano.
- Remote control for Disklavier E3/DKC-850
- Access all infrared remote functions
- View piano control unit screen
- Check song titles remotely
- Wireless router connectivity
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E3 Controller is an application designed to enable remote control of a Disklavier E3 or DKC-850. All functions that were possible with the infrared remote control (that was included with the Disklavier E3 or DKC-850) have been made available on iOS devices (iPhone/iPod touch/iPad). Moreover, the E3 Controller displays the screen of the control unit of Disklavier, so you don't have to physically go to the piano to confirm, for example, a song title. All that's required is your ability to access the wireless router that is connected to your Disklavier. Requirements: - Disklavier E3 Version 3.20 or later, or DKC-850 Version 3.20 or later - Wireless router Usage note: * Connect Disklavier to the wireless router by LAN cable and choose that same network in the Wi-Fi setting of iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. * If the wireless router has several local networks, confirm that the Disklavier and the iOS device are connected to the same LAN. For more detail, refer to the manual that came with your wireless router. User's Guide: You can access the E3 Controller User's Guide by tapping the "triangle" button in the lower-right corner of the display.
MIDI Opener
This app is a powerful and modern MIDI player designed for musicians, learners, and creators. It offers visual playback, tempo and key control, and advanced track management. Import custom soundbanks and enjoy features like synchronized lyrics and a 3D visualizer.
- Visual MIDI playback
- Tempo and key control
- Advanced track controls
- 128 General MIDI instruments
- Built-in effects
- Custom soundbanks
- Synchronized lyrics
- 3D visualizer
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MIDI Opener – Play, Practice & Export MIDI Files Open any MIDI file and take full control of your music. MIDI Opener is a fast, precise MIDI player built for musicians who want to practice smarter, isolate parts, customize arrangements, route playback to external gear, export their changes, and deeply explore songs without the complexity of a DAW. WHY MIDI OPENER • Instantly open and play standard MIDI files (.mid, .midi) • Ultra-responsive playback with zero clutter • Built for practice, learning, live performance, and musical exploration • Completely ad-free POWERFUL PLAYBACK CONTROL • Change tempo in real time (slow down or speed up) • Transpose key instantly to match your instrument • Mute, solo, and adjust volume for each track • Swap instruments using all 128 General MIDI sounds • Import custom SoundFont (.sf2) and DLS soundbanks • Apply reverb, delay, distortion, and EQ effects EXPORT YOUR CHANGES • Export audio as MP3, M4A, or WAV • Export modified MIDI files with your changes • Save customized practice mixes and arrangements • Perfect for backing tracks, sharing, and rehearsal prep PRACTICE WITH PRECISION • Loop any section with A–B looping • Isolate difficult passages and repeat them • Break down complex songs into manageable parts • Save and instantly restore full practice setups with Snapshots Perfect for pianists, guitarists, producers, singers, music directors, and students. MIDI OUT & EXTERNAL DEVICES • Send MIDI playback to external keyboards, synths, drum machines, and sound modules • Connect over USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi • Compatible with Logic Pro, Ableton Live, GarageBand, and CoreMIDI apps • Use premium external instrument sounds and studio hardware SING AND PRACTICE • View embedded lyrics when available • Real-time word highlighting synced to playback • Great for karaoke and vocal practice SEE YOUR MUSIC • Clean, readable note timeline • Beautiful full screen Focus Mode with ambient visuals, auto hiding controls, and optional synchronized lyrics • Track based visual layout • Retro 3D visualizer • Multiple visual themes ORGANIZE YOUR MIDI LIBRARY • Import from Files, AirDrop, Mail, and other apps • Create playlists • Queue songs for continuous playback UPGRADE OPTIONS Free — The Player & Customizer Open and play MIDI files with powerful built-in customization tools. Includes instrument swapping with all 128 General MIDI sounds, custom SoundFont and DLS support, synchronized lyrics, audio effects, song section looping, visual themes, saved mixes with Snapshots, playlists, queue support, and a complete MIDI song library experience—all in a fast, focused, ad-free player. Practice Pack — The Musician’s Upgrade Unlock advanced practice and arrangement tools including real-time tempo control, key transposition, per-track mute, solo, and volume controls, plus MP3 audio and MIDI export for creating custom practice mixes, backing tracks, and arrangements. MIDI Out — The Producer’s Upgrade Route MIDI playback to external keyboards, synths, drum machines, DAWs, and professional music hardware over USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi using CoreMIDI. All Access — Everything, Once Get the complete MIDI Opener experience with every upgrade included, plus discounted upgrade pricing if you already own another product. FAST. FOCUSED. NO DISTRACTIONS. Made for musicians who want control—not complexity.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MIDI Opener at 3.9 against E3 Controller's 2.9. MIDI Opener also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (85 vs 9). E3 Controller's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment 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
Both are free to download. MIDI Opener sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. E3 Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.
MIDI Opener holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Opener has 85 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of E3 Controller's written reviews are positive against 64% of MIDI Opener's.
E3 Controller ships an update every 11 months, MIDI Opener every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | E3 Controller | MIDI Opener |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (9 ratings) | 3.9 (85 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | 64.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 85 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 334 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yamaha Corporation of America | MartianRover, LLC |
Customer experience
E3 Controller
MIDI Opener
Bugs and requests
E3 Controller
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
MIDI Opener
Reported bugs
15 issues- Sustained notes are treated as staccato notes.
- Cuts off the beginning of the song.
- Kicked out of the app when clicking on another SoundFont.
- Crashes when changing SoundFonts (iOS 26).
- Bass drum is too quiet for metal music.
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- Changing key option breaks songs.
- App crashes on startup.
- Randomly playing a single track only.
- Skipping individual notes when too many are playing.
- New update not working, won't play audio or understand certain instruments.
- Google Drive method does not work.
- Download button does nothing.
- Skips a lot of notes.
- No sound, plays silence.
- Scrolling bar with no sound.
Requested features
18 requests- Adjust individual track volumes
- Zoom in/out
- Select region to play
- Export features (WAV, MP3, FLAC)
- Playlist functionality
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- Library structure with nested folders
- AUV3 plug-in support
- IAA with audio hosts
- Switchable color schemes
- Spectrum editor/video export
- Save MIDI soundfiles as MP3
- More SoundBanks
- Tempo control
- Transpose option
- Custom SoundFont support
- Local storage/in-app folder
- Background play
- Option to play once (no loop)
In-app purchases
E3 Controller
No in-app purchases
MIDI Opener
- Tip$0.99
- Full Upgrade Discount$0.99
- Remove Ads$1.99
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- Change Tempo$1.99
- Change Tempo and Key$1.99
- All Access Upgrade$2.99
- Track Controls$2.99
- Super Tip$4.99
- MIDI Out$4.99
- Practice Pack$4.99
- Full Upgrade$4.99
- Premium Upgrade$4.99
- All Access$7.99
Questions
Is E3 Controller free?
Is MIDI Opener free?
Which has better reviews, E3 Controller or MIDI Opener?
Do E3 Controller or MIDI Opener have ads?
Which is updated more often, E3 Controller or MIDI Opener?
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