Comparison

E3 Controller vs MIDI Opener

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Remote control for Disklavier E3/DKC-850
  • Access all infrared remote functions
  • View piano control unit screen
  • Check song titles remotely
  • Wireless router connectivity
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Visual MIDI playback
  • Tempo and key control
  • Advanced track controls
  • 128 General MIDI instruments
  • Built-in effects
  • Custom soundbanks
  • Synchronized lyrics
  • 3D visualizer
Features
Read full description

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

E3 Controller2 screens
MIDI Opener4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MIDI Opener sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. E3 Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
E3 Controller versus MIDI Opener: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterE3 ControllerMIDI Opener
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (9 ratings)3.9 (85 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews64.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings985 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB334 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYamaha Corporation of AmericaMartianRover, LLC

Customer experience

E3 Controller

All ratings9 ratings
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

MIDI Opener

All ratings81 ratings
Positive72.8%
Neutral8.6%
Negative18.5%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive64.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative23.7%

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.
Show 10 more
  • 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
Show 13 more
  • 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

None

E3 Controller

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

MIDI Opener

One-time13
  • Tip$0.99
  • Full Upgrade Discount$0.99
  • Remove Ads$1.99
Show 10 more
  • 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?
E3 Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MIDI Opener free?
MIDI Opener is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, E3 Controller or MIDI Opener?
MIDI Opener is rated higher. E3 Controller averages 2.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while MIDI Opener averages 3.9 from 85 ratings.
Do E3 Controller or MIDI Opener have ads?
MIDI Opener shows ads; E3 Controller does not.
Which is updated more often, E3 Controller or MIDI Opener?
E3 Controller ships an update every 11 months, and MIDI Opener every 10 days. Most recently, E3 Controller was updated on September 21, 2026 and MIDI Opener on September 23, 2026.

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