Comparison

Midi Studio vs Mellowsound

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

Head to head
About

Midi Studio

This app acts as a modular MIDI control surface, allowing users to remotely control software and hardware via Wi-Fi or USB. It offers various touch controls like faders, knobs, and XY pads for music production and studio setups.

Highlights
  • Modular MIDI control surface
  • Wi-Fi and USB connectivity
  • Faders, knobs, buttons, XY pads
  • Customizable layouts (Pro version)
  • CoreMidi message support
  • Velocity sensitive keys
Features
Read full description

Warning: This app is a Midi controller and does not include a sound engine or synth. -----------REVIEWS----------- Midi Studio is a fantastic midi controller app that do not provide a sound but to control the sound in the studio. It's pretty unique and should be the one stand out from the crowd. - Best10Apps.com! #Midi Studio is rated as a killer app by Apps4iDevices.com! #Midi Studio was rated as App-of-the-Week by iDesignSound.com! -----------ABOUT----------- Midi Studio is a modular MIDI control surface for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad.

It supports sending CoreMidi messages over a Wi-Fi network using the UDP protocol for sending and receiving MIDI messages.

The application allows to remote control and receive feedback from software and hardware that implement the MIDI protocols such as Apple Logic Pro/Express, Ableton Live, Max for Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Loops and many others.

The interface provides a number of different touch controls to send and receive messages:

Faders / Rotary controls / Encoder controls / Push buttons / Toggle buttons / XY pads / LEDs / Labels, etc. !!!WARNING, by default app not include "Ability to create custom layouts". This feature available only through built-purchase or you can buy a "Midi Studio Pro" version. Midi Studio Features: -[Ability to create custom layouts] -[CoreMidi] -[WI-FI] -[USB adapters, like "Apple camera connection kit", etc], with original Apple's pc to iPhone/iPod cable it will not work! -[True Velocity Sensitive ] (with the force of impact) -[Modulation] -[Drums] -[Faders] -[Knobs] -[Buttons] -[Touch pads] -[Two Keyboards] -[Different Keys Size] -[Custom Key Scale] - (Like: Major, Minor, Klezmer, etc...) iPAD VERSION INCLUDE: -Keyboard Layout - free -Drums Layouts - free -Drums 4x4 - free -All XY Pads - free -Live Pad - free -Mixer - free -Ability to create custom layouts - Built-in purchase only -CD PLAYER layout - Built-in purchase only -VINYL PLAYER layout - Built-in purchase only -DJ MIXER layout - Built-in purchase only -Surface and Transport Layouts (DAW CONTROL) - Built-in purchase only -Live Drums Layout - Built-in purchase only Transport and Surface Layouts works with: -Generic mode -Logic Pro -Live -Cubase/Nuendo -HUI / PRO TOOLS -Reason -Reaper -FL Studio iPHONE/iPOD VERSION INCLUDE: -Keyboard Layout - free -Drums Layouts - free -XY Pads - free -Mixer - free -Ability to create custom layouts - Built-in purchase only -Live Drums Layout - Built-in purchase only For more info visit: www.wiksnet.com

About

Mellowsound

Experience the iconic sounds of a 1960s keyboard sampler with this app. It offers professional audio quality, allowing you to play vintage orchestra sounds on your device. Customize your sound with various effects and recording options.

Highlights
  • Authentic Mellotron emulation
  • Professional 16-bit/44.1Khz audio
  • Photo-realistic user interface
  • Blend mode for two instruments
  • MIDI and Audio Unit support
  • In-app purchases for more instruments and FX
Features
Read full description

Play the iconic Mellotron keyboard sampler heard on The Beatles, Radiohead and King Crimson records — now on your iPhone, iPad & Mac. Mellowsound is built from real recordings of our own Mellotron M400, sampled note by note across all instrument tapes. Every sound is authentic, every detail is preserved. Professional audio quality — 16bit / 44.1kHz Photo-realistic vintage interface AUv3 Audio Unit — plug into any DAW or AUM FREE VERSION includes: • 3 instruments: Flute, Clarinet & Sax • Blend mode: play two instruments simultaneously • Full Mixer, Metronome • MIDI & MIDI Mapping • AudioBus & Inter-App Audio (iOS) FULL VERSION (IAP) includes: • 18 Mellotron instruments: Strings, Piano, Flute, Guitar, Vibraphone and more • User Presets • ADSR Envelope • 6 FX: Tube Amp, Tremolo, Chorus, Pitch-shifter, Delay & Reverb • Live Recording CHAMBERLIN PACK (IAP) includes: • 18 additional instruments: Brass, Pizzicato Violins, Cello, Harpsichord and more Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: contact@fingerlab.net Stay tuned! The Fingerlab Team

Screenshots

Midi Studio4 screens
Mellowsound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mellowsound at Free against Midi Studio's $1.99. Mellowsound also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (237 vs 65). Midi Studio's advantage is iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.6). On review sentiment, update cadence, 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

Mellowsound is free to download; Midi Studio costs $1.99 up front. Midi Studio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Mellowsound sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mellowsound holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 237 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Midi Studio's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mellowsound's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Mellowsound every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Midi Studio versus Mellowsound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMidi StudioMellowsound
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (65 ratings)4.3 (237 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews — better60.5% of reviews
Number of ratings65237 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size500 MB899 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVITALIY TARASYUKFingerlab

Customer experience

Midi Studio

All ratings65 ratings
Positive75.4%
Neutral4.6%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews177 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral8.5%
Negative27.1%

Mellowsound

All ratings237 ratings
Positive83.5%
Neutral3.0%
Negative13.5%
Written reviews177 reviews
Positive60.5%
Neutral11.9%
Negative27.7%

User reviews

Midi Studio

From 65 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎛️ Versatile MIDI controller with multiple layout options
  • 🚀 Low latency wireless MIDI connection over WiFi
  • 💡 Velocity-sensitive keyboards and drum pads
  • 🎹 Works seamlessly with popular DAWs (Logic, Ableton, Reason, Reaper)
  • 👍 Easy to set up and intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 💸 Expensive in-app purchases for custom layouts ($15-$23)
  • 📦 Extremely large app size (500MB+) for a MIDI controller
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 📚 Poor documentation and unclear setup instructions
  • 🚫 No customer support or unresponsive support team

Mellowsound

From 237 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎹 Authentic Mellotron sounds
  • 🔊 Great sound quality
  • 🎨 Nice visual design
  • 💸 Good value for money
  • 🔌 Integrates well with other apps

Room to improve

  • 🔇 Limited free version
  • 🔒 Paywall for full functionality
  • 🎹 Keyboard range limited to 3 octaves
  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🔋 High battery drain

Bugs and requests

Midi Studio

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during use
  • MIDI keyboard and drum pads frequently break or become unresponsive
  • Dropped MIDI events during performance
  • Connectivity issues between iOS devices
  • In-app purchase store causes crashes
Show 7 more
  • Developer website shows revoked certificate
  • Latency issues on WiFi connections
  • UI quirks when editing layouts
  • Device slowdown when app is running
  • Inconsistent drum pad transposition (two semitones instead of one)
  • Crashes on specific iOS versions (iOS 11.3.1 reported)
  • iPhone performance issues (crashes on iPhone, works on iPad)

Requested features

12 requests
  • Bluetooth MIDI support as alternative to WiFi
  • MIDI learn function for easier configuration
  • IAA (Inter-App Audio) or Audiobus support
  • Editable drum pad layouts with half-step intervals
  • Configuration profiles for switching between instruments
Show 7 more
  • LED feedback on fader positions
  • Full-screen optimization for larger devices
  • Comprehensive user manual and tutorials
  • Standalone sound generation capability
  • USB connection option for lower latency
  • System message options
  • Preset configurations for popular DAWs included by default

Mellowsound

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatibility with some iOS versions and devices
  • Issues with Inter-App Audio and AUv3 functionality
  • Keyboard not responsive or disappearing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to blend/layer multiple instruments
  • Expanded sound library with more Mellotron presets
  • Sustain pedal support
  • MIDI channel selection
  • Improved performance in DAWs

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Midi Studio

One-time10
  • Live Drums Layout$0.99
  • CD Player Layout$0.99
  • Vinyl Player Layout$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Buy ready-made layout$1.99
  • Buy Control$1.99
  • DJ Mixer Layout$1.99
  • Buy Gold Layout$4.99
  • Daw Control Layouts$4.99
  • Buy Premium Layout$9.99
  • Create Custom Layouts$14.99
2 purchases

Mellowsound

One-time2
  • Chamberlin Instruments Pack$8.99
  • Full Version$9.99

Questions

Is Midi Studio free?
Midi Studio costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Mellowsound free?
Mellowsound is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Midi Studio or Mellowsound?
Mellowsound is rated higher. Midi Studio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Mellowsound averages 4.3 from 237 ratings.
Do Midi Studio or Mellowsound have ads?
Neither Midi Studio nor Mellowsound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Midi Studio or Mellowsound?
Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Mellowsound every 4 weeks. Most recently, Midi Studio was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mellowsound on October 23, 2026.

Other comparisons