Comparison

Midi Studio vs Midi Controller

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

Midi Controller

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile MIDI controller. Send notes, control changes, and program changes wirelessly or via USB to any compatible DAW or hardware. Customize your workspace with unlimited, dynamic controls.

Highlights
  • USB, WLAN, and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Customizable buttons, pads, and sliders
  • Send Notes, CC, and Program Change values
  • Works with macOS and CoreMidi compatible hardware
  • No additional software required
  • Dynamic control creation
Features
Read full description

MidiController turns your iPhone/iPad into a complete MIDI controller, that works over USB, WLAN or Bluetooth. No additional software needed! Send all possible Notes, Continuous Controller / Control Change and Program Change values to the connected device. Build your workspace from the ground up with unlimited, custom Pushes/Buttons and Sliders. All Pushes/Buttons and Sliders are completely customisable - customize every value of every control possible and how the control behaves. You can even create dynamic controls (e.g. Program Change values that count up or down). • Works with every macOS: From 10.5 (Leopard) up to the newest 10.15 (Catalina) • Works on every iPhone and iPad • Also works with external hardware (e.g. synths,...) that supports Apple (CoreMidi) • If your hardware/PC does not support CoreMidi, you can use an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge to make MidiController work with ALL MIDI devices Works with every application that supports MIDI-Input. Example DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation): * Logic X Pro * Ableton Live * Avid Pro Tools * Propellerhead Reason * Steinberg Cubase * Cockos Reaper * and many more (in principle every application that supports midi input) ** NOTES ** • MidiController does not play any sound itself, it only sends out MIDI-Information to connected devices. • MidiController is primary created to work with macOS-Devices. If you want to use MidiController with hardware that does not support Apple CoreMidi, you might need an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS per lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. • MidiController does not receive any MIDI-Information, it generates and sends them itself depending on the user-input. ______________________________________________ APP USAGE INFO & MIDI CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Should you choose to upgrade to a midi controller subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Midi Controller Terms of Service: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Terms-Conditions-9fc801bf71f94e4cae7b31b72c7e13e3 Midi Controller Privacy Policy: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-ee4011f149ac417bbedbfea3f0250a96

Screenshots

Midi Studio4 screens
Midi Controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Midi Controller at Free against Midi Studio's $1.99. Midi Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (64% vs 41%). On rating, ratings volume, 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

Midi Controller is free to download; Midi Studio costs $1.99 up front. Midi Studio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Midi Controller sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Midi Studio against 4.1 for Midi Controller. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 42 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Midi Studio's written reviews are positive against 41% of Midi Controller's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Midi Controller every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Midi Studio versus Midi Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMidi StudioMidi Controller
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (65 ratings)4.1 (42 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews — better40.9% of reviews
Number of ratings65 — better42
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size500 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVITALIY TARASYUKMizo LLC

Customer experience

Midi Studio

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

Midi Controller

All ratings42 ratings
Positive76.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive40.9%
Neutral18.2%
Negative40.9%

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

Midi Controller

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

Midi Controller

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly: MIDI Controller7 Days trial$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime: MIDI Controller$29.99

Questions

Is Midi Studio free?
Midi Studio costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Midi Controller free?
Midi Controller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Midi Studio or Midi Controller?
Midi Controller is rated higher. Midi Studio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Midi Controller averages 4.1 from 42 ratings.
Do Midi Studio or Midi Controller have ads?
Neither Midi Studio nor Midi Controller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Midi Studio or Midi Controller?
Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Midi Controller every 7 months. Most recently, Midi Studio was updated on October 13, 2026 and Midi Controller on October 8, 2026.

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