Comparison

Midi Studio vs Knob Lab

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

Knob Lab

This application transforms your iOS device into a versatile MIDI controller. It allows you to manage various DAWs and music software remotely via USB, WiFi, or Bluetooth. Create intricate control setups with a single rotary knob, affecting multiple MIDI destinations simultaneously.

Highlights
  • Remote DAW control
  • USB, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity
  • Virtual MIDI support
  • Audiobus integration
  • Complex control mapping
  • iPad support
  • MIDI logger
Features
Read full description

Knob Lab turns your iPhone or iPad into a MIDI controller built around one idea: a single knob can do many things at once. ONE KNOB. MANY MOVES. Map a knob to up to 8 MIDI destinations. Each has its own range, direction, channel and colour, so one turn can open a filter, pull the resonance back and bring the delay in over the second half of the sweep. BUILD YOUR OWN MACROS • Control Change, Program Change and Pitch Bend destinations • Name every knob and every destination, so a setup reads at a glance • Invert any range, or start a destination part-way through the turn • Rotate completely, snap to middle, pan left/right, or return to origin on release • A coloured lane for every destination shows where each one is A LAYOUT FOR EVERY SETUP Start with one big knob, or unlock layouts with 2, 6 or 12 knobs on a single screen. PLAYS WITH EVERYTHING • Music apps on the same device, through Knob Lab's virtual MIDI output • Computers over Wi-Fi, with a network MIDI session • A Mac over USB or Bluetooth, with Sonic Logic Central • Class-compliant USB MIDI interfaces and synths plugged into your iPhone or iPad MADE FOR TOUCH Large, precise knobs, a quick guided start, and Dark, Light and Neon themes. The one-knob layout is free. The 2, 6 and 12 knob layouts are in-app purchases, available one at a time or all together.

Screenshots

Midi Studio4 screens
Knob Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Knob Lab at Free against Midi Studio's $1.99. Knob Lab also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (85% vs 64%). Midi Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (65 vs 12). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Knob Lab is free to download; Midi Studio costs $1.99 up front. Midi Studio sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Knob Lab sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Knob Lab holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Midi Studio has 65 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Midi Studio's written reviews are positive against 85% of Knob Lab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Knob Lab every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Midi Studio versus Knob Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMidi StudioKnob Lab
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (65 ratings)4.3 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews84.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings65 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size500 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVITALIY TARASYUKUri Nachmias

Customer experience

Midi Studio

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

Knob Lab

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%

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

Knob Lab

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
4 purchases

Knob Lab

One-time4
  • Two Knob Layout$0.99
  • Four/Six Knob Layout$0.99
  • Nine/Twelve knob layout.$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock all layouts$1.99

Questions

Is Midi Studio free?
Midi Studio costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Knob Lab free?
Knob Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Midi Studio or Knob Lab?
Knob Lab is rated higher. Midi Studio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Knob Lab averages 4.3 from 12 ratings.
Do Midi Studio or Knob Lab have ads?
Neither Midi Studio nor Knob Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Midi Studio or Knob Lab?
Midi Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Knob Lab every 5 months. Most recently, Midi Studio was updated on October 13, 2026 and Knob Lab on October 13, 2026.

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