Comparison

MIDI Guitar vs Black Distortion

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

Head to head
About

MIDI Guitar

Transform your guitar into a MIDI controller in real-time. This app accurately transcribes your playing into MIDI data, allowing you to control any synth or virtual instrument. It offers low latency and high accuracy, comparable to professional hardware.

Highlights
  • Real-time guitar to MIDI transcription
  • Low latency and high accuracy
  • Control any synth or virtual instrument
  • AudioUnit (AUv3) plugin support
  • Standalone app for hosting other synths
  • MIDI output to DAWs like GarageBand
Features
Read full description

Play any synth or virtual instrument with your trusted guitar. ##### Lots of user videos: jamorigin.com ##### MIDI Guitar is the World’s first app to transcribe guitar playing into MIDI in real-time, with latency and accuracy comparable to expensive and inconvenient hardware MIDI guitar solutions. MIDI Guitar is over 10 years in development(!) and based upon state-of-the-art polyphonic pitch detection and –prediction technology that can accurately recognize guitar playing and -articulation with very low latency and without spurious hits. The technology has been validated by thousands of guitarists over the years. MIDI Guitar comes as AudioUnit plugin (AUv3) and as a standalone app which can host other iOS synth apps or send virtual midi to Garageband or other DAWs. You need a guitar interface for best results. We recommend a digital interface (using the lightning connector) over analog (via headphone jack), preferably with input gain control. Using an acoustic guitar with the built in microphone works for some purposes but is not optimal. The free version will interrupt every few minutes, asking you to buy an in-app purchase. If you have problems please refer to the website: www.jamorigin.com/docs or the user forum: jamosapien.com.

About

Black Distortion

This audio plugin emulates a classic distortion pedal, offering versatile gain levels from mild overdrive to fuzzy tones. It features a unique filter control to shape high-end frequencies and a volume control for perfect integration with your existing sound. Use it as a primary distortion, a dirty channel for amplifiers, or a boost for solos.

Highlights
  • RAT2 distortion pedal emulation
  • Adjustable gain from overdrive to fuzz
  • Legendary filter control for treble shaping
  • Volume control for clean tone matching
  • Standalone, AudioUnit v3, and Inter-App Audio support
Features
Read full description

The Black Distortion plugin modeled on RAT2* distortion pedal will be your go-to distortion plugin for every recording, whether it’s rock, blues, punk, or jazz. The beauty of the Black Distortion plugin lies in its versatility. Used as a primary distortion, it excels at arena rock rhythm tones and soaring leads. Do you have an amplifier plugin with too much headroom? Let the Black Distortion plugin be your dirty channel. Maybe you already love your amplifier plugin distortion. Use the Black Distortion plugin as a boost for solos and get the extra kick you need. The Black Distortion plugin features the legendary filter control. Turn it to the right to roll off brittle high-end frequencies. Having trouble cutting through the mix? Turn it to the left and allow the natural brightness of your instrument to shine through. Black Distortion plugin dials in the perfect amount of gain, from mild overdrive to full out fuzzy assault, and the volume control lets you dial it in just perfectly against your bypassed clean tone. Legal Disclaimer: *All product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Nembrini Audio SRL. These product names, descriptions and images are provided for the sole purpose of identifying the specific products that were studied during Nembrini Audio’s sound design process. Works as a standalone app, AudioUnit v3 effect, or Inter-App Audio effect

Screenshots

MIDI Guitar1 screens
Black Distortion1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Black Distortion at 5.0 against MIDI Guitar's 4.3. Black Distortion also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). MIDI Guitar's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 61 months) and ratings volume (136 vs 24). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model 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 Guitar sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Black Distortion asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Black Distortion holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Guitar has 136 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of MIDI Guitar's written reviews are positive against 67% of Black Distortion's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Guitar ships an update every 2 weeks, Black Distortion every 61 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MIDI Guitar versus Black Distortion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI GuitarBlack Distortion
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (136 ratings)5.0 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.8% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings136 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 61 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJam OriginNembrini Audio

Customer experience

MIDI Guitar

All ratings136 ratings
Positive80.9%
Neutral5.1%
Negative14.0%
Written reviews163 reviews
Positive71.8%
Neutral8.6%
Negative19.6%

Black Distortion

All ratings24 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

MIDI Guitar

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on iOS updates
  • AU3 controls unresponsive (rotary knobs snap back to zero)
  • Freezing in AUM with buzzing sound
  • Audio cutouts despite full purchases
  • Microphone input cannot be disabled
Show 7 more
  • AU3 not discoverable in some hosts after purchase
  • Latency locked at 256ms on newer iPhones
  • Contact form and support registration issues
  • Occasional dropped notes in external MIDI mode
  • AU3 fascia too small to read on large screens
  • Beta version pulled repeatedly
  • Compatibility issues with GarageBand on iOS

Requested features

12 requests
  • Lower tuning support (below D, baritone guitars, 8-string support)
  • 432Hz tuning option
  • Audiobus and IAA compatibility improvements
  • Higher sample rate support (96kHz standalone)
  • Pitch bending and slide detection
Show 7 more
  • MIDI FX slots for MIDI-only effect plugins
  • Improved AU3 interface scaling and controls
  • Cross-platform IAP compatibility (iOS to macOS)
  • Better bass guitar tracking
  • Faster iOS beta release cycle
  • Restore purchases functionality
  • Unified pricing model instead of multiple IAPs

Black Distortion

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MIDI Guitar

One-time2
  • AudioUnit Hosting$9.99
  • MIDI Outputs$19.99
None

Black Distortion

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI Guitar free?
MIDI Guitar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Black Distortion free?
Black Distortion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Guitar or Black Distortion?
Black Distortion is rated higher. MIDI Guitar averages 4.3 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Black Distortion averages 5.0 from 24 ratings.
Do MIDI Guitar or Black Distortion have ads?
Neither MIDI Guitar nor Black Distortion shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Guitar or Black Distortion?
MIDI Guitar ships an update every 2 weeks, and Black Distortion every 61 months. Most recently, MIDI Guitar was updated on October 26, 2026 and Black Distortion on October 24, 2026.

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