DAW Control vs Decibel Display
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DAW Control
Control your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) wirelessly with this app, optimized for popular software like Logic Pro and Ableton Live. Enjoy a fast, responsive interface for seamless music production on Mac and Windows.
- Wireless DAW control
- Optimized for Logic Pro and Ableton Live
- Supports Mackie Control protocol
- Fast and responsive interface
- Built-in presets for popular DAWs
- RETINA display support
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DAW Control is a wireless DAW(Digital Audio Workstation) software controller, especially optimized for Apple Logic® and Ableton Live®. DAW Control is compatible with both MAC and Windows. Support RETINA display for The New iPad. (iPad 3) Daw Control has nice and fast interface. So you can enjoy the work without jerking or any delays. It is support Logic Control and Mackie Control protocols. Built-in presets for main layout: Logic Pro Ableton Live Cubase/Nuendo Fl Studio Layouts: Surface Transport Other software which supports the Mackie Control protocol will work with the "Default Mode" Works without additional server software on OS X "Tiger" and above. Also works on Windows XP, Vista, And 7 with solutions such as Tobias Erichsen's "rtpMIDI" driver. Software which support Mackie Protocol: Apple's Logic Pro Tools MOTU's Digital Performer (v6.02 upwards) Cubase/Nuendo Cakewalk Sonar Reaper Ableton Live Propellerhead Reason/Record Sony Vegas/Acid Pro FruityLoops Studio Presonus Studio One Adobe Audition Mackie Tracktion Final Cut Pro
Decibel Display
This companion app displays audio metering data from its desktop counterpart on your smartphone or tablet. Design custom multi-meter presets with various meter types, colors, and shapes for real-time audio analysis.
- Real-time audio metering
- Customizable meter presets
- VU Meter, LUFS, RMS
- Spectrum Analyzer
- Phase-scope
- Modular design
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Decibel Display app is only a viewer, it works with Decibel Desktop which is an audio Plug-in (VST3, AAX, AU) and standalone app (Mac, Windows) that can be broadcast to any smartphone or tablet device using this app. It is a modular multi-meter on which you can design the preset you want including color, size, shape, choosing between several VU Meter, LUFS Meters, RMS Meter, Spectrum Analyser, Phase-scope and so on.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Decibel Display at Free against DAW Control's $2.99. Decibel Display also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). DAW Control's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 40%) and ratings volume (47 vs 11). On 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
Decibel Display is free to download; DAW Control costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Decibel Display holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of DAW Control's written reviews are positive against 40% of Decibel Display's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
DAW Control ships an update every 3 months, Decibel Display monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DAW Control | Decibel Display |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.2 (47 ratings) | 4.3 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 47 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 239 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | VITALIY TARASYUK | Process Audio |
Customer experience
DAW Control
Decibel Display
Bugs and requests
DAW Control
Reported bugs
17 issues- App freezes immediately after opening
- Settings button doesn't function
- Doesn't work on Sequoia and latest iPad OS
- UI broken on iPad Pro 12.9 with distorted layout
- Faders and buttons misaligned on iPad Pro
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- Time display and mixer display blank
- Network MIDI connection fails
- Sticky mute and solo buttons
- Fader buttons off by 4dB from unity gain
- Channel number 8 missing from display
- VU meters hard to see
- Lag issues with some DAWs
- IPv6 connection issues on Mac
- App doesn't fill new iPad screen sizes
- Buttons trigger MIDI notes instead of controlling parameters
- Disconnects after app is minimized
- Channel display not working as advertised
Requested features
14 requests- Update app for newer iOS and iPad screen sizes
- Add dark theme/metallic skin options
- Add Studio One preset
- Add SONAR/Cakewalk preset
- Full-screen mixer view
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- Marker navigation in Logic Pro
- iPhone version with transport controls
- Ability to edit button group headings
- Multi-line button label support
- Master fader in transport mode
- Better channel identification display
- Disable button click sounds option
- Multiple iPad support simultaneously
- Better Windows setup documentation
Decibel Display
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
DAW Control
No in-app purchases
Decibel Display
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DAW Control free?
Is Decibel Display free?
Which has better reviews, DAW Control or Decibel Display?
Do DAW Control or Decibel Display have ads?
Which is updated more often, DAW Control or Decibel Display?
Other comparisons
