WoodTroller vs Tandem MIDI Canvas
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WoodTroller
This app functions as a multi-touch bar MIDI controller for MPE and MIDI V2. It offers customizable rotary controls and buttons to manage various parameters and send MIDI commands, with iCloud syncing for presets.
- MPE touch bar with individual pitch shift, pressure, and CC74 control
- 8 customizable rotary controls for sending multiple CC messages
- 8 programmable buttons for sending various MIDI commands
- User-definable rotary and button names, colors, and ranges
- Preset storage and automatic syncing via iCloud
- Stand-alone app and AUv3 plugin support
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WoodTroller is NOT an app to annoy people. It’s an MPE and midi V2 multi touch bar keyboard and midi controller : The MPE touch bar supports multiple notes with individual pitch shift (horizontal movement), pressure and cc74 (vertical movement). WoodTroller has 8 general purpose rotary controls : - Each can send 6 different CC messages to different channels. - Each of the 6 command values can be mapped differently to the full rotary range. - So 1 rotary can control several parameters on the same or on different instruments. - Rotary names, colour, unit, range can all be user set. WoodTroller also has 8 general purpose on-off or push buttons : - Each button can send up to 8 different midi commands (CC, PC, NoteOn, …) to different channels. - This allows to quickly switch multiple midi instruments or devices to another program or to other settings. - Each midi command’s data value can be auto incremented/decremented. - All button names, colour, type can be user set. All settings can be stored in presets in iCloud which yield automatic preset syncing between several WoodTrollers on different devices. WoodTroller is available as stand-alone app and as AUv3 plugin.
Tandem MIDI Canvas
Design and build custom MIDI controllers on your iPhone or iPad. Save presets, perform with motion and snapshots, and collaborate in real-time with others. Features smart snapping, layout templates, and morphing between states.
- Build custom MIDI controller layouts
- Save and recall presets
- Perform with motion and snapshots
- Real-time collaboration
- Smart MIDI setup
- Morphing between states
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Tandem turns your iPhone or iPad into a customizable MIDI controller you can actually trust on stage. Build your own layouts in minutes, map them fast, save reusable presets, and perform with powerful features like snapshots, morphing, motion control, and real-time collaboration. Whether you’re producing in the studio, playing live, teaching, or building DJ performance layouts, Tandem gives you a fast, flexible way to create controllers that fit your workflow instead of forcing you into someone else’s. BUILD THE CONTROLLER YOU ACTUALLY WANT Create custom layouts with knobs, faders, XY pads, drum pads, buttons, toggles, momentary buttons, endless encoders, transport controls, and gyroscope-based motion. Start from a blank canvas or jump in quickly with templates for mixers, synth performance rigs, drum layouts, dashboards, and more. Save your setups as presets and reuse them whenever you want. FAST WORKFLOW, BUILT FOR REAL USE Tandem is designed to help you build quickly and perform confidently. Features include: • Smart snapping and responsive grids • Spacing tools for clean layouts • Focus Mode for precision editing • Fast MIDI Learn • Helpful hints and a replayable tutorial walkthrough • Smart MIDI setup so new controls can automatically map to unused assignments SHAPESHIFT YOUR PERFORMANCE This is where Tandem becomes more than a controller. Save up to 8 snapshots of an entire layout, including all control values. Instantly jump between states or smoothly interpolate between them using a Morph Driver. It’s perfect for live performance, evolving sound design, transitions, and expressive macro control. RANDOMIZATION YOU CAN PLAY Map Randomize to a button or pad and generate musical variation on demand. Great for experimentation, happy accidents, sound design, and live moments that feel alive instead of static. COLLABORATE IN REAL TIME With Tandem Mode, multiple devices can share and control the same layout together. Host or join a session and collaborate live across devices—ideal for bands, classrooms, writing rooms, rehearsals, and shared performance setups. Locally and Remotely via SharePlay! DJ AND PERFORMANCE READY Tandem isn’t just for synths and studio control. It can also power performance-oriented layouts for transport, mixing, browser access, FX control, looping, hot cues, waveforms, and more. Build focused pages for the way you actually perform. THEMES THAT LOOK GOOD AND HOLD UP ON STAGE Use high-contrast, stage-ready themes or create your own look. Tandem includes a redesigned Theme Maker plus import/export support for themes and preset packages so you can share setups and visual styles. FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY Connect with: • USB-C • Bluetooth MIDI • Wi-Fi Background processing helps keep MIDI flowing while you work. Tandem isn’t just a MIDI controller app. It’s a controller builder with performance features you usually only get from dedicated hardware—wrapped in a workflow that’s fast, modern, and easy to come back to. Design your ideal controller, save your favorite setups, morph entire layouts, and perform anywhere—solo or together.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: WoodTroller at $9.99 against Tandem MIDI Canvas's $14.99. WoodTroller also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
WoodTroller costs $9.99 and Tandem MIDI Canvas $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Tandem MIDI Canvas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
WoodTroller ships an update fortnightly, Tandem MIDI Canvas every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WoodTroller | Tandem MIDI Canvas |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Woodman's Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio | Mitchell Cohen |
Customer experience
WoodTroller
Tandem MIDI Canvas
In-app purchases
WoodTroller
No in-app purchases
Tandem MIDI Canvas
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WoodTroller free?
Is Tandem MIDI Canvas free?
Which has better reviews, WoodTroller or Tandem MIDI Canvas?
Do WoodTroller or Tandem MIDI Canvas have ads?
Which is updated more often, WoodTroller or Tandem MIDI Canvas?
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