Virtual EP vs Patch & I/O
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Virtual EP
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Virtual expression pedal and whammy bar. This app sends a midi message to Apple Midi Network or to BLE devices.
Patch & I/O
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Input list, patchbay and stage plot in one app. Type the sheet and the signal flow diagram draws itself, and the app tells you when a mic that needs phantom is sitting on an input that cannot supply it. One show is one project. Fill in the channel sheet, lay out the patchbay, draw the stage plot, and print the paper you hand the crew β all in one app. β I/O LIST CH Β· SOURCE Β· PICK UP Β· STAND Β· REMARKS, the way the sheet looks on site. Live and recording need different columns, so they are separate kinds β recording shows PREAMP, INSERT and DAW TRACK as well. Mics and stands are counted by model into their own list. No counting when you pull gear from the store room. β WHAT IT CATCHES - A source that needs 48V phantom on an input that cannot supply it - Phantom reaching a ribbon mic or other gear it can damage - A speaker-level output going into a line input - The same channel number used on two rows - Connector families that do not mate, so an adapter is needed β SIGNAL FLOW The sources and mics you typed become the diagram. Identical models are merged and counted (x4), and tapping one channel follows just that path. Chains that do not fit a channel sheet β outputs and monitors, clock, power β are drawn by hand. Drag block to block to connect them, or draw the line with Apple Pencil. β PATCHBAY 24, 48 or 96 columns. Draw a segment and the jacks in that range get names and numbers; normalling is set per segment too β full normal, half normal, thru. Label strips print at actual size. That is the paper you cut and slide into the bay window. Jack pitch differs by model, so you measure and enter it, and the sheet carries a ruler mark to prove your printer did not scale the page. If it is not 100 mm, print again. Note: the default pitch (9.5 mm for a 48-point 1U bantam bay) is a reference value. Measure your own bay before printing. β STAGE PLOT Place, rotate and resize drums, amps, wedges and stands. Put things on risers, and attach channel numbers from the I/O list to any symbol. Draw the venue's standard layout once, then copy it for each show. You can mark it up with Apple Pencil (view-only on Mac). β ON PAPER I/O list, patchbay sheet, label strip, signal flow, stage plot β all export as PDF. Long channel counts split across pages, and when the inputs overflow they flow into two columns so you use less paper. β LEARN (ALL FREE) Photographs and pin tables for nine connectors: XLR, TRS, TS, bantam, RCA, Speakon and DB25. Cable wiring diagrams, and a practice mode where you connect the pins at each end yourself. The things that catch people out on site are written down β such as how to handle pin 3 (cold) in an insert Y-cable. β WHAT THE FREE VERSION DOES - Build and view every screen. No limit on channel count - Two each of: live projects, recording projects, patchbays, diagrams, stage plots - PDF export works (with a watermark) - All of Learn - iCloud sync is free too. Change devices and everything is still there The lifetime unlock removes the document limits and the watermark, and adds CSV import/export and actual-size label strip printing. It is not a subscription. Buy once, and it opens on your iPhone, iPad and Mac under the same Apple Account. β FROM THE MAKER Built to use on the job. If something is missing or wrong, tell me.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Virtual EP at none against Patch & I/O's 1. Virtual EP also leads on iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). Patch & I/O's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Patch & I/O sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Virtual EP asks for nothing beyond the download.
Virtual EP ships an update every 7 months, Patch & I/O weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Virtual EP | Patch & I/O |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Weekly β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac β better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 β better | 18.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 103 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marcos Gennari Patroni | HYO SEOP LEE |
In-app purchases
Virtual EP
No in-app purchases
Patch & I/O
- Lifetime Unlock$11.99
Questions
Is Virtual EP free?
Is Patch & I/O free?
Do Virtual EP or Patch & I/O have ads?
Which is updated more often, Virtual EP or Patch & I/O?
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