Comparison

MIDI vs DAW Controller

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

Head to head
About

MIDI

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MIDIProbe is a pocket MIDI utility for iPhone and iPad that helps you discover, test, and troubleshoot MIDI devices (e.g., controllers, synths, mixers). Pick which endpoints to send to or listen to, fire off the exact MIDI commands you need, and watch a live, timestamped log to verify every message. • Discover USB, Bluetooth, and RTP network MIDI devices, and see detailed info like IDs, serial numbers, and transport type before selecting send/receive targets. - Send MIDI fast with interactive cards: - Notes, Control Change (CC), Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitch Bend; - System Common (Song Position Pointer, Song Select, Tune Request); - Real-Time (Start/Stop/Continue, Clock, Active Sensing, Reset); • Monitor inbound MIDI with a live log or grouped-by-command view, with filters for command types, clear controls, and timestamps. Typical use cases: • Reverse-engineer mixer control quickly:  You have an X32 mixer and want to use a floorboard to mute/unmute channels. Connect both to MIDIProbe, discover the right endpoints, and watch which channel/CC/value combinations actually toggle mutes—then verify your floorboard sends the exact same messages before you risk it live. • Map a foot controller to a multi-FX unit:  You want to configure a floorboard to switch presets/settings on your multi-effects processor. Use MIDIProbe to identify which Program Changes or CCs trigger the functions you need, then confirm the outgoing messages match your intended mapping. • Confirm keyboard controller channel routing:  Check whether your keyboard is transmitting on the correct MIDI channel (or accidentally sending Omni), and verify splits/layers are hitting the channels your synth or app expects. • Validate DAW controller templates:  Debug pad controller mappings for Ableton/Logic/Cubase—see exactly which notes/CCs each pad/knob/fader is sending, catch duplicated CC numbers, and confirm bank switching. • Troubleshoot “why doesn’t it respond?” fast:  If your synth/module isn’t reacting, use MIDIProbe to confirm whether it’s receiving anything at all, whether the messages are on the wrong channel, or whether you’re sending the wrong command type. • Verify pitch bend and high-resolution CCs:  Check pitch bend ranges and whether devices send 14-bit (MSB/LSB) pairs correctly for smooth parameter changes. • Build and test custom hardware/software:  If you’re developing MIDI controller firmware or a MIDI iOS/macOS app, use MIDIProbe as your “known good” sender/receiver to test parsing, edge cases, and message timing. If you’re into this kind of thing, MIDIProbe is for you.

About

DAW Controller

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Your sleeping iPhone becomes a wheel and fader controller for your DAW. Digital pianos and synths often have no Pitch Bend or Modulation wheel. Dedicated hardware is hard to find, and small keyboards with wheels tend to feel awkward or fiddly to set up. DAW Controller is a pure MIDI controller built to fill exactly that gap. ■ Six controls Pitch Bend / Modulation / Expression / Main Volume / Breath / Custom CC. Big wheels let you send nuance with a fingertip. ■ Three ways to your DAW Network MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI, and USB. No OSC bridge, no extra conversion — it reaches your Mac DAW (Cubase and others) directly. ■ Haptics you can feel on a desk Solid haptic feedback that comes through even with the phone lying flat. ■ Fits your hands Manual portrait/landscape switch, a left- or right-side control panel in landscape, and fader looks (metal / color / matte). ■ Nothing extra No ads. No subscription. Buy once. Try it first, and if you like it, pay once — for good. DAW Controller — to be your obbligato.

Screenshots

MIDI4 screens
DAW Controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MIDI at none against DAW Controller's 1. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. DAW Controller sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MIDI asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
MIDI versus DAW Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDIDAW Controller
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael HitzYasuhiro Misawa

In-app purchases

None

MIDI

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

DAW Controller

One-time1
  • DAW Controller (Buy Once)$11.99

Questions

Is MIDI free?
MIDI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DAW Controller free?
DAW Controller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MIDI or DAW Controller have ads?
Neither MIDI nor DAW Controller shows ads.

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