Comparison

MixSurface vs Gear Valet

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

Head to head
About

MixSurface

Features
Read full description

MixSurface is a wireless control surface for the REAPER digital audio workstation. Set it up once and mix, tweak, and perform from your iPhone or iPad. REQUIRES REAPER running on your Mac or PC on the same local network, plus a small free extension. MixSurface is a remote controller, not a copy of REAPER. No REAPER handy? Tap Try Demo on the connect screen and explore the app with a simulated session, no setup required. * FADERS THAT FEEL GREAT Faders, pan, mute, solo and metering, with touch response tuned for real mixing: fast, precise and smooth under your fingers. Bank across every track, or group them into custom layers you switch in a tap. * SENDS ON FADER, INCLUDED FREE Flip the whole mixer into send mode and ride one destination across every channel, the classic console monitor-mix workflow. Pin the buses you reach for most so they are always one tap away. * BUILT-IN EQ ADAPTERS A multi-touch parametric EQ, pre-mapped to popular EQ plugins. Drag bands on the curve, pinch to set Q, and read live values straight from REAPER, with no per-plugin setup. * CUSTOM TEMPLATES Control any plugin with knobs and faders that read and write in real time, including gain-reduction metering for compressors that report it. Use the built-in templates, or map your own in seconds with listen mode: touch a control in REAPER and it binds. * GLOBAL CONTROL SURFACES Build your own pages from plugin controls, transport and one-tap REAPER actions, then make them global so they follow you into every project. * AUTOMATION AND TRACK SETUP Read and write automation from the surface, with each fader showing the automation value rather than just the trim. Name tracks, set colours, choose record inputs and set monitoring without going back to the computer. * KEEP THE VIEWS IN STEP Show only the tracks REAPER is showing, or drive REAPER's mixer from a layer you tap. Run several phones and tablets on one session and they all stay in sync. * FREE, PLUS ONE PURCHASE The mixer, track layers and Sends on Fader are free, forever. One purchase, no subscription, unlocks Channel Details, the multi-touch EQ, plugin control, custom templates and the global Control View. Family Sharing supported. Built for people who run REAPER and want a control surface that just works. Requires REAPER 7 or later on macOS or Windows, the free MixSurface extension, and a shared local network (Wi-Fi or wired). MixSurface connects over your local network only, with no account and no cloud. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cockos Incorporated. "REAPER" is a trademark of Cockos Incorporated.

About

Gear Valet

Catalog and track your music equipment with detailed specifications, service history, and AI-powered valuations. Identify gear instantly with photos and OCR, and manage your collection securely with local storage.

Highlights
  • AI-powered gear identification
  • OCR for serial numbers
  • Market-driven valuations
  • Category-specific specs
  • Maintenance and service logging
  • Secure local storage
  • Unlimited inventory (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Gear Valet is the ultimate gear vault and intelligent inventory tracker designed specifically for musicians, producers, audio engineers, and collectors. Whether you manage a commercial recording facility, a home project studio, or a prized personal collection of vintage guitars and tube amps, Gear Valet eliminates the friction of gear management. Catalog your equipment, track detailed specifications, log service history, and generate export-ready insurance valuation riders in seconds. Features Intelligent Multi-Modal AI Appraisal & OCR Instant Photo Identification: Snap a photo of any instrument, amplifier, microphone, or rack unit. Gear Valet uses computer vision to identify the make, model, category, and approximate year of manufacture. On-Device Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Automatically scan serial badges, manufacturer plates, and chassis labels to extract serial numbers with pinpoint accuracy. Market-Driven Fair Valuation: Receive instant estimated replacement costs backed by market comps from Reverb, eBay Sold Listings, and Sweetwater. Comprehensive Category-Specific Specs Gear Valet provides dedicated, structured technical fields tailored to each instrument and hardware type: Guitars & Basses: Neck/middle/bridge pickup configurations, string gauges, string brands, and last string change dates. Amplifiers & Cabs: Circuit type (Tube, Solid-State, Hybrid), wattage output, speaker sizes, driver counts, and peak/RMS handling. Microphones: Transducer types (Condenser, Dynamic, Ribbon), phantom power (+48V) requirements, and primary application notes. Keyboards & Synths: Key counts, keybed weighting (Weighted, Semi-Weighted), MIDI support, and internal speaker configurations. Outboard & Accessories: Origin, provenance, weight, serial numbers, and custom notes. Maintenance, Repairs & Service History Keep your collection in peak operating condition. Log every tune-up, tube replacement, setup, and custom modification with date stamps, costs, technician notes, and shop records. Privacy-First & Secure Local Storage Your financial and equipment data is yours alone. Gear Valet stores your inventory locally using Apple’s SwiftData framework. Complete JSON snapshot backup and restore capabilities ensure you always retain full custody of your records. Gear Valet Pro Upgrade to Gear Valet Pro to unlock advanced tools for power users and studios: Unlimited Inventory: Catalog and track unlimited guitars, basses, amplifiers, pedals, microphones, studio outboard, and accessories without the 5-item free tier restriction. 10-Photo Equipment Gallery: Document condition, provenance, badges, and receipts with up to 10 high-resolution photos per item. AI Valuation & Identification Engine: Instant appraisals, automatic hardware specification matching, and real-time market comparables from verified audio marketplaces. Asset Financials & Analytics: Live portfolio replacement totals, category breakdowns, and dynamic interactive distribution charts. Marriage Saver Mode Need to show off your collection without displaying replacement costs and total investment figures? Toggle "Marriage Saver" mode with a single tap to instantly hide all financial figures across the dashboard and item views. Service & Maintenance Tracking: Log amplifier tube changes, speaker reconing, repairs, mods, and technician invoices with complete cost accounting. String Replacement Reminders: Automated notification scheduling tailored to your playing frequency (14, 30, 60, or 90-day intervals). Exportable PDF Insurance Reports: Generate detailed, formatted studio inventory reports with thumbnail galleries ready for insurers and appraisers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MixSurface4 screens
Gear Valet3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: MixSurface at 15.0 against Gear Valet's 26.0. On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MixSurface sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Gear Valet sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MixSurface ships an update every 6 days, Gear Valet weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
MixSurface versus Gear Valet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMixSurfaceGear Valet
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoulful MusicSHAWN DAVID SMITH

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MixSurface

One-time1
  • Unlock REAPER Features$29.99
1 purchases

Gear Valet

Subscriptions1
  • Gear Valet Pro (Annual)$9.991 Year

Questions

Is MixSurface free?
MixSurface is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gear Valet free?
Gear Valet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MixSurface or Gear Valet have ads?
Neither MixSurface nor Gear Valet shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MixSurface or Gear Valet?
MixSurface ships an update every 6 days, and Gear Valet weekly. Most recently, MixSurface was updated on November 9, 2026 and Gear Valet on November 6, 2026.

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