Comparison

Timecode Tool App vs MA3 Remote

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

Head to head
About

Timecode Tool App

Features
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Timecode Tool is a focused utility for live-show technicians who need to generate, monitor, convert, measure or calculate SMPTE timecode on iPad, iPhone, and Apple Silicon Mac. Five tools: GENERATE โ€ข Output LTC audio and Art-Net Timecode driven by system time-of-day, a free-running 1-hour block, or a custom Start Timecode you type in (e.g. 02:03:20:15) that free-runs from that point. โ€ข A media-player transport while running โ€” previous block, back to start of block, play/pause, next block. (Hidden for time-of-day, which follows the wall clock instead of a block you can skip through.) โ€ข Pick FPS (24, 25, 29.97 NDF, 29.97 DF, 30) including correct SMPTE drop-frame counting. โ€ข Send to a specific Art-Net destination IP (unicast or broadcast). MONITOR โ€ข A large, glanceable timecode readout for monitoring. โ€ข Choose the source: decode LTC from an audio input, or receive Art-Net Timecode over the network. Frame rate and lock state are shown live. CONVERT โ€ข Route one timecode input to up to two simultaneous outputs, freely chosen: input is LTC audio, Art-Net, or MTC; each output is LTC audio, Art-Net, or MTC. โ€ข MTC: Timecode Tool publishes a virtual MIDI port, "Timecode Tool", that shows up as a MIDI input in every other app on your device โ€” your DAW can chase it with no cable or MIDI interface. Output can also go to a real MIDI destination, and input can come from any MIDI source. โ€ข Warns up front about setups that would misbehave: Art-Net in and out sharing a UDP port, LTC in and out on the built-in speaker and mic, and MTC feeding back into itself. โ€ข Latency compensation per output, with drift tracking and a re-sync control. Auto-detects the source frame rate and the drop-frame flag, with an override for 29.97 non-drop versus 30 fps. MEASURE โ€ข A delay checker. Tap the pad twice โ€” or keep tapping along to a beat โ€” and read the interval in milliseconds, frames at the rate you choose, timecode, BPM, seconds, or audio samples. โ€ข Then hear it: two clicks exactly that far apart, a click every interval, or your own taps replayed, placed on the audio clock to the sample. โ€ข A tap far from the others โ€” a double tap, a missed beat โ€” is flagged as it lands and left out of the statistics. Save a measurement with its taps, rate and statistic, and bring it back later. โ€ข Last, average, min, max and jitter at a glance; every unit has Copy. CALCULATE โ€ข A timecode calculator. Add, subtract, multiply and divide timecode, frames, seconds, milliseconds and h:mm:ss clock time in any mix โ€” for example "01:03:40:15, one minute thirty-five later". โ€ข Pick each operand's unit on a sliding switch under the field. Shorthand accepted: 95s, 1500ms, 1m35s, 40f, or just digits into a timecode field. Paste into any field; the unit follows the text. โ€ข A sentence above the result says what was done โ€” "Added 1 min 35 s to timecode 01:03:40:15" โ€” and the result appears in every form at once, each with its own Copy, chaining back into the next calculation. Drop-frame arithmetic uses the same frame counting as the generator. โ€ข Measure and Calculate also work at 59.94 and 60 fps. Cross-cutting features: โ€ข Background audio โ€” keeps generating / decoding when the screen is locked or another app is foreground. โ€ข Phone calls and Siri don't break the timecode stream; it resumes. โ€ข Shows your device's IP addresses. Works with Class-Compliant USB audio interfaces. Available in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, French and German. Timecode Tool does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data.

About

MA3 Remote

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a wireless remote for grandMA3 lighting consoles. Control lighting cues, fixtures, and playback with a console-accurate keypad and live feedback. Offers both free and a one-time purchase Pro version.

Highlights
  • Console-accurate keypad
  • Live playback control
  • Fixture and layout selection
  • Cue sheet management
  • Pools for macros and groups
  • Bundled feedback plugin
Features
Read full description

MA3 Remote turns your iPhone or iPad into a fast, reliable wireless remote for grandMA3 lighting consoles and onPC โ€” built for programmers and operators who need control while moving around the stage. Connect over your local network via OSC, run the included feedback plugin on the console, and you get live two-way control in your hand. FREE โ€ข Command Programmer โ€” a console-accurate keypad. Type commands exactly like on the desk (Fixture, Group, At, Thru, Full, Please) with multi-press keywords, the level wheel and Grand Master. PRO (one-time purchase, no subscription) โ€ข Playbacks โ€” motor-fader lanes with executor buttons, the X-Keys block, encoders and the master section, all live. โ€ข Cue sheets โ€” tap any executor to expand the full sequence and fire Go right from the app. โ€ข Fixtures & Layout โ€” select fixtures, drive encoders, and see your rig in the exact grandMA3 Layout positions with pinch-zoom pixel mapping. โ€ข Pools โ€” macros and groups with the colours assigned on the console. โ€ข Bundled console plugin โ€” export the feedback plugin straight from the app. WHAT YOU NEED โ€ข A grandMA3 console or grandMA3 onPC on the same network. โ€ข The MA3RemoteFeedback plugin (included in the app) running on the console. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MA Lighting. grandMA3 is a trademark of MA Lighting International GmbH.

Screenshots

Timecode Tool App4 screens
MA3 Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MA3 Remote at Free against Timecode Tool App's $1.99. MA3 Remote also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Timecode Tool App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

MA3 Remote is free to download; Timecode Tool App costs $1.99 up front. MA3 Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Timecode Tool App asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Timecode Tool App ships an update every 2 months, MA3 Remote every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 5 level
Timecode Tool App versus MA3 Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimecode Tool AppMA3 Remote
Price$1.99Free โ€” better
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
Monetizationโ€”Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch โ€” better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size3 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerllcheesell Inc.Maksim Chernikov

In-app purchases

None

Timecode Tool App

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MA3 Remote

One-time1
  • MA3 Remote Pro$19.99

Questions

Is Timecode Tool App free?
Timecode Tool App costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MA3 Remote free?
MA3 Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Timecode Tool App or MA3 Remote have ads?
Neither Timecode Tool App nor MA3 Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Timecode Tool App or MA3 Remote?
Timecode Tool App ships an update every 2 months, and MA3 Remote every 9 days. Most recently, Timecode Tool App was updated on September 30, 2026 and MA3 Remote on September 23, 2026.

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