iRig BlueBoard vs Tone Trace
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iRig BlueBoard
This app enables wireless MIDI control for musicians using a compatible pedalboard. It allows for the setup and configuration of the hardware unit, letting you change banks, presets, and control parameters in any Core MIDI app from a distance. You can customize MIDI assignments, select modes, and manage settings for your performance.
- Wireless MIDI control
- Footswitch bank and preset changes
- Parameter control in Core MIDI apps
- Dual Mode operation (Program/Control Change)
- Editable MIDI assignments
- Selectable MIDI channel
- Bluetooth signal strength indicator
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THE IRIG BLUEBOARD APP FOR IPHONE, IPAD, AND IPOD TOUCH, WORKS IN TANDEM WITH IK’S NEW IRIG BLUEBOARD, THE FIRST WIRELESS MIDI PEDALBOARD FOR IOS AND MAC, CONTROLLING THE SETUP AND CONFIGURATION OF THE HARDWARE UNIT. The iRig BlueBoard pedalboard features 4 backlit footswitches that let you change banks and presets, and control parameters in any Core MIDI-compatible app (like AmpliTube or SampleTank) from up to 10 meters away. It’s also equipped with 2 expression pedal inputs that let you connect pedals (not included) and control continuously variable parameters like wah and volume. This app allows the communication between the iRig BlueBoard controller and any Core MIDI apps running on your iOS device. Also, iRig BlueBoard app lets you setup the hardware unit, and configure its 32 banks of settings for iRig BlueBoard’s 4 footswitches. Setup the MIDI parameters you want to control, switch between the PROGRAM CHANGE and CONTROL CHANGE operating modes, set the MIDI channel iRig BlueBoard will transmit on, browse and rename banks, browse patches in Core MIDI apps, and much more. iRig BlueBoard features: - Compatibility with any Core MIDI compatible app - Dual Mode operation (Program Change or Control Change mode) - Editable MIDI assignments for each pad - Selectable MIDI Channel - External Controllers Calibration - Pads Backlight regulation - Battery life indicator - Bluetooth signal strength indicator More apps information: www.ikmultimedia.com/irigblueboardapp www.amplitube.com www.amplitube.com/fender www.ikmultimedia.com/vocalive www.sampletank.com Accessories information: www.ikmultimedia.com/irigblueboard www.irighd.com www.ikmultimedia.com/irig www.irigstomp.com www.irigmidi.com
Tone Trace
This app helps guitarists and bassists optimize their pedalboard signal flow. It audits pedal order, buffer placement, and more, providing a real-time chain score and a troubleshoot wizard to fix issues like hum and tone suck. It's designed for musicians with multiple pedals who want their rig to sound its best.
- Drag-and-drop pedal chain builder
- Real-time signal flow scoring
- Symptom-driven troubleshoot wizard
- Signal map for documentation
- FX loop routing awareness
- Clone artist rigs
- Set list creation and sharing
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Tone Trace is the rig analyzer for guitarists and bassists who want their pedalboard to sound right — not just look right. Drag pedals onto a chain canvas, and Tone Trace audits your signal flow as you build. The chain score grades pedal order, buffer placement, FX-loop routing, and gain staging in real time. When something is off, the troubleshoot wizard walks you through the actual fix — tone suck, hum, high-pitched whine, impedance mismatch — by symptom, not by guesswork. Built for the gear-forward player who already owns three or more pedals and is tired of static pedalboard layouts that don't tell you whether the rig actually works. KEY FEATURES • Chain Builder — drag-place pedals on a grid canvas; signal lines auto-route between cells. • Chain Score — quantitative grade of your rig's signal flow with sub-score bars for order, FX loop, gain staging, and impedance. • Troubleshoot Wizard — symptom-driven diagnostic cards walk you from "my rig sounds bad" to a specific fix. • Signal Map — annotated read-only flow diagram for documentation, screen-share, or repatch reference. • FX Loop Aware — the chain layout knows which side of the amp's effects loop each pedal belongs on. • Artist Rigs — clone curated rigs from the artist library, then tune to your gear. • Walkthroughs + Lessons — guided onboarding and concept lessons (gain staging, true bypass vs buffered, 4-cable method) without leaving the app. • Set Lists — build a set list with rigs attached, print or share the call sheet. • Share + Export — export a rig diagram or set list as a PDF/PNG; share via the system share sheet. WHO IT'S FOR Guitarists and bassists with three or more stompbox pedals — bedroom, gigging, and worship-team players. Especially useful for Line 6 Helix / HX Stomp users wrangling 4-cable method routing, and stereo-pedalboard builders chasing tone-suck culprits. WHAT IT'S NOT Tone Trace is not an amp or FX simulator. It does not generate audio. It is a rig planner, auditor, and diagnostic tool — the layer above the simulator and below the soldering iron. Drag a pedal in. Watch the chain score react. Fix what the score flags. Save the rig. TERMS AND PRIVACY Tone Trace Pro is a one-time purchase — there is no subscription and nothing auto-renews. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. You can restore your purchase anytime from the app's paywall. Privacy policy: https://www.remnantworkshop.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tone Trace at 100% against iRig BlueBoard's 19%. Tone Trace also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months). iRig BlueBoard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). 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
Both are free to download. Tone Trace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. iRig BlueBoard asks for nothing beyond the download.
iRig BlueBoard ships an update every 15 months, Tone Trace fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iRig BlueBoard | Tone Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IK Multimedia US, LLC | Remnant Workshop, Inc. |
Customer experience
iRig BlueBoard
Tone Trace
In-app purchases
iRig BlueBoard
No in-app purchases
Tone Trace
- ToneTrace PRO Monthly$4.991 Month
- ToneTrace PRO Yearly1 Year trial$49.991 Year
- Unlock PRO forever$1.99
Questions
Is iRig BlueBoard free?
Is Tone Trace free?
Do iRig BlueBoard or Tone Trace have ads?
Which is updated more often, iRig BlueBoard or Tone Trace?
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