Comparison

Knob Lab vs MIDI FX

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

Head to head
About

Knob Lab

This application transforms your iOS device into a versatile MIDI controller. It allows you to manage various DAWs and music software remotely via USB, WiFi, or Bluetooth. Create intricate control setups with a single rotary knob, affecting multiple MIDI destinations simultaneously.

Highlights
  • Remote DAW control
  • USB, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity
  • Virtual MIDI support
  • Audiobus integration
  • Complex control mapping
  • iPad support
  • MIDI logger
Features
Read full description

Knob Lab turns your iPhone or iPad into a MIDI controller built around one idea: a single knob can do many things at once. ONE KNOB. MANY MOVES. Map a knob to up to 8 MIDI destinations. Each has its own range, direction, channel and color, so one turn can open a filter, pull the resonance back and bring the delay in over the second half of the sweep. BUILD YOUR OWN MACROS • Control Change, Program Change and Pitch Bend destinations • Name every knob and every destination, so a setup reads at a glance • Invert any range, or start a destination part-way through the turn • Rotate completely, snap to middle, pan left/right, or return to origin on release • A colored lane for every destination shows where each one is A LAYOUT FOR EVERY SETUP Start with one big knob, or unlock layouts with 2, 6 or 12 knobs on a single screen. PLAYS WITH EVERYTHING • Music apps on the same device, through Knob Lab's virtual MIDI output • Computers over Wi-Fi, with a network MIDI session • A Mac over USB or Bluetooth, with Sonic Logic Central • Class-compliant USB MIDI interfaces and synths plugged into your iPhone or iPad MADE FOR TOUCH Large, precise knobs, a quick guided start, Dark, Light and Neon themes, and full support for iPhone Duo in portrait and landscape. The one-knob layout is free. The 2, 6 and 12 knob layouts are in-app purchases, available one at a time or all together.

About

MIDI FX

This app allows you to control and process MIDI signals for music creation. It offers features like harmonization, transposition, and sequencing, enabling you to control external or virtual synthesizers and create complex musical arrangements.

Highlights
  • MIDI signal processing
  • Harmonize and Transpose
  • Sequencer for synths
  • Delay and Looper
  • Filter notes by velocity
  • Internal instruments
Features
Read full description

Buy once and get the iOS and Mac apps (with Family Sharing) Control your MIDI signals and process them in any combination of ways: Harmonize, Transpose, Arpeggiate, etc... Or use the Sequencer to play any external or virtual synth. Use a MIDI interface to unlock the power of the app to control multiple synths with one keyboard, play one note and generate chords, basslines, etc... Use the delay/looper or filter notes based on velocity or other parameters to send to different synths/effects. A MIDI workstation in your pocket (or your iPad/Mac) You can also use some internal instruments (drums sampler, piano or synth) if you are away from your MIDI gear, and sequence whole songs inside the app, or use other synth apps as input/output for MIDI FX. Your imagination is the limit!

Screenshots

Knob Lab4 screens
MIDI FX2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MIDI FX at 5.0 against Knob Lab's 4.3. MIDI FX also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, 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. Knob Lab sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and MIDI FX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MIDI FX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 5 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Knob Lab ships an update every 4 months, MIDI FX every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Knob Lab versus MIDI FX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnob LabMIDI FX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (12 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews84.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.014.7 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB263 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUri NachmiasJorge Arroyo

Customer experience

Knob Lab

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%

MIDI FX

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Knob Lab

One-time4
  • Two Knob Layout$0.99
  • Four/Six Knob Layout$0.99
  • Nine/Twelve knob layout.$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock all layouts$1.99
1 purchases

MIDI FX

One-time1
  • Unlock app$9.99

Questions

Is Knob Lab free?
Knob Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MIDI FX free?
MIDI FX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Knob Lab or MIDI FX?
MIDI FX is rated higher. Knob Lab averages 4.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while MIDI FX averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Knob Lab or MIDI FX have ads?
Neither Knob Lab nor MIDI FX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Knob Lab or MIDI FX?
Knob Lab ships an update every 4 months, and MIDI FX every 9 days. Most recently, Knob Lab was updated on October 24, 2026 and MIDI FX on October 23, 2026.

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