Comparison

Knob Lab vs MidiPad 2

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 colour, 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 coloured 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, and Dark, Light and Neon themes. 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

MidiPad 2

This app functions as a highly customizable MIDI pad controller. It allows users to send notes, program changes, and controller events to Core MIDI devices with velocity-sensitive pads. Create multiple pages and actions per pad for extensive control over your music production.

Highlights
  • Velocity-sensitive pads
  • Multiple actions per pad
  • Push button or on/off switch pads
  • Color-coded pad grouping
  • Multiple page creation
  • Wireless MIDI support
Features
Read full description

MidiPad is the most customizable Midi Pad Controller you will ever find! Using MidiPad you can send notes, program changes or controller events to Core Midi capable devices. The pads are velocity sensitive and you can add as many of them as you wish. Still not enough? Create multiple pages for each song or device. The possibilities are limitless! Features: - Very fast pad response with low latency - Multiple actions per pad - Pads can be push buttons or on/off switches - Group your pads with matching colors - Create multiple pages and quickly switch between them - Support for wireless Midi and Core Midi capable apps/devices

Screenshots

Knob Lab4 screens
MidiPad 23 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Knob Lab at Free against MidiPad 2's $2.99. Knob Lab also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 54%). MidiPad 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (129 vs 12). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support 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

Knob Lab is free to download; MidiPad 2 costs $2.99 up front. Knob Lab sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. MidiPad 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Knob Lab against 4.2 for MidiPad 2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MidiPad 2 has 129 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Knob Lab's written reviews are positive against 54% of MidiPad 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Knob Lab versus MidiPad 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnob LabMidiPad 2
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.3 (12 ratings) — better4.2 (129 ratings)
Positive reviews84.6% of reviews — better54.1% of reviews
Number of ratings12129 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUri NachmiasCodelle

Customer experience

Knob Lab

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

MidiPad 2

All ratings129 ratings
Positive79.8%
Neutral6.2%
Negative14.0%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive54.1%
Neutral12.9%
Negative32.9%

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
None

MidiPad 2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Knob Lab free?
Knob Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MidiPad 2 free?
MidiPad 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Knob Lab or MidiPad 2?
Knob Lab is rated higher. Knob Lab averages 4.3 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while MidiPad 2 averages 4.2 from 129 ratings.
Do Knob Lab or MidiPad 2 have ads?
Neither Knob Lab nor MidiPad 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Knob Lab or MidiPad 2?
Knob Lab ships an update every 5 months, and MidiPad 2 every 5 months. Most recently, Knob Lab was updated on October 13, 2026 and MidiPad 2 on October 15, 2026.

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