Comparison

Playback vs MX

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

Head to head
About

Playback

This app transforms your device into a powerful multi-track player for worship teams. It integrates with other worship production tools, offers advanced features like automation and MIDI control, and provides an intuitive interface for volunteers.

Highlights
  • Multi-track audio playback
  • Integration with worship production tools
  • Automation and MIDI control
  • Custom song arrangements
  • Setlist management
  • Ambient pad player
Features
Read full description

Playback turns your Apple device into a simple, yet powerful MultiTrack player that works seamlessly with the rest of the MultiTracks.com ecosystem of products like ChartBuilder®, RehearsalMix®, and the Church Streaming License®. Link your Planning Center account and have setlists you create automatically appear in Playback. Pairing Playback with our ProPresenter Templates gives it access to pre-made MIDI Cues that perfectly sync lyrics to your tracks. Playback has been optimized to be the best tracks solution for a worship team. While it has powerful features like automation, custom song arrangements, MIDI in/out, and even support for SMPTE timecode, it’s easy and intuitive for new volunteers. A Playback Rentals subscription is an easy and affordable way to quickly access the MultiTracks from our ever expanding library of over 24,000 original master recordings. Any previous tracks purchases from MultiTracks.com are instantly available in your Playback library. Already have your own tracks? Upload them to your library with a Cloud Pro subscription so that they can be accessed in Playback. Playback Sync® automatically scrolls charts in the ChartBuilder app to always match where you are in a song. No extra cables needed since it’s all done over Wi-Fi. This ensures your team is literally all on the same page! Pad Player® lets you to stay in the moment with ambient pads underneath every song and transition in your setlist. INTRO (Free) - Build & save setlists - Solo, mute & adjust track volumes - Set custom start & end times - Tempo/key change to all 12 keys - Play ambient pads underneath songs - Access any song in the catalog with a Playback Rentals Subscription - Song transitions - AutoPan - Add click-and-pad-only songs to setlists - Adjust click track subdivisions - Live Crossfade between songs - Reference the original song mix PREMIUM (Starting at $9.99/mo | Visit MultiTracks.com/Pricing) - All “Intro” features - Add, remove, rearrange, rename, & TRIM song sections - MIDI Map controls to a MIDI Controller - Loop/Infinite Loop Song Sections - Save Custom Song Arrangements w/Cloud Pro Intro or higher - Add an Infinite Click Track - Automation: Place cues anywhere in a song to trigger automations for track volumes, mute/unmute, Pad Player, & more! - Playback Remote - Send MIDI Cues to lyrics, lights & more with (Requires Live Bundle or MULTITRACKS ONE) - Live Re-Order: While audio is playing, jump to a particular Song Section - MIDI Map to a specific Song Section - Freely jump between Song Sections & Songs live using a MIDI Controller - Buses: Route your tracks out of 10 buses for better mix control - SmartRouting®: We’ve pre-assigned every track type to a bus. *Supported USB Audio Interfaces & Playback will automatically route your tracks to the available outputs - MultiOuts®: Route tracks & buses to multiple outputs with one of our *Supported USB Audio Interfaces. - Create & edit MIDI Cues directly in Playback. Save MIDI Cues to your Library with a Cloud Pro subscription - Advanced Pad Player Interface Playback Premium is also included in the Live Bundle & the MULTITRACKS ONE Bundle. *Please Note* Because access is given to Original Artist Master MultiTracks through our free ”Demo Setlist” & "Play of the Week," account registration is required for you to verify your identity and ensure compliance with Terms of Use. Price may vary by location. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iCloud account. Subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You won't be able to cancel the subscription once activated. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you upgrade from a free subscription to a paid version. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. For more details on our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use for MultiTracks.com please visit: http://www.multitracks.com/privacy/ and http://www.multitracks.com/terms/

About

MX

Control your personal monitor mix directly from your mobile device. This app offers intuitive remote control for volume and panning of input channels to auxiliary buses, with customizable groupings for easy adjustments during performances. Ideal for musicians and performers seeking flexible and personalized monitoring.

Highlights
  • 4 customizable MCAs for group channel adjustments
  • Control over Mono and Stereo Bus sends
  • Individual volume and panorama control
  • Portrait/landscape orientation support
  • Remote control for audio mixers
Features
Read full description

MX-Q – Personal Monitoring at your Fingertips Take full control of your monitor mix, right from your mobile device. MX-Q gives musicians, performers, and creators a fast, intuitive way to make their personal monitor mix for Midas M32, M-AIR, Behringer X32, and X-AIR audio mixers. Not only does MX-Q allow individual volume and panorama remote control for all input channel sends to all aux-buses, but it allows virtually grouping channels into MCA’s (mix control associations). There are 4 MCA’s that can be populated independently in every app instance, making level adjustments during performance easy and fit for every musician’s needs. Whether you’re on stage, in rehearsal, or in the studio, MX-Q makes personal monitoring simple, flexible, and fully customizable. Features • 4 customizable MCAs (quick adjustment to multiple channels at once) • Control over Mono and Stereo Bus sends and panning • Portrait/landscape orientation Perfect For • Musicians who want full control of their in-ear or wedge mix • Bands needing fast, reliable personal monitoring • Rehearsal spaces, houses of worship, and touring rigs Compatibility • Compatible with Behringer X32 and X AIR series mixers as well as Midas M32 and M AIR series mixers • Requires the mobile device and mixer to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network

Screenshots

Playback4 screens
MX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Playback at 66% against MX's 16%. Playback also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.1) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 279). MX's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price and ads 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. Playback sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. MX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Playback holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Playback has 4.3K ratings behind it against 279, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Playback's written reviews are positive against 16% of MX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Playback ships an update every 5 weeks, MX every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Playback versus MX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlaybackMX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4.3K ratings) — better2.1 (279 ratings)
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews — better15.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better279
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMultiTracks.comEmpower Tribe Innovations DE GmbH

Customer experience

Playback

All ratings4,301 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews362 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral5.2%
Negative28.5%

MX

All ratings279 ratings
Positive19.4%
Neutral10.4%
Negative70.3%
Written reviews297 reviews
Positive15.8%
Neutral11.8%
Negative72.4%

User reviews

Playback

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Powerful features
  • 🚀 Seamless playback
  • 🚀 Intuitive interface
  • 👍 Great for small churches

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Difficult to use on multiple devices
  • 🔒 Lack of free trial or demo
  • 🐛 Inconsistent behavior after updates

MX

From 279 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface for monitor mixing
  • 🎵 Effective personal in-ear mix control functionality
  • 🔌 Automatic device detection and connection capability
  • 📱 Works across multiple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)
  • 🎚️ Responsive faders when functioning properly

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Screen doesn't stay awake during use - requires manual unlock
  • 🔌 Frequent disconnections from mixer board
  • ⏱️ Long reconnection times and parameter transfer delays
  • 📊 Missing signal level meters on individual channels
  • 🎚️ Removed grouping/filtering functionality for custom channel views

Bugs and requests

Playback

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Click track and guide audio issues
  • Playback freezing or crashing on certain devices
  • Syncing problems between multiple devices
  • Rental tracks not loading properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to create and save custom setlists
  • More advanced editing capabilities for individual tracks
  • Tempo and key change options during live performance
  • Improved MIDI integration for lyrics and lighting control
  • Standalone version without subscription requirement

MX

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • App crashes on launch or connection
  • Screen auto-locks during active use
  • Connection drops frequently during performance
  • IP address not saved between sessions
  • App freezes on scanning or connecting screens
Show 14 more
  • Faders unresponsive or slow to react
  • Touch controls frozen or glitchy
  • Horizontal scrolling inconsistent and difficult
  • Parameter transfer takes excessive time
  • App doesn't auto-reconnect after phone sleep
  • Incompatible with iOS 16+ and iPhone 16
  • Scan function doesn't detect mixer on network
  • Manual IP entry not accepted despite correct address
  • App crashes when switching between mix screens
  • Settings not retained between sessions
  • Channel display shows wrong labels
  • Vertical mode layout broken and unusable
  • Latency issues with fader adjustments
  • App requires force close and reinstall to function

Requested features

17 requests
  • Restore signal level/VU meters for each channel
  • Bring back channel grouping and filtering capabilities
  • Add ability to keep screen from auto-locking during use
  • Implement IP address saving and auto-reconnection
  • Restore previous UI layout and design
Show 12 more
  • Add channel numbering display
  • Include dB level indicators on faders
  • Add pan control functionality
  • Implement compression and gate controls
  • Add EQ options for individual channels
  • Create user profile saving for different musicians
  • Add color-coding options for channels
  • Implement page-based navigation instead of scrolling
  • Add password protection for main mix access
  • Reduce master fader screen real estate
  • Improve touch sensitivity and responsiveness
  • Add support for scribble strip customization

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Playback

Subscriptions3
  • Pro1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Premium$14.991 Month
None

MX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Playback free?
Playback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MX free?
MX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Playback or MX?
Playback is rated higher. Playback averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while MX averages 2.1 from 279 ratings.
Do Playback or MX have ads?
Neither Playback nor MX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Playback or MX?
Playback ships an update every 5 weeks, and MX every 2 weeks. Most recently, Playback was updated on October 20, 2026 and MX on October 20, 2026.

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