Comparison

Playback vs MXBus

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

MXBus

This app empowers musicians to control their own monitor mixes directly from their iOS device when using Behringer X32/X-Air or Midas consoles. It offers features like stereo channels, namable groups, and automatic console discovery for a streamlined sound check and live performance adjustment.

Highlights
  • Monitor mix control for musicians
  • Supports Behringer X32/X-Air and Midas consoles
  • Stereo channels for screen real-estate
  • Namable groups and automatic console discovery
  • Control send levels for channels, aux tracks, and effects
  • Reorder channels within groups
  • Springboard and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

MXBus is a monitor mixing app for all Behringer X32 and X-Air mixing consoles that allows musicians on stage to control their own monitor mix with their iOS device. It also supports the Midas versions of these mixers (M32* and M-Air) It features stereo channels to save screen real-estate, namable groups and automatic console discovery. Musicians can control the send levels into their monitoring mix bus for all channels aux tracks and effects returns. You can even reorder the channels within your groups to your liking. It makes the sound check painless and allows you to adjust the mix during the gig. Some key differentiating Features: • Linked channels are treated as a stereo channel to save screen space.  • Double tapping a fader knob sets it 0. • Double tapping the panning control on a stereo channel pans the signal hard L/R. Another double tap reverses the panning. • NEW: Springboard and Lock Screen widgets for quicker access. And as always: The app is built with data privacy in mind - no adds, no tracking! The PRO pack unlocks even more features like: • Decayed meters with peak memory • Compression meters • Gate LEDs • Channel mute buttons (X32) • Group mute buttons (X32) • Unlimited groups • Scenes • Bus EQ • Bus Compressor

Screenshots

Playback4 screens
MXBus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Playback at 4.8 against MXBus's 4.2. Playback also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 117). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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 and MXBus 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

Playback holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Playback has 4.3K ratings behind it against 117, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Playback's written reviews are positive against 70% of MXBus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Playback versus MXBus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlaybackMXBus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4.3K ratings) — better4.2 (117 ratings)
Positive reviews66.0% of reviews70.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.3K — better117
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMultiTracks.comAndreas Keldenich

Customer experience

Playback

All ratings4,293 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews359 reviews
Positive66.0%
Neutral5.3%
Negative28.7%

MXBus

All ratings117 ratings
Positive80.3%
Neutral6.8%
Negative12.8%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive70.3%
Neutral13.2%
Negative16.5%

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

MXBus

From 117 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
  • 🚀 Quick and easy connection to mixers
  • ✅ Stable and reliable performance for IEM mixing
  • 💾 Ability to save scenes and group settings
  • 🎚️ Clean, uncluttered design maximizes screen real estate

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Faders moving on their own (recent bug)
  • 🔌 Connection issues on certain network subnets (10.0.0.x)
  • ❌ Inconsistent connectivity across different devices
  • 🔋 High battery drain on some devices
  • 📱 Limited iPad compatibility issues

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

MXBus

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Faders moving/sliding on their own without user input
  • App crashes when changing aux channels
  • Mute button switches to channel info screen
  • Scene saving not working properly (iOS 26)
  • Mix recall/fader recall feature broken after updates
Show 13 more
  • Glitchy fader behavior when locking/unlocking phone
  • Inverted fader behavior (turning down turns up)
  • Random channel muting/unmuting
  • Connection failures with error codes (Error 49, Error 65)
  • App not saving changes on iOS 26
  • Bus EQ affecting all buses instead of individual ones
  • Pan controls not functioning in Pro version
  • Bus labels showing blank on M32
  • Scenes not loading saved mix-bus selection
  • Network permission not requested on first launch (iPad)
  • App not recognizing mixer on certain network configurations
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 15.6.1 and iPadOS versions
  • Scenes lost after iOS/app upgrades

Requested features

15 requests
  • Panning control for individual channels
  • Support for Behringer Wing consoles
  • Individual group controls for sends
  • Main L/R mix access
  • FX send control from channels
Show 10 more
  • Compression and advanced EQ on channels
  • Mute status indicator from console
  • Custom channel ordering/arrangement
  • Demo mode for training
  • Android version of the app
  • Support for Allen & Heath SQ, QU, CQ boards
  • Support for Soundcraft Ui24r
  • Offline scene editing capability
  • More mute groups
  • Mackie DL version

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Playback

Subscriptions3
  • Pro1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Premium$14.991 Month
1 purchases

MXBus

One-time1
  • MXBus PRO Package$2.99

Questions

Is Playback free?
Playback is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MXBus free?
MXBus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Playback or MXBus?
Playback is rated higher. Playback averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while MXBus averages 4.2 from 117 ratings.
Do Playback or MXBus have ads?
Neither Playback nor MXBus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Playback or MXBus?
Playback ships an update monthly, and MXBus monthly. Most recently, Playback was updated on September 24, 2026 and MXBus on September 4, 2026.

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