Comparison

FCBFF vs ShowMIDI

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

Head to head
About

FCBFF

This app simplifies programming and using the Behringer FCB1010 MIDI foot controller. It allows for in-app configuration testing, direct MIDI connection for uploading, and even wireless control via a second iOS device. It's designed to enhance your music-making setup by giving you more control over synthesizers, sequencers, and effects.

Highlights
  • FCB1010 MIDI foot controller programming
  • In-app configuration emulation
  • Direct MIDI upload/download
  • Wireless MIDI control via Bluetooth
  • External QWERTY keyboard support
  • iPad slide-over and split-screen support
Features
Read full description

FCBFF is your Foot Controller's Best Friend Forever! The FCB1010 from Behringer is a popular MIDI foot controller, but it can be difficult to program. FCBFF makes programming quick and easy; you can test out a configuration using the built-in emulation from the app, and then download the configuration to the FCB1010 using a MIDI connection. Instructions for uploading and downloading to the FCB1010 are included in the app, and will take you through the process step-by-step; it's easier than you might expect. FCBFF supports slide-over and side-by-side configuration on the iPad. If you're configuring an iOS MIDI app such as Kymatica's AUM, DB Audioware's 20th Anniversary, or the L7 Looper from AudioKit, you can have both FCBFF and the other apps on-screen at the same time. This makes configuring the MIDI learn features of the other apps quick and easy. You can then use FCBFF as a MIDI controller, or download the configuration to an FCB1010. Once you have your FCB1010 programmed, you can use it to control synthesizers, sequencers, loopers, and effects apps, all while keeping your hands on your instrument. Many iOS music apps support MIDI, and you can also control MIDI enabled hardware. If you have more than one iOS device, you can use one of your older devices to make the FCB1010 a wireless MIDI controller. The dual-device setup also makes using a guitar effects app easy. Most guitar audio interfaces use the dock connector -- so if you're playing a guitar, and using an effects app, you can't use the dock port for a MIDI connection. By transferring MIDI from a second device using MIDI over Bluetooth, you can connect the FCB1010 to your guitar effects apps, and have everything working in sync. Both the iPhone and iPad app support external QWERTY keyboards; you can use keystrokes on the keyboard to emulate an FCB1010. With a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard, you can have a small wireless controller that fits on your music stand; no need to drag the FCB1010 with you everywhere you go. Take control of your music making setup, by getting the most out of your FCB1010. Demo videos and more information about the app are available on the Secret Base Design web site: https://secretbasedesign.com/apps/fcbff.html IMPORTANT: FCBFF is designed to work with the stock Behringer FCB firmware, version 2.3 or later. The app does not support the after-market UNO chip, and similar modifications. Very old FCB1010s with firmware versions below 2.3 may not be compatible. Any FCB1010 manufactured after 2003 should have firmware that is compatible. FCBFF is your Foot Controller's Best Friend Forever -- we think you're going to love it!

About

ShowMIDI

This application provides a real-time, glanceable view of all MIDI activity on your computer. It visualizes various MIDI messages and allows you to pause the flow for a data snapshot. It can be used as a standalone tool or an AUv3 plugin within your DAW.

Highlights
  • Real-time MIDI visualization
  • Auto-hides irrelevant messages
  • Pause and snapshot data
  • Standalone application
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Supports MPE configuration
Features
Read full description

ShowMIDI is an open-source multi-platform GUI application to effortlessly visualize MIDI activity. Instead of wading through logs of MIDI messages to correlate relevant ones and identify what is happening, ShowMIDI visualizes the current activity and auto-hides what you don't care about anymore. It provides you with a real-time glanceable view of all MIDI activity on your computer. ShowMIDI is designed to be always on, using the spacebar or play/pause button you can pause the flow and focus on a data snapshot with the latest state of any MIDI entity. ShowMIDI can be ran as a standalone application that automatically detects all your MIDI devices, or as an AUv3 plugin in your DAW or host to visualize MIDI data in your sessions. ShowMIDI visualizes: * MIDI ports * channels * program change * note on/off * channel pressure * polyphonic pressure * continuous control change * pitchbend * RPN and NRPN * MPE configuration and channel modes ShowMIDI supports: * themes * standalone operation * AUv3 operation

Screenshots

FCBFF4 screens
ShowMIDI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ShowMIDI at Free against FCBFF's $14.99. ShowMIDI also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 87 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

ShowMIDI is free to download; FCBFF costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShowMIDI holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of FCBFF's written reviews are positive against 88% of ShowMIDI's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FCBFF ships an update every 87 months, ShowMIDI every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
FCBFF versus ShowMIDI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFCBFFShowMIDI
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (10 ratings)4.8 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1018 — better
Update frequencyEvery 87 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSecret Base DesignUwyn, LLC

Customer experience

FCBFF

All ratings10 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative30.0%

ShowMIDI

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral5.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FCBFF

No in-app purchases

None

ShowMIDI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FCBFF free?
FCBFF costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShowMIDI free?
ShowMIDI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FCBFF or ShowMIDI?
ShowMIDI is rated higher. FCBFF averages 3.4 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while ShowMIDI averages 4.8 from 18 ratings.
Do FCBFF or ShowMIDI have ads?
Neither FCBFF nor ShowMIDI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FCBFF or ShowMIDI?
FCBFF ships an update every 87 months, and ShowMIDI every 2 months. Most recently, FCBFF was updated on October 13, 2026 and ShowMIDI on October 7, 2026.

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