LK vs Midi Controller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LK
This application acts as a remote control for Ableton Live and MIDI devices, enhancing electronic music production and live performance. It offers deep integration with Ableton Live and extensive MIDI capabilities for controlling software and hardware. The app is modular, with features available as separate in-app purchases.
- Ableton Live integration
- MIDI device control
- Clip launching and sequencing
- Device parameter control
- Virtual MIDI and AUv3 support
- Modular in-app purchases
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LK is a flexible remote control application for Ableton Live and MIDI devices, providing a wide range of features and functionality to enhance the production and live performance of electronic music. LK offers tight integration with Ableton Live using our free UBRIDGE desktop application, providing access and control of Ableton Live projects, with both wired and wireless connection options. LK has extensive MIDI capabilities too, allowing for communication and control of any MIDI compliant software or hardware, even apps running on the same device thanks to virtual MIDI support and AUv3 integration too. LK is split into six unique modules, each available as a separate in-app purchase, offering great value that you can tailor to your specific needs. LK is also capable of connecting with USB MIDI interfaces which allows you to interact with external gear. To connect LK to your host computer you will need to download and install a free software utility called UBRIDGE on your computer. It is available for Windows and macOS and it can be downloaded from Imaginando website. See our setup guide for further details in LK’s product page. MATRIX MODULE - Live Mode - In Live mode, you can control almost every aspect of Ableton Live directly from LK. The app mirrors your session view, allowing you to launch clips, add tracks and scenes, arm, solo, and mute tracks, and adjust track monitoring, volume, pan, and cue settings on the master track. You can create and edit clips with the powerful built-in clip composer, featuring tools like scales, swing, humanize, horizontal and vertical mirroring, time-shifting notes, pitch swapping, transposing, and even chord and melody generation within a defined range. LK also enables device control within each track, offering a range of generic layouts for quick access and instant parameter adjustments, so you can modify settings without needing to interact directly with your computer. - MIDI Mode - In MIDI mode, LK enhances workflow with a flexible, independent sequencing environment for streamlined composition and arrangement. Users can create and manage MIDI clips per track, arrange scenes, and send MIDI to other software or hardware. When loaded as an AUv3 in hosts like AUM, LK sequences and coordinates various instruments, perfect for complex setups and live performances. Essential editing tools like signatures, scales and transformative tools simplify MIDI editing, while automation and generative tools enable dynamic compositions. Follow actions and probability settings further smooth transitions, making performance arrangements seamless and spontaneous—all within a single, powerful interface. PADS MODULE - Get the MPC feel on your touchscreen with PADS, featuring an arpeggiator and a chorder. When working in Ableton Live mode it automatically maps drum rack pad names to each pad on the app - never miss a pad again. Use it in MIDI mode to quickly play other synth apps. CONTROLLER MODULE - Extensive control of 128 parameters with CONTROLLER. Use assignable and customisable knobs, faders, buttons and pads to control MIDI hardware, desktop and mobile DAWs - now with the power of AUv3 integration too. X/Y MODULE - Three dimensional parameter tweaking with X/Y PAD. This module can work with CC or NOTE events. In CC mode, a CC can be assigned per axis. In NOTE mode, X is pitch, Y is velocity and Z is Note ON/ Note OFF. CHORDER MODULE - Play chords like never before with the CHORDER module. Use this chord generator to build chords and lay them out according to your needs. KEYBOARD MODULE - KEYBOARD features 3-axis expression capabilities with scale and range controls. It also allows the possibility of mapping any Live or MIDI CC parameters to be controlled by the X and Y position within each of the keys, providing additional expression to the performance. It also has an MPE mode so you can use it with your favorite MPE compatible synths.
Midi Controller
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile MIDI controller. Send notes, control changes, and program changes wirelessly or via USB to any compatible DAW or hardware. Customize your workspace with unlimited, dynamic controls.
- USB, WLAN, and Bluetooth connectivity
- Customizable buttons, pads, and sliders
- Send Notes, CC, and Program Change values
- Works with macOS and CoreMidi compatible hardware
- No additional software required
- Dynamic control creation
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MidiController turns your iPhone/iPad into a complete MIDI controller, that works over USB, WLAN or Bluetooth. No additional software needed! Send all possible Notes, Continuous Controller / Control Change and Program Change values to the connected device. Build your workspace from the ground up with unlimited, custom Pushes/Buttons and Sliders. All Pushes/Buttons and Sliders are completely customisable - customize every value of every control possible and how the control behaves. You can even create dynamic controls (e.g. Program Change values that count up or down). • Works with every macOS: From 10.5 (Leopard) up to the newest 10.15 (Catalina) • Works on every iPhone and iPad • Also works with external hardware (e.g. synths,...) that supports Apple (CoreMidi) • If your hardware/PC does not support CoreMidi, you can use an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge to make MidiController work with ALL MIDI devices Works with every application that supports MIDI-Input. Example DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation): * Logic X Pro * Ableton Live * Avid Pro Tools * Propellerhead Reason * Steinberg Cubase * Cockos Reaper * and many more (in principle every application that supports midi input) ** NOTES ** • MidiController does not play any sound itself, it only sends out MIDI-Information to connected devices. • MidiController is primary created to work with macOS-Devices. If you want to use MidiController with hardware that does not support Apple CoreMidi, you might need an iPhone/iPad compatible MIDI-Interface as bridge. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS per lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. • MidiController does not receive any MIDI-Information, it generates and sends them itself depending on the user-input. ______________________________________________ APP USAGE INFO & MIDI CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Should you choose to upgrade to a midi controller subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. Auto-renewal may be turned off in your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. You can also manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. LICENSED APPLICATION END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Midi Controller Terms of Service: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Terms-Conditions-9fc801bf71f94e4cae7b31b72c7e13e3 Midi Controller Privacy Policy: https://learned-romano-d09.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-ee4011f149ac417bbedbfea3f0250a96
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: LK at fortnightly against Midi Controller's every 7 months. LK also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 39%) and ratings volume (706 vs 42). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. LK sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Midi Controller sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
LK holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LK has 706 ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of LK's written reviews are positive against 39% of Midi Controller's.
LK ships an update fortnightly, Midi Controller every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LK | Midi Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (706 ratings) — better | 4.1 (42 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.2% of reviews — better | 38.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 706 — better | 42 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 125 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Imaginando Lda | Mizo LLC |
Customer experience
LK
Midi Controller
Bugs and requests
LK
Reported bugs
5 issues- Clip renaming tool not working
- Occasional MIDI note sticking
- UI disappearing and requiring restart
- Wireless connection randomly dropping
- Exclusive track arming mode issues
Requested features
6 requests- Add MIDI CC mapping and automation
- Implement vertical view for session mode
- Allow saving and loading of custom settings
- Improve MIDI note and velocity handling
- Add MIDI transformers and generators
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- Provide a discounted bundle for all modules
Midi Controller
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
LK
- Unlock Step Sequencer$3.99
- Unlock Chorder$4.99
- Unlock MIDI Pads$4.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Unlock MIDI Controller$4.99
- Unlock X/Y Pad$4.99
- Unlock Keyboard$4.99
- Unlock Matrix$9.99
- All Modules Bundle$29.99
Midi Controller
- Monthly: MIDI Controller7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Lifetime: MIDI Controller$29.99








