FX Live 3 vs qPlayer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FX Live 3
This application allows users to design and automate complex audio and video elements for live productions. It offers advanced cue control, sequencing, and crossfades, making it ideal for theater and other live events. The free version is fully featured but has limitations on cues and simultaneous effects.
- Automate audio and video elements
- Sequence virtual FX players
- Programmable crossfades
- Multimedia support for photos and videos
- Intuitive touch interface
- MIDI message sending and receiving (in-app purchase)
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FX Live 3 is a powerful sound cue control application designed for theater use but suitable for all live productions. Far more than a simple cart machine, this highly responsive and intuitive application allows you to design and automate complex audio and video elements for any live production. FX Live 3 fully unlocks the potential of the iPad as a professional show FX controller. It features the ability to sequence multiple virtual FX players with programmable crossfades between the different elements. In app purchase provides full access to EQ and DSP effects along with the ability to send and receive MIDI messages. Also included is the multimedia option allows photos and videos to be included in shows with smooth mixed and fades between them. This can be done at the same time as playing audio elements. The iPad's touch interface is ideal for this kind of application and FX Live has been designed to be fast and easy to use for everyone from the occasional user doing a school production to those creating complex, multi-layered shows in a professional or semi-professional environment. Beautifully designed with documentation and support, this rock solid application is a must for anyone doing live sound. The free version is fully featured but limits the number of cues and simultaneous effects; even so, it is ideal for small scale school productions. The unrestricted version is available by In App Purchase. WHAT OUR USERS SAY: Awesome!!!! by Merry MAC Players - Version - 1.0 - Jan 23, 2015 A fantastic program and this upgrade has made it even better!!!! We are a small Community Theatre and this program has done wonders for us…..Thank you to everyone at FX! Great Program by Booch_21 - Version - 1.0 - Jan 20, 2015 This is a great improvement over the previous version. I've been using it to run sound for several shows and this program can't be beat! Yes! by Zteiner - Version - 1.0 - Feb 1, 2015 Absolutely conceived for theatre shows, so for that kind of use is quite perfect and it let you do easily your audio work during the show. Maybe it can be used for other situations too, anyway, for theatre is very good and the new layout is very more clear and useful. ;-) Awesome! by Fauxhuman - Version - 1.3.1 - Feb 8, 2015 This was my first job doing sound design for a live theater production. I found FX Live in the App Store, played with the free version a bit, and then decided to purchase the full app. It has been absolutely fantastic! Solid, versatile, capable... Some things took playing with to nail down how to use it, but there's included documentation to help with that as well. I've been getting lots of kudos for a job well done and FX Live made it very easy for me! A great app, I've already recommended it to friends. Thank you for such a thorough app! Many shows many cues zero problems 5 by Appalonia – Oct 16, 2016 This app is an amazing tool for all of us low budget folks who can't afford cue lab. It's also something I am able to program and edit even tho I am a tech challenged solo performer. Really great for our productions! 4 by What's G13 do, tommy? – Jan 31, 2017 We are a small village group running a Pantomime once a year and the ease with which we can build our shows using FX live is just great! We've done 2 years with it now and it really does make a difference. It's a specialised piece of software so it's normal to have to pay more than for your usual app, but it's still great value for money. I had several people asking me if I was a sound professional this year! Advice: Start early with setting up your cues and make sure you've got plenty of script / action reminders so you can work without the script during the show, and you can hand off to someone less familiar with it if there's a crisis!
qPlayer
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qPlayer is the professional cue player for live performers, function bands, DJs, theatre, and venues. Organise your setlists, play stereo or multitrack audio, output video to external screens, control stage lighting, and trigger everything from MIDI — all from one app. SETLISTS & CUE MANAGEMENT Build your setlists with drag-and-drop ordering. Set cue points, configure fade times, and lock in your running order so you never miss a beat on stage. AUDIO PLAYBACK Play stereo backing tracks with professional transport controls. Upgrade to Plus for multitrack audio routing — send click tracks to your drummer and backing tracks to front-of-house simultaneously. VIDEO OUTPUT Display lyrics, visuals, or video files on external screens via HDMI or AirPlay. Attach media to individual tracks so the right content plays automatically. qDMX LIGHTING CONTROL (Pro) Control your stage lighting directly from qPlayer via Art-Net over WiFi. Build fixtures, design scenes with colour palettes, and create movement patterns for moving heads — all synced to your setlist. MIDI TRIGGERING Trigger play, stop, next track, and lighting scenes from external MIDI devices like drum pads, foot controllers, or keyboards. Fully configurable mappings with MIDI learn. qSTEMS Split any audio file into individual stems using AI-powered separation. Build custom multitrack files from stems right in your browser at my.qplayer.app. CLOUD SYNC & WEB PORTAL Manage setlists, upload media, configure DMX fixtures, and build stems from any browser at my.qplayer.app. Everything syncs to your device automatically. PLANS • Basic (Free) — Stereo audio, 1 setlist, 1 GB cloud storage • Plus — Multitrack audio, video, MIDI, unlimited setlists, 10 GB storage • Pro — Everything in Plus, plus qDMX lighting and 32-channel multitrack • Lifetime Plus — All Plus features with a single payment Made by event professionals, for event professionals. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://qplayer.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: qPlayer at every 2 weeks against FX Live 3's every 2 months. qPlayer also leads on device support (4 vs 1). FX Live 3's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. FX Live 3 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and qPlayer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
FX Live 3 ships an update every 2 months, qPlayer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FX Live 3 | qPlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 91.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 102 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ian Fletcher | Matrix Productions Ltd |
In-app purchases
FX Live 3
- DSP Effects$4.99
- MIDI Support$9.99
- Multimedia Cues$9.99
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- Unlimited cues and versions$9.99
qPlayer
- qPlayer Gig$49.99
- qPlayer Plus$99.99
- qPlayer Pro$199.99









