Comparison

Audiobus Remote vs WiDI MIDI Studio

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

Head to head
About

Audiobus Remote

This app extends the functionality of a music production suite to a second screen, allowing for remote control of various music apps. It enables seamless switching between applications, loop management, pattern changes, and preset adjustments, all from a separate device or split-screen view.

Highlights
  • Second screen control
  • App switching
  • Loop recording
  • Pattern changes
  • Preset adjustments
  • Effect control
Features
Read full description

Audiobus Remote is a companion app for Audiobus which can either run on the same device or on a separate iPhone or iPad connected by Bluetooth. Audiobus Remote also supports Split View and Slide Over mode. Audiobus Remote transports your Audiobus-compatible music apps’ controls onto a second screen. Some of the things you can do with Audiobus Remote: - Switching between apps - Record or toggle individual loops in Loopy HD. - Move between patterns in Patterning - Change presets and adjust effect controls in Holderness Media’s effects apps including Johnny and Caramel or Moog's Animoog - Play a mini version of SoundPrism Link Edition Discover apps with Remote Triggers on our compatible apps directory at https://audiob.us/apps/capability/remote Running Audiobus Remote on a second device requires iPad 3, iPad Mini, iPhone 4s, iPod Touch 5th Generation and newer devices. Audiobus Remote. More space for play. What others are saying: "Once again the Audiobus team will change the way many of us make music on our iOS devices." - Tim Webb, discchord.com "Wow, it's amazing, brilliant job!" - Doug Woods, thesoundtestroom.com "AB Remote is a killer!" - Jakob Haq

About

WiDI MIDI Studio

Create custom MIDI control surfaces and sequences for your music production. Map buttons, pads, knobs, and faders to send MIDI events and control instruments or DAWs. Features an integrated step sequencer for composing musical ideas.

Highlights
  • Customizable MIDI control surface
  • Integrated step sequencer
  • MIDI CC and Note generation
  • MIDI network session support
  • Automate CC values
  • Group sequences for synchronized playback
Features
Read full description

WiDI is a control surface with an integrated step sequencer in which you create controls such as buttons, pads, knobs and faders to send MIDI events and play sequences. • CONTROL SURFACE AND SEQUENCER: A control is bound to a channel and a specific MIDI Control Change. You can either specify the CC number if you know it, or let the app learn it. Once placed on the surface, use this control to interact with your MIDI device. Alternatively, any CC event sent by your device will be shown live by the control(s) bound to this CC. Pads are special controls: they can either produce MIDI CC events, Notes or Program changes. If bound to a CC, the pad can act as an on/off switch (you specify the values for each state.) If bound to a note, each tap produces the specified MIDI note. This is especially useful to operate MIDI instruments without keyboards such as synthesizer modules or drum machines. A sequence can hold as many tracks as you wish, and send notes to different MIDI channels. Sequences can play in sync or running freely. You may also group sequences together to start or pause them at the same time. • MIDI: To interface WiDI with any MIDI instruments/devices connected to your Mac or PC, connect to a MIDI Network Session on your Mac or your PC. On a Mac, this is natively supported by macOS, and you do not need to install third party software (use Audio MIDI Setup.) On a PC running Windows, you might want to install rtpMIDI. As an alternative to MIDI Network Sessions, you may use the WiDI Desktop Application. It acts as a MIDI bridge between the network and your MIDI hardware. You can install the desktop application on as many computers as you want (it's free!). It's a very lightweight package that doesn't need to perform any installation procedure whatsoever. You may download the WiDI Desktop Application for macOS on the Mac App Store, or go to : https://www.hypertide.com/widi/ for both macOS and Windows archives. Additionally, any class-compliant MIDI interface natively supported by iOS can also be used directly by WiDI without the need of a network connection. • FEATURES: ○ Use any CoreMIDI-supported MIDI interface connected to your device ○ MIDI network session: use WiDI as an external control surface for any DAW such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, ... ○ Multiple iPhone and iPad can connect to your computer, allowing different control surfaces simultaneously ○ Integrated step sequencer: create sequences, each one holding as many tracks as needed ○ Sequences can run freely or in sync and start simultaneously if grouped together in fire groups ○ Auto discover MIDI CC : you don't need to know each one to add controls, WiDI learns CC numbers sent by your devices ○ Automate CC : sweep ranges or use the step modulator to design patterns to modulate controls values, supporting various advanced options like step-by-step or smooth variations, bouncing, repeating, changing speed ○ Add as many pads as you want to generate MIDI Notes, Control Changes or Program Changes ○ Flexible control surface : set layout and grid size for both portrait and landscape orientations ○ Re-arranging controls is as simple as drag & drop ○ Fully customizable user interface : themes, colors, display of values and labels, aspect ratios, grid spacing, grid coloring, background, ... ○ Integrated File Manager to load and save your surfaces, which are also accessible in the iOS Files app and your computer's iTunes connection ○ Exchange surfaces between devices with the integrated QR code generator and scanner ○ Or use the share feature, so you may import them on any device. We'd love to hear from you! Should you be in need of support or eager to request a new feature, please contact us at support+widi@hypertide.com

Screenshots

Audiobus Remote3 screens
WiDI MIDI Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: WiDI MIDI Studio at Free against Audiobus Remote's $4.99. WiDI MIDI Studio also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Audiobus Remote's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (27 vs 2). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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

WiDI MIDI Studio is free to download; Audiobus Remote costs $4.99 up front. WiDI MIDI Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Audiobus Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WiDI MIDI Studio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Audiobus Remote has 27 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Audiobus Remote ships an update every 2 months, WiDI MIDI Studio every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Audiobus Remote versus WiDI MIDI Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudiobus RemoteWiDI MIDI Studio
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (27 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings27 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.2 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudiobus Pty LtdHYPERTIDE SAS

Customer experience

Audiobus Remote

All ratings27 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive83.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative13.2%

WiDI MIDI Studio

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Audiobus Remote

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Bluetooth connection not working
  • App does not work at all
  • Does not work with Audiobus 3
  • Cannot connect between devices
  • App keeps crashing
Show 2 more
  • Won't swipe over when on Audiobus screen
  • Location data requested without notice

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to pick which apps to control
  • Customizable controls
  • Add MIDI features
  • Control volume bars of each app
  • Support for non-music apps like GoodReader
Show 1 more
  • Option to hide AB menu tab when remote is active

WiDI MIDI Studio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Audiobus Remote

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

WiDI MIDI Studio

One-time1
  • WiDI Fully Unlocked Version$1.99

Questions

Is Audiobus Remote free?
Audiobus Remote costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WiDI MIDI Studio free?
WiDI MIDI Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Audiobus Remote or WiDI MIDI Studio?
WiDI MIDI Studio is rated higher. Audiobus Remote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while WiDI MIDI Studio averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Audiobus Remote or WiDI MIDI Studio have ads?
Neither Audiobus Remote nor WiDI MIDI Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Audiobus Remote or WiDI MIDI Studio?
Audiobus Remote ships an update every 2 months, and WiDI MIDI Studio every 3 months. Most recently, Audiobus Remote was updated on October 11, 2026 and WiDI MIDI Studio on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons