# KeyStage Lite — Master Instrument Controller > Master instrument controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer for keyboardists. (iPhone/iPad app by Ali Gokturk.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage-lite/id1437899019 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Ali Gokturk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1406132633) - Category: Music, Productivity - Price: Free - Rating: 4.00/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 13.0 · 61 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2018-10-18 - Data updated: 2026-07-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage-lite/id1437899019/reviews.md ## What is KeyStage Lite? KeyStage is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer app designed mainly for keyboard players. With KeyStage, you can simultaneously control any number of hardware and software instruments using any number of MIDI controllers in an organized way. Each project consists of sections (which corresponds to sections of a song). In each section you can change sounds and sound parameters of connected instruments, create complex splits and layers of your keyboard(s), change the functionalities of sliders/knobs/pedals of your MIDI controllers by creating advanced MIDI mappings, write your own scripts, view PDF and JPG files (e.g. sheet music) and lyrics, and much more. LIST OF FEATURES • Connect any number of MIDI controller to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks. • Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors. • Assign any region of your keyboard(s) to any connected instrument. • Change velocity curve and velocity limits, and create velocity splits and layers. • Transpose notes and restrict notes to any key using pitch shifter. • Create mixer units to combine audio signals, turning KeyStage into an audio mixer. • With the player units, you can play wav, mp3, and m4a files, add marker points, automate actions (like play, stop, move to a marker etc.) using custom translators, or trigger certain events (like changing sections) when the player reaches a certain marker. • Input units allows you to use the microphone input, or the hardware inputs of a connected audio interface. • The Main Mixer view allows you to control volume levels and pans of all tracks, connect effect units, and connect units to mixer units. • Create instrument presets to easily change sounds of instruments by choosing patch names from patch lists. • KeyStage can also import Cubase Patch Scripts to automatically create instrument presets for your MIDI instruments. • KeyStage automatically detects new MIDI connections and recommends matching instrument presets from a database. • Simulate auto-sustain on any connected instrument. • KeyStage has a multi-track recorder, which lets you record any number of tracks simultaneously. • Change or filter any MIDI signal using custom translators. Use “Relative Control” switch to smoothly change the parameters of your instruments without any jumps. • Use XY control unit to send control change and pitch bend messages to any connected MIDI instrument. • Create setlists, quick access all the songs in a setlist from a setlist bar, move to previous/next songs from live console or using external MIDI. • Create virtual MIDI inputs/outputs for KeyStage. • Use virtual MIDI piano controller to play connected instruments. • View PDF and JPG files. Link any page or region of any file to any section. • Backup and restore your songs and global properties to Dropbox. • Map special actions (like changing octaves, switching sections, changing pages of a PDF file) to notes and controllers using custom translators. • You can write your own scripts in custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Use MPE routing to control any MIDI instrument using MPE controllers like Seaboard. Use custom translators to change the functionalities of each MPE dimension. • KeyStage supports smooth transitions between sections. Pressed notes will continue to sound when you switch sections. You can access demo videos and video tutorials on my Youtube channel. ## Key features - Control multiple MIDI controllers and instruments - Host AUv3 instruments and effects - Create complex keyboard splits and layers - Advanced MIDI mapping and scripting - Audio mixer with track control - Play and manage audio files - View PDF and JPG files ## Recent user reviews (5 of 5) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage-lite/id1437899019/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Simply amazing *2024-03-30* WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL!!! This app is incredible. The demo lets you try out the features of the full featured app. There is a small amount of complexity (very small), but once you understand the workflow it is AMAZING. Again, watch the video tutorial. ### 1/5 — Couldn't get a single sound out of it. *2022-04-02* I tried following the tutorial to set up a MIDI keyboard. There are no instrument units available in trial mode, and where the tutorial shows going Preferences -> General Settings -> In App Purchases, there is no such option, just an option to upgrade to the full version. **Developer response:** EvAveMananShar, I wish you contacted me about this before writing this review:( When you activate the trial mode by pressing the button on the lower left corner, and then create a track and select output, do you see empty lists in each category? If so, do you have any AUv3 compatible synth app in installed in your iPad? ### 5/5 — Brilliant app *2019-11-26* It works perfectly. Apps line this are usually full of crashes and bugs. NOT THIS ONE. Keystage is solid and obviously well coded. It gives you all the control you could possibly need. If I had to criticize, I would say it could be easier to use, but that might not be possible considering all that it does. Despite the complexity, I rather like the interface. Nothing at all to lose if you want to try it using the lite version that has all the features. If you like messing with the magic of midi, you have to try this app. You will have tons of enjoyment with its power and flexibility. Maybe it's time you took the time to learn an app like keystage to allow you to take full advantage of all your cool gear. Once you sent things up, you will be proud of your setup and have more time to play music, instead of wasting time setting up every few hours. Get out of your comfort zone to get into a better, more productive situation. Have fun. ### 2/5 — Tried it but prefer AUM *2019-10-27* I’m sure this is a great app, but I haven’t seen any app match the UI and intuitiveness of AUM. ### 5/5 — Excellent customer service *2018-11-15* They have answered my YouTube comment questions within minutes. ## Frequently asked questions about KeyStage Lite ### What is KeyStage Lite used for? KeyStage Lite is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer designed for keyboard players. It allows you to control multiple hardware and software instruments simultaneously using various MIDI controllers. ### Can KeyStage Lite control multiple instruments at once? Yes, KeyStage Lite allows you to connect any number of MIDI controllers to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks. This enables complex setups for live performance and studio work. ### Does KeyStage Lite support AUv3 instruments? Yes, KeyStage Lite can load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors. This allows you to integrate your favorite AUv3 plugins directly into your performance setup. ### How does KeyStage Lite handle audio mixing? KeyStage Lite includes mixer units that combine audio signals, effectively turning it into an audio mixer. You can control volume levels, pans, and connect effect units within the Main Mixer view. ### Can I view sheet music or lyrics with KeyStage Lite? Yes, KeyStage Lite allows you to view PDF and JPG files, such as sheet music or lyrics. You can link specific pages or regions of these files to different sections of your song. ### What devices does KeyStage Lite support? KeyStage Lite is supported on iPads. It was last updated on June 27, 2024, with version 2.2.3. ### Is KeyStage Lite free to use? Yes, KeyStage Lite is available for free. It does not feature in-app purchases or advertisements, offering an uninterrupted experience for musicians. ### How often is KeyStage Lite updated? KeyStage Lite was last updated on June 27, 2024, indicating active development and support. The current version is 2.2.3. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.2.3 — 2024-06-27 Bug Fixes. ### 2.2.1 — 2024-06-14 Bug Fixes: 

• There was a migration issue from ver 2.1 to ver 2.2, which might result in crashes on some song files. This is fixed. • The issue of not properly storing full states on tracks (for certain audio units) is resolved. 

• "Backing All Data” function for Dropbox was broken. It is fixed. • Instrument preset suggestions were not being properly stored, and because of that KeyStage was suggesting the same presets for the same MIDI connections over and over again, even if the user cancels. This is fixed. ### 2.2 — 2024-06-12 New Features: • Major performance improvement: A new option that allows KeyStage to automatically suspend inactive instrument units, which greatly decreases DSP load. • Seamless transition function is added, which creates two copies of audio units and automatically alternates between them. The above performance improvement also applies to these copies: inactive copies becomes idle. • Certain audio units causes a spike in DSP (and thus causes a glitch) while changing full states. A new option to temporarly pause rendering of an audio unit while its changing full states is added to prevent such glitches. • Several new features related to player units: transpose and speed adjustments, Bars+Beats mode with snap option, syncing with global tempo, selective sync between player units, etc. • “Player units with no parts on the active section are muted” option is added. With this option on, player units behave similar to instrument units, they are muted if there is no corresponding part on the active section. The same option is also added for Input Units. • The scripting language is reworked from the ground up. Lot of new features, including variable declarations, new variable types (current types are int, bool, float, string, track, part, section, playerUnit, and their array versions), properties of variables, a new smart auto-complete feature, a new log system with custom text, etc. • Current time is now displayed on the bottom right corner. • The four in-app purchases, which unlocks differnent types of units, are removed. All units will be available for all new and existing users (even if they did not purchase any of the IAP’s in the past). • Added a Tip Jar for those who'd like to support future development. Improvements: • When you load a new song, KeyStage now loads all audio unit plugins simultaneously, which greatly reduces total loading time. • When you start KeyStage, it’ll automatically load the last song and the setlist. • Users can now create nested folders inside "Audio Files" and “PDF and JPG Files” folders. Browsing through these nested folders in player units and in the live console is greatly improved, with the ability to search all files in all subfolders in any folder. • Song Properties has a new look, similar to preferences. • Timing issues related to player units are resolved. All operations like looping, moving between markers, are sample accurate and has no latency. • New input and output options are added to custom translators related to transport controls and player units. • New flash option for metronome is added. Bug Fixes: 

• The issue related to changing song via external MIDI signals is resolved. • In iOS16.x and above, player units may have audio dropouts if where are several audio units and/or player units. This issue is fixed.
 

• In iOS17.x and above, the time tempo/time signatore view could not be opened. This is fixed. • While creating a full backup file, all existing full backup files we also added to the new backup file. This is fixed. 

• Some issues related to moving/coping files are resolved. • Several additional improvements and bug fixes. Known Issues • If an audio unit gets invalidated while KeyStage is loading a song, it might cause KeyStage to crash. The crash happens before the audio unit notifies KeyStage about its invalidation. • If the connected audio interface becomes disconnected, KeyStage asks the user to reset the audio engine. Under certain conditions (which I’m still working on to identify), KeyStage may crash during reseting its audio engine and rewiring the connections. • If two or more keyboards are connected, there is a small possibility of MIDI signal leakage between the two inputs. This only happens (and very rarely) if note signals are send from one keyboard and simultaneously CC signals are send from the other. ### 2.1 — 2023-04-04 New Features: • Sends. Each non-mixer track can now send a percentage of its output audio signal to mixers. • MIDI Learn directly from audio units UI, and new parameter handling. AU Parameters can be automatically added to the parameters list by simply tweaking from the UI. • An advanced MIDI monitoring system, which can simultaneously monitor inputs and outputs of multiple items (tracks, parts, custom translators, MIDI aliases, and audio units). • The signal levels in the mixer and on the tracks now show the true decibel levels, with a peak indicator. Also the volume levels can now exceed 0 Db. • In the song properties, users can now configure dynamic and non-dynamic properties (properties that changes from section to section). • The song volume can now be a dynamic property. • Multi Translators. • Scripts in Custom Translators. Users can now write their own codes to program custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Groups of translators can now be saved as “translators chains”, which can later be recalled anywhere. • Custom and Multi translators can now be added directly to Audio Units. • Users can now access a new and expanding database of custom translators and chains of translators. • KeyStage keeps track of the last 10 songs that were loaded, which can be easily accessed from the Files menu. • Player Unit’s timelines can now be synced. • Audio Unit presets can now be changed with program change and bank select messages. • A new option to automatically load invalidated audio units. These audio units load in the background and does not interfere with other audio units and MIDI signals, so will not interrupt the live performance. • The font size of lyrics can now be adjusted with a slider. • Solo function is added to tracks. Also global mute and solo control buttons are added to the bottom bar. • Battery level indicator is added to the bottom bar. • “Low refresh rate mode for audio signals” is added to improve the performance of low-end iPads. Further performance options are on the way. • Users can now create full backup files, which allows them to store and share their whole setup. • User’s Manual. • Info buttons on several different parts of KeyStage, which automatically opens the related section in the User’s Manual. Improvements: • Live consoles layout is slightly changed. So now the bottom bar is visible while the live console is on, which allows users to access transport controls, tempo/time signature/metronome controls, MIDI monitor, global solo/mute buttons, battery meter, and DSP meter. • Several other UI changes and improvements. • Volume,Pan, and Sends are now considered as track parameters. CC assignments on these parameters are stored on the track rather than the audio unit. • Audio Unit Parameter values are now visible in the parameters section. • 'Disable All Parameters' button in the parameters section allows users to disable all parameters. • Major performance improvements in MIDI routing. • Deleting an item from a list can now be done with the standard left swipe gesture. • In the MIDI Learn view, the users can now manually select the CC value. Bug Fixes: • Possible crash when loading songs in iPadOS 1.48 and above is now fixed. • Hanging/overlapping tracks/parts/sections, while copying them is fixed. • Spikes in the DSP meter when changing sections are now resolved (this was a virtual bug, there was not an actual spike in the DSP). • Several bug fixes involving Midi Processor Units. • The problem with player units stopping in the middle of an audio file with a different sample rate is now fixed. • There was an issue related to controlling volume and pan of input, player, and mixer units via MIDI. This is fixed. • Lots of additional minor tweaks and fixes. ### 2.0.1 — 2021-04-26 New Features: • Audio Unit view frame can be cycled through a set of preset frames. • On the Main Mixer, you can now double tap on volume and pan sliders to assign their default values. Improvements: • You can now import songs directly into KeyStage. • Audio Unit view can now be moved around by holding and dragging from the bottom bar as well as the top bar. • "Save Changes" on the Main Mixer now applies to everything, including track states, parameters, and the master volume.• Audio Unit view frame can be cycled through a set of preset frames. • Users have now the option to disable autosave. When autosave is disabled, changes that you make in a song is stored only if you manually save it. Bug Fixes: • When “Same as Incoming” is selected on a track with a AU MIDI plugin, the channels of the MIDI signals produced by the plugin remains unchanged. • While editing track/part/section names, delete all button (x) can now be pressed. • In player units, the loop problem for short audio files is resolved. • Resolved possible crash when (system reset) MIDI message is received. • Relative control of custom translator with AUParameter outputs was not working correctly when they are activated the first time. This problem is resolved. • Hardware MIDI connections are now tracked by their unique IDs, which allows you to use multiple devices of the same brand independently. • Problem with storing buffer size and sample rate changes is resolved. • Some problems related to storing full states into parts and tracks are resolved. • Custom translators with global/custom event inputs and with sysex outputs would cause a crash. This is now fixed. • Lots of additional minor tweaks and fixes. ## Apps similar to KeyStage Lite | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [AudioLayer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiolayer/id1381478666) | 4.4 (154) | $12.99 | Music | | [Camelot Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camelot-pro/id1326331127) | 4.1 (33) | $29.99 | Music | | [Neo-Soul Keys® Studio 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neo-soul-keys-studio-2/id1482448438) | 4.6 (17) | $24.99 | Music | | [VB3m](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vb3m/id1560880479) | 4.6 (36) | $14.99 | Music | | [MIDIculous Learning Software](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midiculous-learning-software/id1558680919) | — | Free | Music | | [VB3-II](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vb3-ii/id6464588684) | 3.5 (16) | Free | Music | ## More apps by Ali Gokturk - [KeyStage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keystage/id1406132634) All apps by Ali Gokturk: https://appshunter.io/developer/1406132633 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-05.*