# ScaleBud - AUv3 MIDI Keyboard — Audio Unit for Chords & Scales

> Music theory tool for scales, chords, and MIDI control in audio apps. (iPhone/iPad app by Cem Olcay.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scalebud-auv3-midi-keyboard/id1409125865 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Cem Olcay](https://appshunter.io/developer/523633853)
- Category: Music, Utilities
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 31 App Store ratings · 16 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 36 MB
- Languages: Turkish, American English
- Released: 2018-08-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-13
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scalebud-auv3-midi-keyboard/id1409125865/reviews.md

## What is ScaleBud?

ScaleBud is a music theory tool for composers, artists and learners. It has more than 40 most popular scales and counting. AUv3 Plugin, Audiobus MIDI Sending/ Filtering and Standalone app included.

It has a very simple, single-view interface that you can choose the scale and key you want to work as well as note or chord mode selector on the left side. Right side lists the scale notes or chords you want to work with. In note mode, you can fastly jump between notes in the scale by selecting them from the list. In chord mode, you can see the triad, 7th, 9th, 11th or 13th chords for each note in the scale. You can jump between them quickly as well, by pressing the chord you want to play from keyboard. Also, in chord mode, you can set the octave you want to play for the chords from left side of the keyboard.

ScaleBud comes with an AUv3 MIDI plugin and standalone versions. You can directly control your iOS, Mac or PC audio apps with CoreMIDI. Just open the settings menu and select the MIDI Out you want to send MIDI to.

ScaleBud also supports Audiobus MIDI Sending and Filtering. You can send MIDI from Audiobus 3 app just like regular CoreMIDI workflow. Also, in Audiobus MIDI Filter mode, you can feed MIDI Input data from your hardware or MIDI app, and ScaleBud filters out the off-scale notes in note mode, or plays the corresponding chord, if any available, for each note, like a chorder, in chord mode.

You can use ScaleBud with Audio Unit version 3 hosts like Audiobus 3, AUM, Cubasis 2, Beat Maker 3, apeMatrix and Sequencism. As an audio unit plugin, it both maps/filters your MIDI Input to the MIDI Output you route, and sends the notes/chords you pressed from its keyboard. In chord mode, you can press any type of chord from the list in order to make chorder generate chords in that type. For example if you press a 7th chord, it will generate 7th chords for each note you send it from your MIDI keyboard.

Also, it has several presets but you can save your custom presets with the supported hosts. So, you can quickly jump between keys, scales and chords you want to work with.

ScaleBud is not an audio app. It just creates or filters MIDI data coming from input and sends them to MIDI output. It does not generate any sound in any mode.
You can always send feedback for bug reports, feature requests or rate the app from the Support section in Settings menu.

Standalone app requires iOS 10.0+
AUv3 plugin requires iOS 11.0+ and a supporting host app.

ScaleBud also offers its core components open sourced on GitHub. Feel free to fork them, send a pull request to make it better, open an issue to share your ideas or give them a star if you like them.
MusicTheory: https://github.com/cemolcay/MusicTheory
MIDIEventKit: https://github.com/cemolcay/MIDIEventKit
ALKit: https://github.com/cemolcay/ALKit

## Key features

- 40+ popular scales
- Note and chord modes
- AUv3 MIDI plugin
- Audiobus MIDI sending/filtering
- Standalone app
- Custom preset saving

## Recent user reviews (10 of 16)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scalebud-auv3-midi-keyboard/id1409125865/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Unexpected Awesomeness

*2025-12-16*

I’ve tried many apps to find one that can show the chords for the modes and other scales.  I don’t use ScaleBud for the intended purpose but for my purpose it is better than any other chord/scale app I’ve found. Version 1 is unfortunately a better layout for my use case than v2.

### 5/5 — Scaler

*2025-08-05*

Does exactly what it says, keeps me sounding great!

### 1/5 — DO NOT BUY

*2022-02-07*

Won’t function with Arturia midi controllers. This is the OLD version, very limited function. APPLE wrongly packages it with Cem’s other apps.  Buy ScaleBud 2 from him instead - it works. DO NOT BUY APPLE’S PACKAGE DEAL.

### 5/5 — Thank you so much

*2021-05-18*

Thank you sir for this great app, it really helps creating chord progressions on the go on the fly!✈️ highly recommended 👍🏼

### 5/5 — Favorite Controller

*2021-02-26*

This is my favorite way to play keys. I use it with Ableton and Studio One on Mac. As others have mentioned, this doesn’t play well with BM3 as a midi effect. This has to do with how midi is implemented in BM3, not this app. You can find the same issue on desktop when looking at Maschine. Ironically enough, BM3 at it’s core, is Maschine for iPad. And the way you have to implement midi for pads that can also be played chromatically will always cause a software to not play well with MIDI FX. There are a couple work arounds.. but suffice to say, this is not the developers fault.

Love the app. Peace

### 1/5 — Does not work as advertised

*2021-02-05*

This app does not work with BeatMaker 3. There is little to no instructions on how to use or trouble shoot problems with the app. Simply put, this is a total waist of money.

### 5/5 — Worked for me as a plugin

*2021-02-02*

Update:

This app has worked for me, when launched inside AUM or Cubasis 3.   I've found it to be well-designed and functional.  

I couldn't get this app to connect to either AUM or Cubasis 3 when launched in standalone mode, so I'm wondering if it's meant to be a plugin (?).  This was confusing to me.

**Developer response:** Hi, you can use it in standalone mode as well. Just open the settings menu and connect the ScaleBud's MIDI out to the app you want to control. There's a youtube video for the ScaleBud's MIDI connection, just search "ScaleBud MIDI Modes". Thanks!

### 4/5 — Very good but one major flaw

*2020-05-02*

I really like this app and I'd give it five stars if it had a way of making the text black. Right now the text VERY light grey on a white background. It's almost completely illegible

### 4/5 — Crashes with GarageBand.

*2019-11-26*

Everytime I try to use it with GarageBand it crashes. Not sure if it’s on GarageBand’s end or not. Other than that this is a killer app

**Developer response:** Hello, thanks for your feedback, but unfortunately Garageband doesn’t support AUv3 MIDI apps. I’m recommending apps like AUM, apeMatrix, NanoStudio, BeatMaker or Cubasis.

### 5/5 — Okay

*2019-11-14*

Epstein didn't kill himself

**Developer response:** As stated in the description clearly, ScaleBud is a MIDI controller app that does not produce audio - but controls the audio apps by sending MIDI data to them. You can use it with your audio apps like Garageband or AudioKit Synth One, as well as your MIDI-capable audio hardware, either in AUv3 mode, Audiobus mode or Standalone (Core MIDI) mode. You can request a refund from Apple customer service as well. I'd appreciate it if you update your review/rating, thanks.

## Frequently asked questions about ScaleBud

### What is ScaleBud?

ScaleBud is a music theory tool that functions as an AUv3 MIDI plugin, Audiobus MIDI sender/filter, and standalone app. It helps users explore scales and chords and control MIDI audio applications.

### How much does ScaleBud cost?

ScaleBud is a paid app priced at $4.99. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions mentioned.

### Does ScaleBud have ads?

No, ScaleBud does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application.

### What devices is ScaleBud compatible with?

ScaleBud is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The standalone app requires iOS 10.0+ and the AUv3 plugin requires iOS 11.0+ and a supporting host app.

### How often is ScaleBud updated?

The latest version, 1.7.1, was released on November 17, 2020. The app was initially released on August 4, 2018.

### What are the core components of ScaleBud?

ScaleBud's core components, MusicTheory, MIDIEventKit, and ALKit, are open-sourced on GitHub, allowing users to contribute and improve them.

### Can ScaleBud generate sound?

No, ScaleBud does not generate any sound itself. It creates or filters MIDI data and sends it to MIDI outputs for use with other audio applications.

### What is the user rating for ScaleBud?

ScaleBud has a user rating of 4.3 stars based on 32 ratings.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7.1 — 2020-11-17

This version fixes a crash when the C-flat key was selected.
Also fixes some control UI color scheme for iOS 14.2.

### 1.7 — 2020-10-10

Minor UI improvements.

### 1.6.3 — 2020-09-23

This version adds support for iOS 14.
Updates the music theory engine.
Updates Audiobus support.
Updates the key picker controller.

### 1.6.2 — 2019-11-09

This version fixes the touch insensitivity bug on iPadOS, introduced in the earlier version.

### 1.6.1 — 2019-11-07

This version adds the MIDI Bluetooth button to the settings menu for connecting Bluetooth devices within the app.
Also does minor color scheme change.

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| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [Piano Chords and Scales](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-chords-and-scales/id714086944) | 4.8 (9,136) | Free | Music |
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| [Guitar Chord Finder : Fabulus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-chord-finder-fabulus/id1559087405) | 4.5 (70) | Free | Music |
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## More apps by Cem Olcay

- [FretBud - Chord & Scales AUv3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretbud-chord-and-scales-auv3/id1234224249)
- [StepBud - AUv3 MIDI Sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbud-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1453104408)
- [RhythmBud - AUv3 MIDI FX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rhythmbud-auv3-midi-fx/id1484320891)
- [ArpBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Arpeggiator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arpbud-2-auv3-midi-arpeggiator/id1500403326)
- [ChordBud 2 AUv3 MIDI Sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordbud-2-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1526221230)

All apps by Cem Olcay: https://appshunter.io/developer/523633853

## Related topics

[scalebud 2 auv3 midi keyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/scalebud-2-auv3-midi-keyboard)

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*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 2026-08-13.*