# Scaler 2 — Empower the Composer Within > Music theory workstation for iPad, aiding chord progression and melody creation. (iPhone/iPad app by Scaler Music.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-2/id1603180235 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Scaler Music](https://appshunter.io/developer/1603180477) - Category: Music, Productivity, Music - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.69/5 from 245 App Store ratings · 224 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11 · 1.1 GB - Released: 2022-06-24 - Data updated: 2026-09-10 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-2/id1603180235/reviews.md ## What is Scaler 2? Scaler 2 iOS is a multiple award winning music theory workstation redesigned from the ground up for iPad OS. Scaler 2 is an inspirational and creative music tool that gives you access to a world of new ideas, expressions and melodies. With powerful detection of MIDI and audio, Scaler 2 can determine what key and scale you’re in and suggest chords, melodies and basslines that match your music. Scaler 2 can connect to any keyboard, synth or device using bluetooth audio and midi. Scaler is fully compatible with GarageBand and Audio Mixers to get you writing music on the fly in an environment that suits you. Scaler 2 makes finding chords and progressions intuitive and fun! It’s a comprehensive but easy to use toolbox that will help anyone make better music. Main Features: Discover your music’s key with audio and MIDI detection and explore alternative scales, modes and chord sets Choose from hundreds of keys and modes, quickly build progressions in the sequencer Play and record one-finger chords and melodies using Scaler 2’s Bind MIDI function Play melodic expressions, phrases, performances, sequences, basslines, melodies and rhythms written by professional musicians across various time signatures Generate bass lines and melody lines adapted to your current scale and chords Chord Charts: displays a guitar chord diagram for any chord and Fretboard Views allows you to explore the neck of your guitar Export MIDI to your iOS DAW or export session to Scaler Plugin for use across all computer based DAWs
 Compatible with Bluetooth MIDI Keyboards and all MIDI Keyboards via USB/Lightning Adapter Standalone and AUv3 app that can control your favourite iPAD synths and work alongside thousands of AudioBus and AUM compatible apps including Logic Pro for iPad and Cubasis Redesigned from the ground up to work with iPad OS with new menu and UI Navigation Scaler is a free download and comes with 5 integrated sounds and the main features. Unlock all remaining features, content and internal sounds with one time unlock all feature 
 Content: Over 200 artist chord sets from the likes of Carl Cox, MJ Cole, The Temper Trap, Mitekiss, CeCe Rogers and Mike Huckaby Over 500 unique genre, common and mood-based chord sets such as Ambient, Drum & Bass, Jazz, Cinematic, EDM, Rock Over 600 chord sets and hundreds of unique scales Over 500 phrases, performances, sequences, basslines, melodies and rhythms by professional musicians across various time signatures 45 internal electronic, acoustic and orchestral instruments created by award winning producers Over one hundred artist created modulation pathways to get you from one key to another Over one hundred chord substitutions that lend variety to your progressions 
 Performing and creating: Create unique chords by searching & selecting from the circle of fifths or by entering note by note on your keyboard in Chord Edit mode Keys Lock helps you create emotive melodies by locking keys to your chords MIDI Capture lets you perform inside Scaler 2 and then export the results as MIDI Modulation Page gives you new ways to reach musical destinations Suggest Mode helps you add complexity and artistry to your chord progressions Edit Modes for adjusting length, velocity, inversion, octave, timing and performances more per chord in a pattern Pad View helps you to arrange and play through multiple patterns and key switch between them Voice Grouping can keep your chords within a certain range for voice leading Chord editing and moving tools include lasso, drag n drop, replace and insert Midi Mapping allows you to change, performances, scales and patterns on the fly Get more natural-sounding melodies and expressions with the humanise and quantise function Use the arpeggio or strum features to perform in real-time and synced to your DAW Awards #1 Music Theory App Future Music 2024 Plugin Boutique 'Best Music Theory Software' Award Winner 2022 Music Tech Magazine 'Gear of the Year' Award Winner 2020 ## Key features - MIDI and audio key/scale detection - Chord and melody suggestion engine - Sequencer for building progressions - One-finger chord and melody playing - Chord chart and fretboard views - MIDI export to DAWs - Standalone and AUv3 app support ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Unlock All Features | $18.99 | one-time | ## What do users think of Scaler 2? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Inspiring chord progressions - 👍 Excellent for songwriting and music production - 🎹 Great piano and synth sounds - 💡 Powerful music theory features - 🎨 Helps with creativity and overcoming writer's block **Cons** - 🐛 Sync and timing issues with DAWs - 🔋 Battery drain and overheating on iPad - 🤔 Unintuitive interface and steep learning curve - 🔇 No background audio support **Commonly reported bugs** - In-app purchase restoration not working - Hanging notes and audio glitches - GUI issues when used as an AUv3 plugin **Most requested features** - Ability to edit and create custom chord progressions - Improved MIDI export and integration with DAWs - Landscape mode support for the keyboard - Dedicated piano roll view ## Recent user reviews (10 of 224) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-2/id1603180235/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Extremely laggy *2026-05-06, version 2.9.0* I was told they were going to update the app las year, and they never did. ### 5/5 — お気に入りのアプリ *2026-04-30, version 2.9.0* 曲のアレンジに使っています。Scaler 3も使っていますが、私の用途ではScaler 2の方がシンプルで使いやすくて好きです。是非、このシンプルな使い勝手のままでアップデートを続けていただきたいです。一度に使えるコード数の制限がなくなれば最高です。 ### 1/5 — Beware of greedy developers *2026-03-21, version 2.9.0* Another disapointment. I Have paid for Scaler 2, but there is not an upgrade from my version, just a developer wich doesen’t give their costumers what they deserve: a free and fair actualization. For me (and I can guess For a los of us) is the same comptent that the likes of Patterning ofer us: just one big middle finger ### 3/5 — Useful, but badly integrated *2026-03-21, version 2.9.0* Midi sync not working, Bluetooth keeps disconnecting. Sure app helps, but adds new headaches. And no scaler 3 for iOS after many years of waiting. ### 1/5 — Unusable right now, insane battery drain! *2026-03-13, version 2.9.0* Actually I am a huge fan of Scaler, really!! BUT the battery drain the App causes when used as midi plugin (tried in Cubasis 3 and GarageBand) is insane! And I am on the M5 pro…. You really must fix this. I’m not going let the app destroy my iPad‘s battery! ### 5/5 — release scaler 3 for ipad! *2026-01-15, version 2.9.0* enough with the delays already! get it done and release it. ### 5/5 — I start every song with it *2026-01-10, version 2.9.0* Scaler creates results. Whether on the iPad or my computer, I start every track with Scaler. The iPad version has consistently helped me start songs around my house while not being tied to my computer. Hoping for the amazing Scaler 3 to come to iPad soon. ### 5/5 — please bring scaler 3 *2025-11-16, version 2.9.0* to ios, i can hardly wait 🥰 ### 3/5 — The iPad m5 battery consumption *2025-11-08, version 2.9.0* For unknown reasons, the battery drains very quickly and even the device itself becomes hot. ### 2/5 — can’t see full GUI if running as AUV3 *2025-10-06, version 2.9.0* in logic pro ipad difficult when re-sizing window ## Frequently asked questions about Scaler 2 ### What is Scaler 2? Scaler 2 is an award-winning music theory workstation for iPad, designed to inspire creativity and help users discover new musical ideas, melodies, and chord progressions. It offers powerful tools for analyzing music and suggesting compatible elements. ### How does Scaler 2 help with songwriting? Scaler 2 aids songwriting by detecting the key and scale of your music, then suggesting chords, melodies, and basslines that fit. It features hundreds of artist and genre-based chord sets, making it intuitive to build progressions and overcome writer's block. ### Is Scaler 2 free to download? Yes, Scaler 2 is a free download on the App Store and includes its main features and 5 integrated sounds. Additional features, content, and internal sounds can be unlocked with a one-time purchase. ### What devices is Scaler 2 compatible with? Scaler 2 is designed specifically for iPadOS and is compatible with all iPads. It can connect to any keyboard, synth, or device using Bluetooth audio and MIDI, as well as MIDI keyboards via USB/Lightning adapters. ### Can Scaler 2 be used with other music apps? Yes, Scaler 2 is fully compatible with GarageBand and other Audio Mixers. It functions as a standalone app and an AUv3 plugin, allowing it to control iPad synths and work alongside thousands of AudioBus and AUM compatible apps. ### How often is Scaler 2 updated? Scaler 2 was last updated on May 31, 2024, with version 2.9.0. The developer, Scaler Music, regularly releases updates to improve functionality and add new content. ### What are the main pros and cons of Scaler 2? Users praise Scaler 2 for its inspiring chord progressions, songwriting assistance, and powerful music theory features. Some users have noted issues with sync and timing with DAWs, battery drain, and a steep learning curve. ### Does Scaler 2 have ads? No, Scaler 2 does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download with optional in-app purchases for unlocking additional content and features. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.9.0 — 2024-05-31 Content & Playback -8 new Arpeggio Patterns (Converge, Diverge, Converge/Diverge, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Up/Down, Pinky Up, Pinky Up/Down, Spanish Tremolo) -22 New Song Chordsets (Celtic, Chill, Country, Alternative, Progressive Rock) -13 new Bass Expressions in the new Triplet Bass category -“Progressive” Chordsets category renamed to “Progressive House” New Live Suggest mode -Generate chords compatible with your progression based on your currently played chord. Suggestions update in realtime per chord. New ‘Passages’ Articulation -7 New ‘Passages’’ that add movements to chord progressions. Key-switches allow switching passages whilst performing. New Guitar Features -Left-handed representation for Fretboard and Chord Chart display Other Improvements -Improved automatic chord detection ### 2.8.1 — 2023-06-23 • Content - 66 Song Chordsets: Ambient, Anime, Synth Divisi 4 Part, Latin Jazz, Movie Theme, Reggae, J-Pop, K-Pop - 14 Artists Chordsets: Lloyd Brown, Pablo Sanchez - Expressions Patterns: EDM Bass, Melodic Bass, Sidechain Bass, Common Progression Phrases, Common Rhythms, 7/4 Rhythms, 9/4 Rhythms - 9 Japanese scales - New Slap Bass sound. - New guitar chord positions. • Improvements - Fix Modal Interchange chord naming. - Fix Japanese scales grouping. - Prevent host from losing plugin state when changing sample rate. - Improves compatibility and GUI responsiveness with Logic Pro for iPad - Prevent CPU spikes when starting recording or using MIDI Panic. - Ensure performance parameters are reset properly when switching bind OFF. - Fix playback timings being reset when moving chords to empty slots or reordering slots in Section C. - Prevent NoteOff messages from sharing the same sample number as the next NoteOn event of the sequence. - Force “.mid” extension on exported MIDI capture files. - Ensure notes are named correctly according to the selected scale in Modal Interchange screen and Keys Lock mode. ### 2.8 — 2023-05-24 • Content - 66 Song Chordsets: Ambient, Anime, Synth Divisi 4 Part, Latin Jazz, Movie Theme, Reggae, J-Pop, K-Pop - 14 Artists Chordsets: Lloyd Brown, Pablo Sanchez - Expressions Patterns: EDM Bass, Melodic Bass, Sidechain Bass, Common Progression Phrases, Common Rhythms, 7/4 Rhythms, 9/4 Rhythms - 9 Japanese scales - New Slap Bass sound. - New guitar chord positions. • Improvements - Improves compatibility with Logic Pro for iPad - Prevent CPU spikes when starting recording or using MIDI Panic. - Ensure performance parameters are reset properly when switching bind OFF. - Fix playback timings being reset when moving chords to empty slots or reordering slots in Section C. - Prevent NoteOff messages from sharing the same sample number as the next NoteOn event of the sequence. - Force “.mid” extension on exported MIDI capture files. - Ensure notes are named correctly according to the selected scale in Modal Interchange screen and Keys Lock mode. ### 1.6 — 2023-02-09 • Improvements - Prevent a crash when loading an invalid state file. - Maintain timing information in EDIT page when dragging new chords. - Fix the user chord sets list refresh using the custom user location. - Fix cropped notes in detect panel for large iPad screen size. • Improvements - Fix tempo setting reset issue in standalone mode. - Handle bind velocity based on default or custom chord velocity. - Prevent a crash with the next user set selector when the folder is empty. - Fix a crash when sending too many change scale commands to multiple instances simultaneously. - Fix an issue causing the auto-play to jump to the scale playback when browsing chord sets. - Improve Next/Previous navigation in User chord sets when using Auto-Play. - Add ability to Auto-Play while in detect screen. - Fix Avant-Garde 5 phrase for major chords. - Improve Daw-Sync playback - Fix calculation issue causing notes with 0 duration in played MIDI • New Features - Add Live Sync ability to keep the Progression Builder (Section C) synchronised across other Scaler instances in realtime. - Add new modes for Parallel Harmony to generate progressions by thirds, fourths, and fifths. - Add Auto Play in browser (Section A) to enable quick preview of chord sets. - Add Multi Voice Output (Multi Midi Out) option to split each note of chords onto separate channels. - Add Global UI Velocity controls to change the strength of MIDI notes played through the interface. - Add ability to consolidate chords from multiple patterns into a single chord set file. • New Content - Scale Based Sequences. - 80s, Classical, HipHop, LoFi Chord Sets. - Fixed Bass Chord Sets (Triad and Extended). - Divisi 4 Part Chord Sets (Intended to work with Multi Midi Out). - Avant-Garde Phrases - Avant-Garde Performances - Internal Orchestral Bass Instrument - Internal LoFi Instrument • Improvements - Make undo/redo buttons always visible in Section C. - Clear Undo/Redo history when clearing state or when importing a state file. - Fix Daw-Sync timing causing playback to start early in Cubase. - Fix Play-Quantize offset calculation. - Remember the last selected scale on circle of fifths in the Voicing Editor. ### 1.5 — 2023-01-18 • Improvements - Fix tempo setting reset issue in standalone mode. - Handle bind velocity based on default or custom chord velocity. - Prevent a crash with the next user set selector when the folder is empty. - Fix a crash when sending too many change scale commands to multiple instances simultaneously. - Fix an issue causing the auto-play to jump to the scale playback when browsing chord sets. - Improve Next/Previous navigation in User chord sets when using Auto-Play. - Add ability to Auto-Play while in detect screen. - Fix Avant-Garde 5 phrase for major chords. - Improve Daw-Sync playback - Fix calculation issue causing notes with 0 duration in played MIDI • New Features - Add Live Sync ability to keep the Progression Builder (Section C) synchronised across other Scaler instances in realtime. - Add new modes for Parallel Harmony to generate progressions by thirds, fourths, and fifths. - Add Auto Play in browser (Section A) to enable quick preview of chord sets. - Add Multi Voice Output (Multi Midi Out) option to split each note of chords onto separate channels. - Add Global UI Velocity controls to change the strength of MIDI notes played through the interface. - Add ability to consolidate chords from multiple patterns into a single chord set file. • New Content - Scale Based Sequences. - 80s, Classical, HipHop, LoFi Chord Sets. - Fixed Bass Chord Sets (Triad and Extended). - Divisi 4 Part Chord Sets (Intended to work with Multi Midi Out). - Avant-Garde Phrases - Avant-Garde Performances - Internal Orchestral Bass Instrument - Internal LoFi Instrument • Improvements - Make undo/redo buttons always visible in Section C. - Clear Undo/Redo history when clearing state or when importing a state file. - Fix Daw-Sync timing causing playback to start early in Cubase. - Fix Play-Quantize offset calculation. - Remember the last selected scale on circle of fifths in the Voicing Editor. ## More apps by Scaler Music - [Scaler EQ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scaler-eq/id6499342445) All apps by Scaler Music: https://appshunter.io/developer/1603180477 --- *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 2026-09-10.*