# StepBud - AUv3 MIDI Sequencer — Audio Unit for Step Sequencing

> AUv3 MIDI sequencer with unlimited steps and advanced parameter control. (iPhone/iPad app by Cem Olcay.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbud-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1453104408 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Cem Olcay](https://appshunter.io/developer/523633853)
- Category: Music, Productivity
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 38 App Store ratings · 33 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 24 MB
- Languages: American English, Turkish
- Released: 2019-04-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbud-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1453104408/reviews.md

## What is StepBud?

StepBud is a MIDI Sequencer with Audio Unit AUv3 plugin, Audiobus and Ableton Link.

Add an unlimited number of steps to your sequencer.
Your steps appear with a LED and a fader on top of your screen.
You can change the active mode that your step faders displaying/controlling.
  - Set the current note or chord in range of the scale and key you selected with respect the range of the octave you want to focus,
  - Set the velocity, rate, gate time, modulation, pitch bend, portamento, probability and swing for each step,
  - Try increasing the rate and repeat count your steps if you want to add more flavor. 
- Send unlimited custom MIDI CC messages if you want to control your hardware or software synth parameters.
- Lock steps if you don't want them to change their value.
- Skip steps for creating interesting live performances.
  
Below the step faders, you have a master fader where you can control your entire sequencer. It has two modes which you can change from the settings strip on the bottom of the app. 
  - In copy mode, it assigns its value to each step.
  - In shift mode, it shifts up or down each step.

If you want to go off-scale or try some crazy chords on some of your steps, or maybe on all of them, you can go to the Step Editor by double tapping the LED of the step you want to edit.

In StepBud's powerful Step Editor, you can set your step's notes either from the virtual keyboard or your connected MIDI keyboard. Don't forget to enable MIDI in port of your MIDI keyboard or the you want to receive MIDI from the settings menu. You may also preview the selected notes by pressing the preview button in Step Editor for making sure you created the perfect sound for your particular step.

You can also toggle the steps you want to disable by tapping its LED.
If you long-press the LED, you can access a menu where you may copy/paste the steps around, remove them or edit them.

If you enable the lock mode from the settings strip on the bottom of the app, you may adjust each visible step fader on the screen by a single swipe gesture without having to lift your finger up.

Try to change your arppegio mode from the settings strip. You can sequence your steps up, down, up-down or random order.

StepBud is a MIDI sequencer app and it does not generate sounds itself. You need to route its MIDI out port in the settings menu to the audio app you want to sequence. 

Please note that you need to have an iOS 11+ device and an Audio Unit host application such as AUM, apeMatrix, Cubasis, BeatMaker or Audiobus in order to use the StepBud as an Audio Unit plugin. And don't forget to route StepBud's MIDI out to the app or audio unit you want to sequence.

StepBud's MIDI layer powered by free and open-source project AudioKit
https://github.com/AudioKit/AudioKit

Also, StepBud offers its core components for free on GitHub. Feel free to star, fork or contribute.
https://github.com/cemolcay/MusicTheory
https://github.com/cemolcay/LiveFader
https://github.com/cemolcay/MIDIEventKit

## Key features

- Unlimited steps
- Step parameter control (note, velocity, rate, etc.)
- Custom MIDI CC messages
- Step locking and skipping
- Master fader with copy/shift modes
- Step Editor for detailed note editing
- Arpeggio modes (up, down, random)

## Chart rankings

- #133 in Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 33)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbud-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1453104408/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Cool!

*2026-08-06*

This is my first sequencer. Connected my Yamaha keyboard USB, opened this app, and immediately had some hypnotic tones. Can’t wait to connect the Juno and a drum machine.

### 4/5 — Could soar with a couple added features

*2026-05-13*

I’m learning that no sequencer is perfect, each one has strengths and weaknesses. This would be that much closer to superior if it also offered the basic direction options besides forwards: backwards, back and forth, random, etc. Also if it would remember notes when you  shortened the sequence then re-lengthened it back, rather than erasing them. But still fun to play, and great potential.

### 5/5 — Classic!

*2025-08-05*

The OG step sequencer

### 5/5 — Stepping out in style

*2025-08-02*

Like all of Cems apps, it’s great value for money, easy to use and provides great results. Buy it!

### 2/5 — Can’t send CC to my jt-4000

*2025-04-27*

Can’t send CC to my jt-4000. It only received cc74 for the filter. Rest of the cc doesn’t work. With other apps no problem so it’s a StepBud problem

### 3/5 — Nice but Not ready

*2024-07-24*

The sequencer is quite nice, but more than a toy is really not.

For a serious music tool, the following is still missing:

-Rotating the sequences (if the third stroke is supposed to be the first)

-Export as standard midi file

-Selection of any Midi controller

-Zoom the pitch (1 Octave)

-Sometimes I still have bugs when I turn the screen (standalone)

### 2/5 — READ BEFORE BUYING: Buy same devs Polybud

*2024-05-31*

There’s something wrong with the CC output. Dev says not maintaining older apps. Buy his Polybud instead. Doesn’t have same issues.

### 1/5 — Nice step sequencer; broken CC output

*2024-05-29*

The CC output doesn’t reflect the sequencer. Unfortunately, the app being broken didn’t qualify it for a return.

### 5/5 — Look down

*2023-08-12*

The greatest sequencer ever created during the time human species used to roam around the green clean earth!

### 1/5 — how?

*2023-02-08, version 1.8*

How am I not able to size the app so I can access all of the functions? It’s selling me 70% of the app at full price, and makes it impossible for me to use the app for the purposes I bought it for.

## Frequently asked questions about StepBud

### What does StepBud do?

StepBud is a MIDI sequencer that allows you to create and control sequences of musical notes and parameters. It functions as an Audio Unit (AUv3) plugin, meaning it needs to be used within a compatible host application like AUM or Cubasis to generate sound.

### What are the key features of StepBud?

Key features include an unlimited number of steps, detailed control over each step's note, velocity, rate, and other MIDI parameters, custom MIDI CC message sending, step locking and skipping, and a master fader for global control. It also offers a powerful Step Editor for in-depth note manipulation.

### Is StepBud free to use?

Yes, StepBud is offered for free. Its core components are also available on GitHub, encouraging community contribution and development.

### What devices and apps are compatible with StepBud?

StepBud requires an iOS 11+ device and an Audio Unit host application such as AUM, apeMatrix, Cubasis, or BeatMaker to function as an AUv3 plugin. You will need to route StepBud's MIDI output to the audio app or audio unit you wish to sequence.

### How can I use StepBud for live performances?

You can create interesting live performances by using features like step skipping to create rhythmic variations, or by utilizing the lock mode for fluid adjustments with swipe gestures. The master fader's shift mode can also be used to dynamically alter sequences in real-time.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.8 — 2021-06-05

This version optimizes the sequencer's sample time on higher buffer rates.

### 1.7.1 — 2020-11-19

This version fixes the AUv3 mode crash happening on iOS 14.2

### 1.7 — 2020-11-05

This version updates the UI.
Improves the draw mode sensitivity.

### 1.6.3 — 2020-10-18

This version fixes the Bluetooth MIDI implementation.

### 1.6.2 — 2020-09-02

This version fixes a calculation bug happening on the triplet notes.

## Apps similar to StepBud

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [TONALY: Songs, Scales & Theory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonaly-songs-scales-and-theory/id1242467844) | 4.8 (6,323) | Free | Music |
| [Scale Numbers Piano](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scale-numbers-piano/id1270369797) | 4.2 (12) | Free | Music |
| [Navichord • chord sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navichord-chord-sequencer/id916452748) | 4.7 (586) | $7.99 | Music |
| [Piano Chords and Scales](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piano-chords-and-scales/id714086944) | 4.8 (9,159) | Free | Music |
| [Fugue Machine : MIDI Sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fugue-machine-midi-sequencer/id1014191410) | 4.9 (622) | $14.99 | Music |
| [Tonality: Music Theory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonality-music-theory/id1467552236) | 4.8 (128) | $7.99 | Music |

## More apps by Cem Olcay

- [FretBud - Chord & Scales AUv3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretbud-chord-and-scales-auv3/id1234224249)
- [ScaleBud - AUv3 MIDI Keyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scalebud-auv3-midi-keyboard/id1409125865)
- [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

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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 2026-08-27.*