Comparison

Hohner Chromatic MIDI vs Alina String Ensemble

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

Head to head
About

Hohner Chromatic MIDI

This app acts as a MIDI control surface for iPads, mimicking a chromatic button accordion. It allows users to control external hardware or software synthesizers and virtual instruments via CoreMIDI.

Highlights
  • CoreMIDI control surface for iPad
  • Bayan and C-system button layouts
  • Configurable bass/chord configurations
  • Adjustable MIDI channel, velocity, and volume
  • Transpose and octave shift controls
  • Preset management for quick sound switching
Read full description

The Hohner Chromatic Button Accordion MIDI Controller is a chromatic button accordion (CBA) style CoreMIDI control surface for the iPad. The app doesn't produce any sound on it own. It is a MIDI control surface designed for playing hardware and software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via a CoreMIDI compatible interface connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like Roland Sound Canvas for iOS, IK Multimedia SampleTank®, or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your iPad. The button layout supports both B (Bayan) and C-systems, and the built-in note guide will help you quickly learn your way around the buttons. Choose between Bass/Major/Minor/7 or Counter Bass/Major/Minor configuration for the left side of the instrument. The bass/chord side may be transposed up or down two semitones using the control at the bottom left of the screen. Note that when the pitch is transposed, the note labels do not change. This may be addressed in a future update. This feature expands the range of bass side by shifting the entire bass up or down two rows. The app has essentially the same button spacing as the real instrument. Multiple buttons may be pressed at the same time. You may slide your fingers between the buttons. Touch the MIDI connector button to show the MIDI parameter controls. Using the controls, you can set the MIDI channel (1-16), MIDI velocity, and MIDI volume independently for the treble, bass, and chords. You can also set the overall MIDI transposition for all three sections (+/- 12 semitones). Additionally, the bass buttons may be transposed independently up or down one octave. On the MIDI control screen you may choose between eight banks, each containing four presets. The four presets A, B, C, or D for the currently selected bank may be selected while playing on the main play screen. These can be used to quickly switch between instrument sounds while playing without having to bring up the MIDI settings page. All presets are saved when the app is closed. Use the "Transmit MIDI Port" switch to choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps (matches previous versions of the app) or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, the app will show up as an input option in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MidiBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. All MIDI settings are saved when the app quits and restored the next time it is run. Touch the Octave shift select at the bottom of the play scren to shift the treble side up or down one octave (after application of the transpose). The octave shift is saved with the current preset. Touch the '?' icon to show the base layout note names for each button (without transposition). Touch the '!' button to send an "All Notes Off" message to silence any "stuck" notes should they ever occur. Touch the Hohner logo for the help screen with a link to the Hohner accordion website or touch the Accordion Life logo to start learning with online accordion lessons. The app accurately maps the chord inversion on a real Chromatic button accordion to their equivalent MIDI note numbers. If using with a synthesizer app, you may need to make additional settings in that app. Here's the settings changes required for two popular synth apps: IK Multimedia SampleTank: - In Settings (touch the gear icon), enable "Background Audio" Sonosaurus ThumbJam: - In "Prefs", under "MIDI Control", in "MIDI General Options" enable "Use CoreMIDI" and "Active in Background" Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings. Please visit the app support website to see some live demo videos and for the settings you will need to enable in the synth app you are using to have it work with the control surface. You must disable "Multitasking Gestures" in your iPad General Settings to use this app to its fullest capability if you want to put down more than three fingers at a time.

About

Alina String Ensemble

This app is a musical keyboard simulator that recreates the authentic sounds of the Solina String Ensemble from the 1970s. It features a 49-key, 4-octave keyboard with multiple instrument sounds and built-in effects like reverb and modulation.

Highlights
  • Solina String Ensemble sound simulation
  • 6 pre-loaded instruments
  • 49-key, 4-octave keyboard
  • Core MIDI and MIDI compatible
  • Built-in spring reverb effect
  • Adjustable modulation
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Alina String Ensemble is a musical keyboard application for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch that simulates the Solina String Ensemble. The sound is in reference to Solina String Ensemble (Serial number "SERIES 22, No.0093158”) manufactured by N.V. EMINENT BODEGRAVEN HOLLAND in the 70’s. You are sure to be surprised at the real sound generated from this App. Features: - Pre-loaded with 6 instruments including Viola, Violin, Brass, Horn, Cello, Contra Bass - 49key, 4-octave Keyboards with scrollable - Core MIDI and MIDI compatible - Scrollable Keyboard & dual Keyboards(Only iPad) - BASS tone(Cello, Contra Bass) is assigned on lowest 20 keys - Built-in Reverb that simulates a spring reverb - Modulation that can adjust the rate and depth Special thanks: Jun Kawabata courtesy of AIRPLANE LABEL & Studio Peach Blue Peach

Screenshots

Alina String Ensemble4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Alina String Ensemble at 52% against Hohner Chromatic MIDI's 0%. Alina String Ensemble also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.3) and price ($3.99 vs $9.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Hohner Chromatic MIDI costs $9.99 and Alina String Ensemble $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Alina String Ensemble holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Alina String Ensemble has 20 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Hohner Chromatic MIDI's written reviews are positive against 52% of Alina String Ensemble's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hohner Chromatic MIDI ships an update every 6 months, Alina String Ensemble every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Hohner Chromatic MIDI versus Alina String Ensemble: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHohner Chromatic MIDIAlina String Ensemble
Price$9.99$3.99 — better
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)4.2 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews52.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings320 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#107 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB131 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael Eskininsideout ltd.

Customer experience

Hohner Chromatic MIDI

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Alina String Ensemble

All ratings20 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative47.6%

In-app purchases

None

Hohner Chromatic MIDI

No in-app purchases

None

Alina String Ensemble

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hohner Chromatic MIDI free?
Hohner Chromatic MIDI costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Alina String Ensemble free?
Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Alina String Ensemble?
Alina String Ensemble is rated higher. Hohner Chromatic MIDI averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Alina String Ensemble averages 4.2 from 20 ratings.
Do Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Alina String Ensemble have ads?
Neither Hohner Chromatic MIDI nor Alina String Ensemble shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Alina String Ensemble?
Hohner Chromatic MIDI ships an update every 6 months, and Alina String Ensemble every 4 months. Most recently, Hohner Chromatic MIDI was updated on October 18, 2026 and Alina String Ensemble on October 15, 2026.

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