# Hohner Chromatic MIDI vs Alina String Ensemble

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hohner Chromatic MIDI | Alina String Ensemble |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hohner-chromatic-midi/id1025249669/reviews) | **[4.2 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **52.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#130** |
| Size | 22 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Eskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369) | [insideout ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/315046293) |

## What reviewers say

### Hohner Chromatic MIDI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hohner-chromatic-midi/id1025249669)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alina String Ensemble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790)

**Currently charting:** #130 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*