Comparison

Hohner Chromatic MIDI vs Chromatic Harmonica PRO

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

Chromatic Harmonica PRO

Master jazz harp with this comprehensive trainer. Practice scales and arpeggios in any key with accurate MIDI playback and interactive visual grids. Create custom routines and explore a vast library of musical exercises.

Highlights
  • Practice scales and arpeggios in any key
  • Accurate MIDI playback
  • Interactive visual grid of harmonica holes and notes
  • Metronome with tempo control
  • Create and save custom training routines
  • Support for all tunings and hole configurations
Features
Read full description

Master jazz harp with Chromatic Harmonica Pro – your complete harmonica trainer for the chromatic harmonica. Improve your jazz harp technique with a focus on scales and arpeggios. Chromatic Harmonica Pro is a harmonica trainer built for those who want to practice more efficiently and deeply. With targeted exercises, you’ll train harmonica scales and arpeggios essential for playing jazz and developing your musical language on the chromatic harmonica. Key features: • Practice any scale or arpeggio in any key, with accurate MIDI playback • Play along with a metronome and full control of tempo (BPM), direction, and repetitions • See the holes and notes of your chromatic harmonica in an interactive visual grid • Study musical intervals in a practical and intuitive way • Create and save your own harmonica training routines • Compatible with all tunings and hole configurations Scales and arpeggios for jazz and beyond: • Major, minor, exotic scales and jazz modes • Chord-based arpeggios (major, minor, dominant, diminished, etc.) • Ever-expanding library with new scales and exercises Pro features (subscription): • Ad-free experience • Full access to all premium practice tools Whether you're looking for a jazz harp app or a complete harmonica scale & arpeggio training tool, Chromatic Harmonica Pro is for you. Download now and transform your musical practice with the chromatic harmonica!

Screenshots

Chromatic Harmonica PRO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Chromatic Harmonica PRO at 75% against Hohner Chromatic MIDI's 0%. Chromatic Harmonica PRO also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (3.0 vs 2.3). Hohner Chromatic MIDI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Chromatic Harmonica PRO is free to download; Hohner Chromatic MIDI costs $9.99 up front. Chromatic Harmonica PRO sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Hohner Chromatic MIDI asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chromatic Harmonica PRO holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Hohner Chromatic MIDI's written reviews are positive against 75% of Chromatic Harmonica PRO's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hohner Chromatic MIDI ships an update every 6 months, Chromatic Harmonica PRO every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Hohner Chromatic MIDI versus Chromatic Harmonica PRO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHohner Chromatic MIDIChromatic Harmonica PRO
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael EskinFilipe Maciel Lins

Customer experience

Hohner Chromatic MIDI

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

Chromatic Harmonica PRO

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Hohner Chromatic MIDI

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Chromatic Harmonica PRO

Subscriptions9
  • Weekly Plan New$4.997 Days
  • Weekly Plan$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Yearly Plan$9.991 Year
  • Half Year$9.996 Months
  • Premium Subscription$14.991 Year
  • Chromatic Premium - 6 Months$16.996 Months
  • Yearly Plan New$19.991 Year
  • Chromatic Harmonica Premium$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Hohner Chromatic MIDI free?
Hohner Chromatic MIDI costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chromatic Harmonica PRO free?
Chromatic Harmonica PRO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Chromatic Harmonica PRO?
Chromatic Harmonica PRO is rated higher. Hohner Chromatic MIDI averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Chromatic Harmonica PRO averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Chromatic Harmonica PRO have ads?
Neither Hohner Chromatic MIDI nor Chromatic Harmonica PRO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hohner Chromatic MIDI or Chromatic Harmonica PRO?
Hohner Chromatic MIDI ships an update every 6 months, and Chromatic Harmonica PRO every 10 days. Most recently, Hohner Chromatic MIDI was updated on October 24, 2026 and Chromatic Harmonica PRO on October 23, 2026.

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