Alina String Ensemble vs BrainBud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
BrainBud
This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.
- Centralized key and scale control
- MIDI out to multiple Bud apps
- Budcast for parameter broadcasting
- Randomize musical parameters
- AUv3 plugin for automation
- Requires other Bud apps to function
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BrainBud controls the keys and scales of the Bud apps all at once. Connect BrainBud’s MIDI out to MIDI inputs of: - SnakeBud - PolyBud - MelodyBud - ShiftBud - ScaleBud 2 - In Theory - Textquencer - Binarhythmic - Auto Bass - BounceBud - MuseBud - Kebarp - FuncBud - Note to Be You can also broadcast the current key/scale to the newly connected apps with Budcast button. If you’d like to experiment, you can try the randomise button. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change the BrainBud's parameters or even automate them with AU parameters. For using the AUv3 plugin make sure you have an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix. BrainBud is a MIDI based app and requires other Bud apps present in order to work right. If you don't have any other Bud apps mentioned above, you can't make a use of BrainBud. BrainBud doesn't produce any kind of sound on its own.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BrainBud at 100% against Alina String Ensemble's 52%. BrainBud also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Alina String Ensemble's advantage is ratings volume (20 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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
Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99 and BrainBud $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Alina String Ensemble has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Alina String Ensemble's written reviews are positive against 100% of BrainBud's.
Alina String Ensemble ships an update every 4 months, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Alina String Ensemble | BrainBud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (20 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 20 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 131 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | insideout ltd. | Cem Olcay |
Customer experience
Alina String Ensemble
BrainBud
In-app purchases
Alina String Ensemble
No in-app purchases
BrainBud
No in-app purchases









