Patch Base vs AX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Patch Base
This app allows users to visualize, edit, and organize patches for a wide range of hardware synthesizers. It offers real-time parameter editing, patch bank management, and the ability to create random or initial patches. Users can also test sounds with an on-screen keyboard.
- Visualize synth patches
- Real-time parameter editing
- Manage patch banks
- Create random patches
- On-screen keyboard for sound testing
- Extensive synthesizer support
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Patch Base is a collection of patch editors and librarians for new and vintage synthesizers, enabling easy visualization, editing, and organization of patches. * See what patches on your synth look like * Edit the parameters of your synth in real time, while you play * Manage your patch banks directly from the app * Save patches in Patch Base, and back them up using iCloud * Access your patch files on your computer via iCloud Drive * Create random patches, and "init" patches as starting points for new sounds * Play your synth for sound testing using the on-screen keyboard Patch Base currently has editors for the following synthesizers, with more to come: * Access Virus C, Virus TI, Virus TI Snow * Akai Miniak * Alesis Micron * Behringer Deepmind 12 * Casio CZ-1, CZ-101, CZ-1000, CZ-3000, CZ-5000 * Clavia Nord Lead 2, Nord Lead 2X * DSI Mopho, Mopho Keyboard, Evolver, Evolver Keyboard, Tetra * E-mu Proteus/1, Proteus/2, Proteus 2000, Proteus 1000, Orbit-3, Virtuoso 2000, Xtreme Lead-1, Mo'Phatt, Planet Earth * Ensoniq ESQ-1, SQ-80, and ESQ-M * Korg Volca FM, Volca FM2, Minilogue, microKORG, MS2000, MS2000R, MS2000B, MS2000BR, DW-8000, EX-8000, Prophecy * Novation Circuit, Bass Station II * Oberheim Matrix-1000, Matrix-6, Matrix-6r * Roland JD-Xi, JV-1080, JV-2080, JV-1010, XP-80, XP-60, XP-50, XP-30, D-50, D-550, D-05, D-110, D-10, D-20, D-5, JV-880, JV-80, XV-5080, XV-3080, XV-5050, XV-2020, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, MKS-50, JD-800, JD-990, JX-8P, JP-8080 * Waldorf Blofeld, Micro Q * Yamaha DX7, DX7II, TX7, TX802, TX816, TX81Z, DX100, FB-01, FS1R, TG33, DX200, TG77, SY77, DX21, DX11, Reface DX The app is free for download and to try out, ensuring that the app works with your hardware setup. For full access to all editor features, each editor is available as an individual In-App Purchase, or via an All Access subscription. ** Unlock Every Editor with All Access ** Patch Base now offers the All Access subscription, giving you access to every editor that Patch Base offers for a single subscription price. You can subscribe on a monthly or annual basis. Subscription payment is charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of subscription purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renewal and manage your subscription at any time from your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base-privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base-terms-conditions
AX
This application allows users to customize their AX-Edge device by creating original sounds, editing system effects, and organizing sound lists for various performance needs. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth for seamless integration.
- Create original sounds (programs and tones)
- Edit system effects (EQ, reverb)
- Organize sound lists for performances
- Wireless Bluetooth connection
- Customize output sound for venues
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Customize the AX-Edge to your taste AX-Edge Editor is a free app that lets you take full advantage of your AX-Edge by customizing it to your taste. AX-Edge Editor provides editing functionality that lets you create original sounds and librarian functionality that lets you organize lists of sounds as needed for different performance situations. It also provides numerous other useful functions, such as system effect editing that lets you customize the output sound appropriately for each live performance venue.The AX-Edge features a distinctive external appearance, and now you can also customize its sound to give it even more of your own personality. Main features: - Program editing and tone editing let you create your own original sounds (programs and tones). - System effect editing lets you adjust effects such as EQ and reverb as appropriate for your live performance venue. - Librarian lets you create, save, and recall program lists and tone lists as needed for different performance situations. - The app connects to your AX-Edge wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Patch Base at 3.4 against AX's 1.5. Patch Base also leads on review sentiment (53% vs 22%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). AX's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 31) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Patch Base sells 31 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. AX asks for nothing beyond the download.
Patch Base holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patch Base has 85 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Patch Base's written reviews are positive against 22% of AX's.
Patch Base ships an update every 3 weeks, AX every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Patch Base | AX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (85 ratings) — better | 1.5 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.9% of reviews — better | 22.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Coffeeshopped LLC | Roland Corporation |
Customer experience
Patch Base
AX
Bugs and requests
Patch Base
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes on iOS 14.2 and other versions
- MIDI buffer full errors with DX7IIFD
- Sysex transfer stalls and timeouts
- Cannot access operators 4-6 on Volca FM
- Algorithm changes crash app
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- Patches randomly deleted after app restart
- MIDI port assignment not persisting
- Unable to send patches to synths
- App hangs during patch transitions
- Unmute function unavailable while editing
- iCloud file synchronization not working
- XV-5080 editor stuck on loading screen
Requested features
13 requests- MFB Dominion 1 editor
- Arturia Microfreak randomizer
- Novation Circuit Tracks support
- Korg Wavestate editor
- Roland MKS-70 and MKS-80 controllers
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- Access Virus Ti2 character section and banks
- Custom randomization options
- Yamaha EX5/r and Motif XF editors
- Prophet 6 support
- Korg Minilogue enhancements
- Undo button functionality
- Pass-through MIDI option
- Dropbox and Google Drive cloud support
AX
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Patch Base
- Patch Base: Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- All Access: Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Casio CZ-101$29.99
- Oberheim Matrix-6r$29.99
- Yamaha DX7$29.99
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- Yamaha TX7$29.99
- Ensoniq ESQ-1$29.99
- Korg Volca FM$29.99
- Korg microKorg$29.99
- Roland JD-Xi$29.99
- Korg Minilogue$29.99
- Roland JV-1080$29.99
- Waldorf Blofeld$29.99
- Roland D-50$29.99
- Roland D-05$29.99
- Roland D-110$29.99
- Novation Bass Station II$29.99
- Yamaha DX100$29.99
- Access Virus TI Snow$29.99
- Yamaha TG33$29.99
- Roland JV-1010$29.99
- Yamaha SY77$29.99
- Roland XV-5050$29.99
- Yamaha TX81Z$29.99
- Oberheim Matrix-1000$29.99
- Korg Volca FM2$29.99
- Oberheim Matrix-6$29.99
- Yamaha DX7II$29.99
- Roland JV-880$29.99
- Yamaha Reface DX$29.99
- All Access$99.99
AX
No in-app purchases









