Comparison

Patch Base vs KeyStage Lite

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

Head to head
About

Patch Base

This app provides editors and librarians for hardware synthesizers, allowing users to visualize, edit, and organize patches. It offers real-time parameter editing, patch management, and backup capabilities. Users can also generate random patches and use an on-screen keyboard for sound testing.

Highlights
  • Patch editors for hardware synths
  • Real-time parameter editing
  • Patch bank management
  • iCloud backup and sync
  • Random patch generation
  • On-screen keyboard for sound testing
Read full description

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 A, Virus B, Virus C, Virus TI, Virus TI Snow, Virus Indigo, Virus KB, Virus Classic * 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, Vintage Pro, B-3, B-3 Turbo, XL-1 Turbo, Turbo Phatt * 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

About

KeyStage Lite

This app acts as a master controller and audio mixer for keyboard players. It allows simultaneous control of multiple hardware and software instruments using various MIDI controllers. Organize songs into sections, customize instrument sounds, and manage MIDI mappings with advanced scripting capabilities.

Highlights
  • Control multiple MIDI controllers and instruments
  • Host AUv3 instruments and effects
  • Create complex keyboard splits and layers
  • Advanced MIDI mapping and scripting
  • Audio mixer with track control
  • Play and manage audio files
  • View PDF and JPG files
Read full description

KeyStage is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer app designed mainly for keyboard players. With KeyStage, you can simultaneously control any number of hardware and software instruments using any number of MIDI controllers in an organized way. Each project consists of sections (which corresponds to sections of a song). In each section you can change sounds and sound parameters of connected instruments, create complex splits and layers of your keyboard(s), change the functionalities of sliders/knobs/pedals of your MIDI controllers by creating advanced MIDI mappings, write your own scripts, view PDF and JPG files (e.g. sheet music) and lyrics, and much more. LIST OF FEATURES • Connect any number of MIDI controller to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks. • Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors. • Assign any region of your keyboard(s) to any connected instrument. • Change velocity curve and velocity limits, and create velocity splits and layers. • Transpose notes and restrict notes to any key using pitch shifter. • Create mixer units to combine audio signals, turning KeyStage into an audio mixer. • With the player units, you can play wav, mp3, and m4a files, add marker points, automate actions (like play, stop, move to a marker etc.) using custom translators, or trigger certain events (like changing sections) when the player reaches a certain marker. • Input units allows you to use the microphone input, or the hardware inputs of a connected audio interface. • The Main Mixer view allows you to control volume levels and pans of all tracks, connect effect units, and connect units to mixer units. • Create instrument presets to easily change sounds of instruments by choosing patch names from patch lists. • KeyStage can also import Cubase Patch Scripts to automatically create instrument presets for your MIDI instruments. • KeyStage automatically detects new MIDI connections and recommends matching instrument presets from a database. • Simulate auto-sustain on any connected instrument. • KeyStage has a multi-track recorder, which lets you record any number of tracks simultaneously. • Change or filter any MIDI signal using custom translators. Use “Relative Control” switch to smoothly change the parameters of your instruments without any jumps. • Use XY control unit to send control change and pitch bend messages to any connected MIDI instrument. • Create setlists, quick access all the songs in a setlist from a setlist bar, move to previous/next songs from live console or using external MIDI. • Create virtual MIDI inputs/outputs for KeyStage. • Use virtual MIDI piano controller to play connected instruments. • View PDF and JPG files. Link any page or region of any file to any section. • Backup and restore your songs and global properties to Dropbox. • Map special actions (like changing octaves, switching sections, changing pages of a PDF file) to notes and controllers using custom translators. • You can write your own scripts in custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Use MPE routing to control any MIDI instrument using MPE controllers like Seaboard. Use custom translators to change the functionalities of each MPE dimension. • KeyStage supports smooth transitions between sections. Pressed notes will continue to sound when you switch sections. You can access demo videos and video tutorials on my Youtube channel.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KeyStage Lite at none against Patch Base's 10. KeyStage Lite also leads on rating (3.9 vs 3.4). Patch Base's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (87 vs 8). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Patch Base sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. KeyStage Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KeyStage Lite holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Patch Base has 87 ratings behind it against 8, 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 60% of KeyStage Lite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Patch Base ships an update fortnightly, KeyStage Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Patch Base versus KeyStage Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPatch BaseKeyStage Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (87 ratings)3.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings87 — better8
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCoffeeshopped LLCAli Gokturk

Customer experience

Patch Base

All ratings87 ratings
Positive57.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative39.1%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral3.8%
Negative43.3%

KeyStage Lite

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

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
Show 7 more
  • 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
Show 8 more
  • 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

KeyStage Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Patch Base

Subscriptions2
  • Patch Base: Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • All Access: Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time8
  • Yamaha DX7$29.99
  • Korg Volca FM$29.99
  • Korg microKorg$29.99
Show 5 more
  • Roland JD-Xi$29.99
  • Waldorf Blofeld$29.99
  • Roland D-50$29.99
  • Roland D-05$29.99
  • All Access$99.99
None

KeyStage Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Patch Base free?
Patch Base is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is KeyStage Lite free?
KeyStage Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Patch Base or KeyStage Lite?
KeyStage Lite is rated higher. Patch Base averages 3.4 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while KeyStage Lite averages 3.9 from 8 ratings.
Do Patch Base or KeyStage Lite have ads?
Neither Patch Base nor KeyStage Lite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Patch Base or KeyStage Lite?
Patch Base ships an update fortnightly, and KeyStage Lite every 3 months. Most recently, Patch Base was updated on November 1, 2026 and KeyStage Lite on November 2, 2026.

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