Comparison

FM Essential vs AX

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

Head to head
About

FM Essential

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

Highlights
  • FM tone generator
  • Real-time synth performance
  • Voice editing
  • Arpeggiator and chord pads
  • Effects and EQ edit
  • Ball controller for sound modulation
  • Step sequencer
Read full description

Featuring an FM tone generator, FM Essential is a synthesizer app for the iPhone and iPad that provides for real-time synth performances and also lets you edit voices. [Spec] -FM sound ・Tone Generator: FM ・Part: 1 ・Polyphony: 16 ・Preset Voice: 271 ・Arpeggiator patterns: 64 ・Chord pads: 20 ・Scales: 25 -Drum Part Tone Generator: Audio Part: 1 Drum Pad: 16 Drum Pad Set: 3 Functions Plug into MX! -You can play full 271 voices and voice store function if you connect your iOS with Yamaha music synthesizer MX BK/BU series. Effects/EQ edit -You can adjust parameters to edit effects and equalization. Ball controller -Touch and drag in ball controller to modulate the sound by simultaneously changing multiple parameters based on the ball position. Step sequencer -We can store the ball position in the currently selected scene box. Arpeggiator and chord pads -You can play Arpeggiator and Chord pads in addition to keyboard with various scales. What's MX BK/BU/WH series? Find more here: http://jp.yamaha.com/products/music-production/synthesizers/mx_bk_bu/?mode=series [Support] -Compatible with Audio Unit Extentions -Compatible devices: iPhone 5S, 6/6 plus, 6s/6s plus and SE, iPod touch 6th Generation or later, iPad Air 1st Generation or later, iPad mini 2nd Generation or later,iPad Pro

About

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.

Highlights
  • Create original sounds (programs and tones)
  • Edit system effects (EQ, reverb)
  • Organize sound lists for performances
  • Wireless Bluetooth connection
  • Customize output sound for venues
Features
Read full description

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

FM Essential4 screens
AX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FM Essential at 3.0 against AX's 1.5. FM Essential also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 22%) and ratings volume (70 vs 17). AX's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FM Essential holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of FM Essential's written reviews are positive against 22% of AX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, AX every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
FM Essential versus AX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFM EssentialAX
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (70 ratings) — better1.5 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better22.2% of reviews
Number of ratings70 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYamaha Corporation of AmericaRoland Corporation

Customer experience

FM Essential

All ratings65 ratings
Positive43.1%
Neutral12.3%
Negative44.6%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative47.5%

AX

All ratings17 ratings
Positive11.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.2%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative72.2%

Bugs and requests

FM Essential

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Does not unlock with USB-C adapter
  • App crashes when loading combinations
  • Preset menus crash the app
  • Combined Sounds no longer read from keyboard after iPad update
  • Instruments stop working if effect filters are turned off
Show 1 more
  • Incompatible USB Device on MX displays

Requested features

9 requests
  • Unlock without hardware purchase
  • Allow in-app purchase to unlock
  • Bring back Tenori On apps
  • Fix LFO delay parameter
  • Add separate volume control for drums
Show 4 more
  • Allow app to be used as a plugin
  • Fix AU host preset recall
  • Make app compatible with more devices
  • Fix instruments disabling when effects are off

AX

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

FM Essential

No in-app purchases

None

AX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FM Essential free?
FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AX free?
AX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FM Essential or AX?
FM Essential is rated higher. FM Essential averages 3.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while AX averages 1.5 from 17 ratings.
Do FM Essential or AX have ads?
Neither FM Essential nor AX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FM Essential or AX?
FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, and AX every 8 months. Most recently, FM Essential was updated on October 22, 2026 and AX on October 22, 2026.

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