FM Essential vs STAGEPAS Editor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- FM tone generator
- Real-time synth performance
- Voice editing
- Arpeggiator and chord pads
- Effects and EQ edit
- Ball controller for sound modulation
- Step sequencer
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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
STAGEPAS Editor
Control your sound system remotely during rehearsals or performances. Adjust volume and EQ settings, and save configurations for different songs to streamline setup and ensure consistent audio quality.
- Remote volume control
- Remote EQ adjustment
- Save custom settings
- Streamlined setup
- Consistent performance audio
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STAGEPAS Editor is STAGEPAS 1K’s dedicated remote control application that allows users to adjust volume and EQ at a distance via this application during rehearsal or performance. You can also save the adjusted settings for certain songs or applications in order to shorten your setup process in the future and maintain consistency from one performance to the next.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FM Essential at 3.0 against STAGEPAS Editor's 1.5. FM Essential also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 7%) and ratings volume (70 vs 11). STAGEPAS Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 15 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FM Essential holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FM Essential has 70 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of FM Essential's written reviews are positive against 7% of STAGEPAS Editor's.
FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, STAGEPAS Editor every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FM Essential | STAGEPAS Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (70 ratings) — better | 1.5 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 6.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 70 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yamaha Corporation of America | Yamaha Corporation |
Customer experience
FM Essential
STAGEPAS Editor
In-app purchases
FM Essential
No in-app purchases
STAGEPAS Editor
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FM Essential free?
Is STAGEPAS Editor free?
Which has better reviews, FM Essential or STAGEPAS Editor?
Do FM Essential or STAGEPAS Editor have ads?
Which is updated more often, FM Essential or STAGEPAS Editor?
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