FM Essential vs Headphones Controller
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
Headphones Controller
Control Yamaha earphones with your device. Adjust listening care, noise cancelling, ambient sound, and optimize audio. Set auto power off and update firmware for supported models.
- Listening Care ON/OFF
- Noise Cancelling/Ambient Sound ON/OFF
- Listening Optimizer
- 3D Sound Field setting
- Auto power off time setting
- Firmware update
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The Headphones Controller App provides easy operation for Yamaha earphones connection to your devices. *Supported Models: TW-E3A, TW-E3B, EP-E30A, EP-E50A, EP-E70A, YH-E500A, YH-E700A, YH-L700A ++++++++++++++++ Compatibility -Requires iOS 11.0 or later -Bluetooth connection is required from your smart device with the app installed and the compatible Yamaha headphones/earphones. ++++++++++++++++ Key Features: -ON/OFF LISTENING CARE -ON/OFF NOISE CANCELLING / AMBIENT SOUND / LISTENING OPTIMIZER (Supported models only) -3D SOUND FIELD setting (YH-L700A only) -Auto power off time setting -Firmware update ++++++++++++++++
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FM Essential at 3.0 against Headphones Controller's 1.4. FM Essential also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 5%) and ratings volume (70 vs 7). Headphones Controller's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 15 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). 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 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FM Essential has 70 ratings behind it against 7, 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 5% of Headphones Controller's.
FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, Headphones Controller every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FM Essential | Headphones Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (70 ratings) — better | 1.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 4.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 70 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yamaha Corporation of America | Yamaha Corporation |
Customer experience
FM Essential
Headphones Controller
In-app purchases
FM Essential
No in-app purchases
Headphones Controller
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FM Essential free?
Is Headphones Controller free?
Which has better reviews, FM Essential or Headphones Controller?
Do FM Essential or Headphones Controller have ads?
Which is updated more often, FM Essential or Headphones Controller?
Other comparisons
