Comparison

FM Essential vs HD

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

HD

This application connects to a specific device via Bluetooth to remotely control musical functions. It allows instructors to guide students with features like metronome operation, tempo setting, and pitch adjustment. It also includes tools for chord detection and tuning.

Highlights
  • Remote HD control (keyboard, metronome, temperament, transposition)
  • Customizable beat and tempo settings
  • Individual volume and pitch adjustment
  • Demonstrate mode for pitch and volume feedback
  • Chord detection and naming
  • Adjustable tuner
  • Rhythm assistant
Features
Read full description

* The device on which this application is installed must be connected to the HD-300 via Bluetooth®. The application does not produce sound independently. The HD-300 Assistant application allows an instructor to remotely control the HD-300 and provide intuitive guidance to students. ≪ Functions ≫ • HD Control In addition to keyboard and metronome operation, the app allows remote control of temperament and transposition. • Beat, Tempo Setting Irregular meter and tempos can easily be created, saved, and played back. • Individual Volume and Pitch Fine adjustment is available for individual volumes and pitches. • Demonstrate Mode The interference beat that occurs when notes are slightly out of tune can be recreated, and the volumes of harmony notes can be adjusted to give students a feel for appropriate pitch and volume. • Chord Detector Chords can be detected and named based on a group of played notes. • Tuner The tuner provides a convenient means to check pitch. The tuner’s base pitch is adjustable. ・ Rhythm Assistant The app can play the same rhythm as musical score.

Screenshots

FM Essential4 screens
HD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HD at 5.0 against FM Essential's 3.0. HD also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). FM Essential's advantage is ratings volume (70 vs 3). 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

HD holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FM Essential has 70 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, HD every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FM Essential versus HD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFM EssentialHD
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (70 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings70 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 10 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYamaha Corporation of AmericaYamaha Corporation

Customer experience

FM Essential

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

HD

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

HD

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

FM Essential

No in-app purchases

None

HD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FM Essential free?
FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HD free?
HD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FM Essential or HD?
HD is rated higher. FM Essential averages 3.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while HD averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do FM Essential or HD have ads?
Neither FM Essential nor HD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FM Essential or HD?
FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, and HD every 10 months. Most recently, FM Essential was updated on November 2, 2026 and HD on November 3, 2026.

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