Comparison

Colossus Piano vs MIDIculous Learning Software

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

Head to head
About

Colossus Piano

Experience incredibly realistic piano sounds with a vast library of acoustic and electric piano models. This app offers advanced features like multi-velocity layers, pedal support, and MIDI integration for a professional playing experience.

Highlights
  • 13 high-quality piano models
  • 24 velocity layers per key
  • Sustain, Sostenuto, and Soft pedal support
  • MIDI integration (In/Out)
  • Audio Unit v3 and Inter-App Audio support
  • Low latency disk streaming
  • Adjustable tuning options
Features
Read full description

Colossus Piano sets a new standard in terms of realism, detail and overall quality of piano sounds on your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. There are 8 acoustic piano models available as 8 individual in-app purchases, plus 5 E-Piano legends bundled as 1 sound set with this app, together those 13 piano models make up 30 Gigabyte of sound material. All keys of all piano models were recorded in full length with a recording quality of 24 bit and 96 kHz stereo. Note: this app requires in-app purchases to provide its functionalities! Minimum Requirement: at least iPad 3 / iPad Air 1 / iPad mini 2 / iPhone 5 / iPod touch 6th gen. Recommended: iPad Air 2 / iPad mini 4 / iPad Pro / iPhone SE / iPhone 6s or higher. The dark brown „Colossus Concert Grand” model:³ • 24 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 14 GB in size (SSD space). The white „Baby Grand” model: • 12 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 6 GB in size (SSD space). The „Upright Piano” model: • 8 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 3.4 GB in size (SSD space). The „E-Piano” sound set: • 5 legendary E-Piano models (plus different model generations or configurations). • 17 E-Piano sounds in total. • Optional pad sound. • Optional tremolo effect. • 1.6 GB in size (SSD space). For information about the other piano models, please visit our product website! This app supports Audio Unit v3, Inter-App Audio and Bluetooth LE MIDI ! Software features: • Modulation wheel support for controlling the most relevant sound parameter of the currently selected sound. • Warm pad sound of a well known analogue synthesizer (not available for all models) can be turned on/off as support for the piano sound; volume can be controlled by mod. wheel and expr. controller. • Sustain pedal support for holding notes. • Sostenuto pedal support for holding individual notes. • Soft pedal support for a more gentle sound. • Expression pedal support for controlling optional pad layer's volume. • Hammer sound when releasing keys, uses round robin, can be turned on/off and volume controlled (some acoustic pianos only). • Polyphony of up to several hundred stereo voices.² • Low latency disk streaming. • Configurable audio latency down to 1 ms. • Integrated effects (18 presets). • App States: Save app's entire state as user presets. • MIDI velocity response curve editor. • App can keep running in the background. • Master Tune, Scale Tuning & Hermode Tuning. • Provides Audio Unit v3 plugin version of this app, which allows it to be used as virtual instrument directly within 3rd party multi-track DAW apps. • Supports Apple's "Inter-App Audio" system. • Virtual on-screen piano keyboard with velocity support, scalable & scrollable. MIDI Player / Recorder: • Record, save and load your songs in standard MIDI file format. • Share your songs easily as audio file. • Unlimited amount of tracks. • Unlimited recording and playback length. • Open MIDI (.mid) files directly from other apps (i.e. from Safari, Mail). • Download or upload MIDI files with iTunes. • Metronome. • Use the "Tempo Zoom" dial knob to i.e. slow down playback at any time, learn your favorite songs more easily. ¹ For more information about supported adapters and MIDI keyboards, please visit our product website. ² Some sounds might use several voices per note. Polyphony depends on the exact device model being used. You find a polyphony table on our product website. ³ Important: the dark brown „Colossus Grand” piano model requires a large amount of main memory, so we only recommend this piano model for device models mentioned as „recommended” above.

About

MIDIculous Learning Software

This music learning software allows users to play MIDI files with high-quality virtual instruments. It offers features to manipulate pitch, key, and tempo for various media, and enables teachers to create synchronized learning files for students.

Highlights
  • High-quality MIDI file player
  • Load and manipulate MIDI, Audio, and Video files
  • Create and share proprietary LMS/LMV learning files
  • Virtual instrument display with animated colorization
  • VST/AU/AAX plugin support
  • Resizable interface and detachable widgets
Features
Read full description

High Quality MIDI File Player: MIDIculous is the most feature-rich music learning software for students and teachers. At its core it is a high quality MIDI File Player where you can use the stock General MIDI soundest or you can use AUv3 apps already installed on your iPad. ————— Learning Tool for Musicians: If you upgrade to the Pro Expansion, you will gain the ability to load virtually any MIDI, Audio, and video file to be able to change the pitch, key, transpose, and loop in order to learn from the various different media sources. We recommend trying to find the MIDI file as this is the only file format that allows you to view the actual note data using our beautiful virtual instruments. ————— Proprietary LMV and LMS Files: LMV and LMS respectively stands for Live-MIDI-VIDO and Live-MIDI-Sync. Out of the box, MIDIculous can play these files for free. These are proprietary files that can contain a combination of MIDI, Audio, and/or video at the same time. So picture this super learning file that contains multi-channel MIDI and a video file all in one, where a student can see the video AND see the notes of the MIDI in sync at the same time, such that when the user wants to change the pitch, loop, or slow down the video to learn, all of the comments are precisely in sync with one another. A teacher who purchases the Pro version will be able to make this proprietary file and send this file to all of their students and the student can view this file using the FREE player. This makes for the most amazing supplemental tool and resource for their students. ———— Online Learning Display: With the most beautifully designed virtual instruments (Bass, Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, Organ) a teacher can display or project their screen through avenues such as Zoom, Ecamm, and OBS for a virtual seminar or session with their student. Allowing the student to see the animated colorization of instruments allows for a better teaching and learning experience. ———— The FREE Versions Allows: 1. FREE Version plays LMS and LMV files 2. Full MIDI Input and Instruments Display 3. Play Plugins through LMS/LMV Files The Pro Version Unlocks: 1. Play all supported media files 2. Detach Instruments and Widgets 3. Load as a Plugin in your DAW 4. Create LMS and LMV files for students ———— Main Highlights: • Completely new source code and architecture • Comes as a VST/AU/AAX Plugin • New Resizable Interface and widgets • All components detachable and colorable (Score, Chords, Instruments, Pedals) • Plugin Manager to Manage Plugins • Updated Animated Modwheels • Updated Animated 3-Foot Pedals (Sustain, Soft, Sostenuto) • Updated recognition of sharps, accidentals, and enharmonics  ———— Main Features • Vector based UI for crisp HD graphics • Resizable GUI and Distortion modes • Load MIDI Files with full sound, Sysex changes, tempo, and key signatures recognized • Load Audio Files • Load Video Files • Load LMS (Live-MIDI Sync) which is a MIDI and an Audio file in one file for detailed instructions from teachers with MIDI data.  • Load LMV (Live-MIDI Video) which is a Video and Audio file together for enhanced visual lesson with MIDI data.  • Change Pitch, Tempo for file or loop points for Audio, MIDI, and Video • High Quality Re-Pitch algorithm with adjustable re-pitching and slow-down modes • Score View • Solfege Notation with two international standard version options • Create Loop points • Save all settings and loop points to a .midiculous file • GM Sound source through OS • Set the Root Tempo and Root Key.  • Split keyboard options for MIDI Input and for MIDI file playback • Panic button for stuck notes • Dedicated MIDI input that can be mixed with MIDI notes.  • Viewable Sustain pedal view • Detachable objects with fully customizable colors • Keyboards to have multiple keyboard views • VST/AU/AAX Plugin Capable • MIDI Forwarding Options • Dedicated Plugin Manager to isolate crashed plugins

Screenshots

Colossus Piano4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Colossus Piano at every 2 months against MIDIculous Learning Software's every 7 months. Colossus Piano also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, 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. Colossus Piano sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and MIDIculous Learning Software sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Colossus Piano ships an update every 2 months, MIDIculous Learning Software every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Colossus Piano versus MIDIculous Learning Software: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterColossus PianoMIDIculous Learning Software
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (65 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings65 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size384 MB314 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian Schoenebeck d/b/a CrudebyteMIDIculous LLC

Customer experience

Colossus Piano

All ratings65 ratings
Positive50.8%
Neutral9.2%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews112 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.8%
Negative35.7%

MIDIculous Learning Software

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Colossus Piano

Reported bugs

27 issues
  • Crashes when exporting to WAV/M4A in GarageBand
  • App crashes when switching piano models
  • Audio Unit extension crashes
  • No sound when exporting to GarageBand
  • Plugin crashes in DAWs during export/freeze
Show 22 more
  • App crashes when loading MIDI files
  • Hammer sound too loud even at lowest settings
  • Low C1 note out of tune
  • Electric Grand F4 note sample start time issue
  • Electric Grand G#4, D5 notes have noise on attack
  • Plugin not loading properly in hosts
  • AUv3 interface scaled back
  • Exporting to WAV results in silence
  • App crashes during export/freeze
  • Japanese Grand has low volume
  • Colossus Concert Grand needs improvement
  • G1 key has loud, annoying noise
  • B flat 3 key sounds too flat
  • Crashing in AU mode
  • Bass notes drop out when holding damper pedal
  • Voice stealing makes piano perform unacceptably
  • Bass is muddy in Concert Grand
  • Note 26 (Bb2) sounds like an upright
  • Subtle nuance playing is nearly impossible
  • App crashes or freezes randomly
  • MIDI player doesn't work with GarageBand
  • Audio Units extension terminates unexpectedly

Requested features

14 requests
  • Add chorus effect
  • Global EQ
  • Release control
  • Tap tempo for modulation speed
  • Save velocity curves
Show 9 more
  • More intuitive UI
  • Zoom function for keys
  • Add release samples
  • MIDI export/import
  • Three-band EQ
  • Layering sounds on multiple MIDI keyboards
  • Ability to save setups
  • Improve AUv3 functionality
  • Add more piano models

MIDIculous Learning Software

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Colossus Piano

One-time9
  • Vintage Upright$9.99
  • Historic S Grand$9.99
  • Pianino$12.99
Show 6 more
  • Japanese Grand$12.99
  • Classic B Grand$15.99
  • Upright Piano$19.99
  • Colossus E-Piano Set$19.99
  • Baby Grand Piano$26.99
  • Colossus Concert Grand$49.99
2 purchases

MIDIculous Learning Software

One-time2
  • MiDIculous Signature Keys$9.99
  • Pro Expansion$12.99

Questions

Is Colossus Piano free?
Colossus Piano is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MIDIculous Learning Software free?
MIDIculous Learning Software is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Colossus Piano or MIDIculous Learning Software have ads?
Neither Colossus Piano nor MIDIculous Learning Software shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Colossus Piano or MIDIculous Learning Software?
Colossus Piano ships an update every 2 months, and MIDIculous Learning Software every 7 months. Most recently, Colossus Piano was updated on October 18, 2026 and MIDIculous Learning Software on October 3, 2026.

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