apeMatrix vs Xequence AU | Keys
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
apeMatrix
This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.
- Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
- MIDI and audio routing
- Control Manager for parameter modulation
- Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting
- MIDI Patch-bay for routing
- High-quality audio processing
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Holding true to the standard of apeSoft, apeMatrix continues to push the limits of possibilities in music creation. Automating almost every aspect of linked control, apeMatrix brings all your creation tools together and links them both in MIDI and audio. Letting you inject all your favorite FX both AU and IAA in a very easy and intuitive way. apeMatrix can also assign its Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). apeMatrix offers 10 slots on each of the three Matrix grids with 2 bus slots on each grid that make it possible to interconnect all 3 Matrix. The MIDI Patch-bay also offers endless possibilities for MIDI routing and control in a similar grid design for both internal and external MIDI control. So you can send and receive MIDI and have ultimate control over where it’s routed. Each Audio Connection on the grid has its own gain control. Just tap on the node and drag will give you the full range of volume control. Or use Mixer to controls the RAU output and automate them using apeSoft’s unique Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). Turn each slot on or off by a control switch on the Matrix or MIDI control. Control output, pan, mute and solo of each slot and Master output of each Matrix with the built in mixer control or MIDI control. Route your sounds through all a series of FX or route multiple sounds through the very some FX. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. FEATURES High quality audio up to 32-bit 96kHz Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio Supports multi-channel inputs/outputs audio interfaces Supports Audio Unit Multi-bus input/output (side-chaining) 3 Matrix Audio 3 MIDI Matrix 10 Open Slots per Matrix (hosts up to 30 plugins) 2 Audio Bus Slots per Matrix 2 MIDI Bus Slots per Matrix MIDI Monitor Multi-Channel Audio Route AudioUnit Audio Send Receive Buses MIDI Scale Filtering, Transpose etc… Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all Built-In Parameters Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins) Presets Manager and Morphing Pad Save Custom AUv3 Presets Session Saving/Load Save/Load View’s Frame in Presets Transport to sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA Integrated and configurable MIDI keyboard with scales Connections output and panning controls Post Dynamic Processor Audiobus and Inter-Audio App (Sender and Fx) Audiobus state saving Ableton Link Precise MIDI Clock In/Out AudioShare Compatible AudioCopy Compatible MIDI Manager: Virtual Midi and Network, 14 bit NRPN controllers File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy etc… Variable Sampling Rate (up to 96 kHz) Variable Buffering Size Variable UI Color Schemes BUILT-IN AUv3 (compatibles with other audio hosts) Configurable Sampler with scrub, playable via MIDI V-Meters Oscilloscope/Spectralscope Sender/Receiver (up to 16 buses) Send MIDI messages with LFO Gain/Pan
Xequence AU | Keys
This app functions as a versatile MIDI keyboard controller within AUv3 hosts, offering expressive playing modes and customizable controllers. It's designed for music production enthusiasts to enhance their workflow with a responsive and resource-efficient interface.
- Scale-aware single or dual keyboard
- Adjustable key width and glide mode
- Velocity emulation
- Configurable MIDI CC touch ribbons
- Special controller modes (MPE-like)
- AU presets and state saving
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IMPORTANT: This app is targeted at music production enthusiasts and requires an AUv3 Audio Unit Host to run! It does not do ANYTHING on its own! Xequence AU | Keys is a comprehensive and expressive keyboard controller for use inside AU (Audio Unit) hosts like AUM, Cubasis, apeMatrix, etc. It features the same, widely acclaimed keyboard that users of Xequence, our advanced MIDI workstation, have grown to love. HIGHLIGHTS: - Fully scale-aware, very playable single or dual keyboard - Extremely fast and light on resources - Over 70 scales in 10 categories included - Freely adjustable key width - "Glide" mode for triggering keys by sliding between them - Velocity emulation (via vertical position on key) - Automatically adapts to nearly any plugin window size or aspect ratio - Unlimited instances - Full support for AU presets (and state saving / restoration) in the host - Configurable keyboard color and MIDI channel CONTROLLERS: - Any number of MIDI CCs (controllers) can be freely configured and shown as touch ribbons next to the keyboard - A number of standard controller numbers (such as 74 = Cutoff, 7 = Volume etc.) are included and can be set with a single tap SPECIAL CONTROLLER MODES: The following special modes can be set per controller and give an "MPE-like" feel while being compatible with non-MPE synths: - DEVICE ROTATION - controller moves according to device rotation - GATE - controller can be set to a default position, and then tapped anywhere to toggle it to that position and back (think "Trance gates" when used with eg. CC 7 / Volume) - KEY POSITION - controller moves when touching a keyboard key, depending on vertical position - KEY SLIDE - controller moves along when one or more fingers are moved vertically while holding any number of keys - The above modes can also be combined - Note that this is NOT MPE - controllers are always sent for all notes at once, not per individual note! Please report any issues via our website, we provide quick and comprehensive support!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Xequence AU | Keys at $2.99 against apeMatrix's $14.99. Xequence AU | Keys also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (83% vs 73%). apeMatrix's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (84 vs 19). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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
apeMatrix costs $14.99 and Xequence AU | Keys $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Xequence AU | Keys holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of apeMatrix's written reviews are positive against 83% of Xequence AU | Keys's.
apeMatrix ships an update monthly, Xequence AU | Keys every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | apeMatrix | Xequence AU | Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (84 ratings) | 4.9 (19 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 84 — better | 19 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | apeSoft | Alexander Ewering |
Customer experience
apeMatrix
Xequence AU | Keys
In-app purchases
apeMatrix
No in-app purchases
Xequence AU | Keys
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is apeMatrix free?
Is Xequence AU | Keys free?
Which has better reviews, apeMatrix or Xequence AU | Keys?
Do apeMatrix or Xequence AU | Keys have ads?
Which is updated more often, apeMatrix or Xequence AU | Keys?
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