Comparison

Pixel Music vs Scale and SticKey

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Music

Transform your favorite images into unique musical compositions. This app uses pixel data to control pitch, duration, and velocity, allowing you to create melodies and rhythms by interacting with visuals. Explore various traversal methods and image data types for diverse sonic results.

Highlights
  • Pixels control pitch, velocity, and note duration
  • Play multiple images simultaneously
  • AUv3 support with MIDI
  • Ableton Link compatible
  • Customizable image traversal and data mapping
  • Internal synth with effects
  • Save and load app states
Features
Read full description

Pixel Music is a music sequencer based on images. Take an image you love and start playing. Overview ◦ Pixels turn into pitch, velocity, and note durations ◦ Play multiple images at the same time, in sync ◦ Choose what parts of the image will be played and at what timing ◦ Tap on the image and record yourself playing alongside the sequencer Features ◦ AUv3 with preset and MIDI support ◦ Ableton Link compatible ◦ Control sequencer timing and configuration ◦ Program different step lengths in patterns and play these across your images with Verses ◦ Choose between RGB, Luminance, Hue, or Saturation data to control pitch, velocity, or note duration ◦ Choose how the image is traversed, between Left -> Right, Top -> Down, or Circular. Select randomness factor in image traversal ◦ Choose recorded loop length and quantization settings ◦ Internal Synth with delay and reverb effects ◦ Send MIDI to external synths when used as AUv3. Each image you add has a separate MIDI channel exposed in the AU host ◦ Save and Load app states and configurations ◦ Dark mode support AU Hosts Compatibility ◦ Pixel Music works best with AUM, Audiobus, or ApeMatrix ◦ Pixel Music does NOT support Logic Pro or Garage Band Have fun with it.

About

Scale and SticKey

This app simplifies music theory by visualizing concepts like modes, scales, and chords through an interactive 'Note Team' system. Users can explore different musical structures, listen to scales and progressions, and understand key signatures and tonal centers.

Highlights
  • Interactive Note Team (TM) system
  • Visualizes modes, key signatures, scales, and chords
  • Explore different scale types (pentatonic, blues, bebop)
  • Listen to scales and chord progressions
  • Understand tonal centers and key names
  • Play individual Roman numeral chords
Features
Read full description

Scale and SticKey makes understanding music theory simple and enjoyable by synthesizing 5 theoretical concepts (modes, key signatures, scales, chord progressions, and solfa) into the concept of building a Note Team (TM). To get started (clicking the help '?' icon in the app menu will walk you through these steps): 1. Spin the solfa wheel or drag the solfa slider to put 'do' on a new position. 2. Drag the players around the outside of the wheel so that every player lines up with one of the seven solfa positions. (If you get stuck, click the central circle with the '?' to have the app move the players for you.) 3. Once every player is on a solfa position, you have formed a Note Team (TM)! The team captain has an arrow pointing at his solfa symbol, the key signature is shown in the center of the wheel, and the key is named at the top of the screen. 4. To change modes, either double-click on a new solfa name or use the arrows under the key name at the top of the screen. Each time you change modes, you are changing the tonal center (or tonic), which means your team has a new captain. The key name always begins with the name of the team captain. 5. Listen to the scales by clicking the play arrow under the key name. Change the type of scale by selecting a new icon under the key name. Options include: 7-note (heptatonic), 5-note(pentatonic), 6-note (blues), 8-note (bebop) and raised 7th (harmonic or melodic minor) scales. 6. Listen to chord progressions by clicking the arrow under the chord progression. Change the progression style by selecting a new icon under the chord progression, or switch to a new progression using the previous / next arrows next to the play button. 7. Switch to the chords view in the menu to play individual Roman numeral chords. 8.Return all elements to their original positions by clicking the reset button in the menu.

Screenshots

Pixel Music4 screens
Scale and SticKey3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Scale and SticKey at 5.0 against Pixel Music's 4.6. Scale and SticKey also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). Pixel Music's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pixel Music costs $5.99 and Scale and SticKey $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scale and SticKey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Music has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Pixel Music's written reviews are positive against 100% of Scale and SticKey's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixel Music ships an update every 8 months, Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pixel Music versus Scale and SticKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel MusicScale and SticKey
Price$5.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.6 (7 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrei AntonescuLaura Gabrielson

Customer experience

Pixel Music

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

Scale and SticKey

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pixel Music

No in-app purchases

None

Scale and SticKey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixel Music free?
Pixel Music costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scale and SticKey free?
Scale and SticKey costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey?
Scale and SticKey is rated higher. Pixel Music averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Scale and SticKey averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey have ads?
Neither Pixel Music nor Scale and SticKey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey?
Pixel Music ships an update every 8 months, and Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pixel Music was updated on November 2, 2026 and Scale and SticKey on November 3, 2026.

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