Pixel Music vs Scale and SticKey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Pixel Music | Scale and SticKey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrei Antonescu | Laura Gabrielson |
Customer experience
Pixel Music
Scale and SticKey
In-app purchases
Pixel Music
No in-app purchases
Scale and SticKey
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pixel Music free?
Is Scale and SticKey free?
Which has better reviews, Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey?
Do Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pixel Music or Scale and SticKey?
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