SpaceCraft Granular Synth vs MIDI Layers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SpaceCraft Granular Synth
Transform any sound into a playable musical instrument using granular synthesis. Create unique textures, soundscapes, and rhythms from your voice, ambient noise, or built-in samples. Record audio, load files, and save your sonic creations.
- Granular synthesis engine
- Record audio via microphone
- Load audio files from storage
- Create textures and soundscapes
- Arpeggiated rhythm generation
- Save and recall presets
- MIDI and MPE support
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With SpaceCraft (MIDI, MPE, AUv3, IAA) you can transform any sound into a playable musical instrument via Granular Synthesis. You can create textures, soundscapes and arpeggiated rhythms from sounds such as your voice, ambient noise or the high quality built-in audio samples. Tap the 'Input' button (top left) to record audio via your device's microphone or load a file from your device (access* to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, Audioshare*** etc.). Experiment with turning everyday sounds into unusual instruments. Save your creations and corresponding samples via presets. Also, tap the 'rec' button (top right) to record your performance (maximum 20 minutes). This is used in standalone only as the AUv3 host can be used to record the output. Supports AUv3 and IAA (recommended to use in the effects slot to allow live input audio recording). * NOT COMPATIBLE with GarageBand as AUv3 (but can be loaded as Inter App Audio (IAA) or via an effects insert in the GarageBand sampler, with no MIDI capability) ** iOS11 and above provides equivalent folder access to the built-in iOS 'Files' app. Note that iOS10 and below has limited access to folders (no Audioshare folder access for iOS10 and below) *** Access to Audioshare files is done via the iOS files app
MIDI Layers
This app allows musicians to intelligently route MIDI data, enabling complex keyboard splits, layered instruments, and seamless scene switching for live performances. Create up to 12 scenes with numerous layers, each with customizable MIDI output and note remapping.
- Up to 127 layers per scene
- 12 scenes per preset
- 16 output ports and channels
- Remote scene switching
- Layer mutes and mute groups
- Scales per scene
- Per-layer velocity curves
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MIDI Layers is an AUv3 MIDI plugin designed to allow sophisticated routing of MIDI data in hosts such as AUM or Cubasis. Have you ever wanted to play multiple instruments from a single master keyboard during a live performance? Would you like to be able to set up keyboard splits, crossfade layers or create an ensemble of layered instruments? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then MIDI Layers may be your solution. Layers allows you to create up to 12 scenes, each with up to 127 layers, spanning your entire master keyboard. These scenes allow you to seamlessly switch between various layer mappings at any time during a performance. Each layer controls the MIDI output, which can be routed to one of MIDI Layers 16 output ports and 16 channels. So if you have 5 layers in your scene, each layer is able to divert MIDI key input to 5 destinations, allowing you to control 5 instruments from one master keyboard. Layers can overlap, meaning you can create an ensemble of two or more instruments. Layers can also have cross fades so that you can fade from one instrument to another across a specified range. You can also control the velocity curves of a layer if you need to emphasize note velocity at a certain set of octaves. Each layer can also be remapped so that you can target a different key range on the destination instrument. This allows you to have several single note layers that can target specific drum machine samples for instance. You can assign a song per scene, or have several scenes containing parts of the same song. Switching scenes is simple, using the on screen scene buttons, via AU parameters, or you can even add a special control layer to a scene which can then be triggered via your master keyboard. It is also possible to assign a Program Changes to a layer. When you switch scenes, each layer can fire off its own program change to your destination instruments. Each scene can be assigned its own scale, which enables you to play using only the white notes so say goodbye to wrong notes. Finally, layers can be assigned to mute groups, allowing you to quickly turn on/off groups of layers with a single key or button press. Features: ○ Up to 127 layers per scene. ○ 12 scenes per preset. ○ Supports 16 output ports and 16 channels. ○ Remote switching of scenes using MIDI or AU. ○ Supports layer mutes and mute groups. ○ Named scenes with large scene selection mode. ○ Supports scales per scene which can be played using white notes only. ○ Each layer can define a Program Change that is sent when scenes are switched. ○ Supports per layer velocity curve. ○ Supports per layer remapping of notes on output. ○ Each layer can have a cross fade settings assigned. ○ Definable Master Keyboard size (6, 7, 8 or 10 octave). ○ Scene and mute control layers. ○ Provides default custom layouts. Please Note: This product will not work with GarageBand since it cannot load AUv3 MIDI plugins.
Screenshots
Verdict
SpaceCraft Granular Synth and MIDI Layers both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of SpaceCraft Granular Synth's written reviews are positive against 57% of MIDI Layers's. SpaceCraft Granular Synth also leads on price ($9.99 vs $12.99) and ratings volume (151 vs 13). On rating, 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
SpaceCraft Granular Synth costs $9.99 and MIDI Layers $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SpaceCraft Granular Synth against 4.7 for MIDI Layers. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SpaceCraft Granular Synth has 151 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of SpaceCraft Granular Synth's written reviews are positive against 57% of MIDI Layers's.
SpaceCraft Granular Synth ships an update every 2 weeks, MIDI Layers fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SpaceCraft Granular Synth | MIDI Layers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (151 ratings) | 4.7 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 86.4% of reviews — better | 57.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 151 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #192 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 13 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 103 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Watt | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
SpaceCraft Granular Synth
MIDI Layers
Bugs and requests
SpaceCraft Granular Synth
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes when loading files from nested Dropbox folders
- Audio glitches and heavy crackling on older iPad models
- Unexpected background audio drone when app not in use
- AudioShare compatibility issues across different iOS versions
- App resets to factory settings on reopening
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- Live sampling mode latency and unintuitive behavior
- Red playhead sometimes extends beyond range selector
- Inconsistent audio input behavior in live sampling
- No audio output in DAW hosts on some iOS versions
- Crashes when multiple instances launched simultaneously
- File import failures on iOS 9 and 10
- Dropbox access limited to iCloud only on some devices
- Recording duration limitations on iPhone (1 minute vs advertised 20 minutes)
Requested features
20 requests- Background audio playback support
- Preset and project state saving functionality
- Faster and more flexible LFO with additional waveforms
- Wider grain selection windows for precise control
- Built-in delay effect
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- Amplitude envelopes for each oscillator
- Panning and multi-channel routing options
- Sample name display in UI
- Ableton Link support
- Rest notes in sequencer via double-tap
- Ability to feed synth output to another synth in real-time
- More reverb length options
- CC automation recording in DAWs
- Bluetooth MIDI support
- Custom color scheme options
- Broader grain readout curve options
- Wider parameter control ranges
- True IAA instrument support (not just effect)
- Streamlined file import and management
- More included presets
MIDI Layers
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SpaceCraft Granular Synth
No in-app purchases
MIDI Layers
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SpaceCraft Granular Synth free?
Is MIDI Layers free?
Which has better reviews, SpaceCraft Granular Synth or MIDI Layers?
Do SpaceCraft Granular Synth or MIDI Layers have ads?
Which is updated more often, SpaceCraft Granular Synth or MIDI Layers?
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