KeyStage vs TB Equalizer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
KeyStage
This app acts as a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer for keyboard players. It allows simultaneous control of multiple hardware and software instruments via MIDI, with advanced mapping, scripting, and audio mixing capabilities.
- Connect multiple MIDI controllers to instruments
- Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI processors
- Create complex keyboard splits and layers
- Advanced MIDI mapping and scripting
- Audio mixer with volume and pan control
- Play and automate audio files
- View PDF and JPG files
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TRY THE FREE LITE VERSION: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keystage-lite/id1437899019 KeyStage is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer app designed mainly for keyboard players. With KeyStage, you can simultaneously control any number of hardware and software instruments using any number of MIDI controllers in an organized way. Each project consists of sections (which corresponds to sections of a song). In each section you can change sounds and sound parameters of connected instruments, create complex splits and layers of your keyboard(s), change the functionalities of sliders/knobs/pedals of your MIDI controllers by creating advanced MIDI mappings, write your own scripts, view PDF and JPG files (e.g. sheet music) and lyrics, and much more. LIST OF FEATURES • Connect any number of MIDI controller to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks. • Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors. • Assign any region of your keyboard(s) to any connected instrument. • Change velocity curve and velocity limits, and create velocity splits and layers. • Transpose notes and restrict notes to any key using pitch shifter. • Create mixer units to combine audio signals, turning KeyStage into an audio mixer. • With the player units, you can play wav, mp3, and m4a files, add marker points, automate actions (like play, stop, move to a marker etc.) using custom translators, or trigger certain events (like changing sections) when the player reaches a certain marker. • Input units allows you to use the microphone input, or the hardware inputs of a connected audio interface. • The Main Mixer view allows you to control volume levels and pans of all tracks, connect effect units, and connect units to mixer units. • Create instrument presets to easily change sounds of instruments by choosing patch names from patch lists. • KeyStage can also import Cubase Patch Scripts to automatically create instrument presets for your MIDI instruments. • KeyStage automatically detects new MIDI connections and recommends matching instrument presets from a database. • Simulate auto-sustain on any connected instrument. • KeyStage has a multi-track recorder, which lets you record any number of tracks simultaneously. • Change or filter any MIDI signal using custom translators. Use “Relative Control” switch to smoothly change the parameters of your instruments without any jumps. • Use XY control unit to send control change and pitch bend messages to any connected MIDI instrument. • Create setlists, quick access all the songs in a setlist from a setlist bar, move to previous/next songs from live console or using external MIDI. • Create virtual MIDI inputs/outputs for KeyStage. • Use virtual MIDI piano controller to play connected instruments. • View PDF and JPG files. Link any page or region of any file to any section. • Backup and restore your songs and global properties to Dropbox. • Map special actions (like changing octaves, switching sections, changing pages of a PDF file) to notes and controllers using custom translators. • You can write your own scripts in custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Use MPE routing to control any MIDI instrument using MPE controllers like Seaboard. Use custom translators to change the functionalities of each MPE dimension. • KeyStage supports smooth transitions between sections. Pressed notes will continue to sound when you switch sections. You can access demo videos and video tutorials on my Youtube channel.
TB Equalizer
This professional audio plug-in offers advanced equalization with a dynamic workflow and warm, non-linear filters. It processes microphone input in real-time and integrates with AUv3-compatible host apps for music production.
- Mastering grade equalizer
- Integrated spectrum and dynamics analyzer
- Up to 16 filter sections
- Dynamic or static filter modes
- AI-powered equalization suggestions
- Oversampling and anti-aliasing
- Mid/side/left/right processing
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ToneBoosters Equalizer is a top-quality, professional, dynamic equalizer AUv3 plug-in with an unrivalled workflow, warm, non-linear filters and a gorgeous, functional user interface. The ToneBoosters Equalizer app captures the microphone (or external sound card) input and processes the signals in real time. To use it as a plug-in, use an AUv3-compatible host app such as Steinberg Cubasis, Apple Garageband, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, Auria, AUM, or others. ToneBoosters Equalizer will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins. Key features: - Mastering grade, professional equalizer - Integrated spectrum analyser and dynamics analyser - The same professional sound as the acclaimed desktop version - Up to 16 filter sections with a very wide range of filter types - Run each section in dynamic or static mode - Run each section with digital purity or with analog character and non-linearities - Oversampling and anti-aliasing modes to further improve sound quality - Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for content-dependent equalisation suggestions - Audition mode to easily identify problematic frequency areas - Automatic level make up function for every section - Zero latency mode for live operation - Lasso function to select and move multiple filters simultaneously - Piano display to select musical note frequencies - Output VU meters showing peak and RMS levels simultaneously - Undo/redo, and A/B comparison - Color themes for the user interface - Adjustable colours for every filter section - Mid, side, left, right processing for stereo input for each section - Max screen support in Garageband - Optimised for iPad and compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch - Efficient, low CPU usage What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TB Equalizer at $9.99 against KeyStage's $29.99. TB Equalizer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
KeyStage costs $29.99 and TB Equalizer $9.99 up front. KeyStage sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. TB Equalizer asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for KeyStage against 4.6 for TB Equalizer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 66 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of KeyStage's written reviews are positive against 85% of TB Equalizer's.
KeyStage ships an update every 3 months, TB Equalizer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | KeyStage | TB Equalizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (37 ratings) — better | 4.6 (66 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 91.0% of reviews — better | 85.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 37 | 66 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ali Gokturk | ToneBoosters |
Customer experience
KeyStage
TB Equalizer
Bugs and requests
KeyStage
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
TB Equalizer
Reported bugs
12 issues- Popup window for node selections cannot be disabled
- Plug-in not being read correctly
- Destroys mixed tracks
- App crashes LumaFusion as a plug-in
- Makes audio sound flat
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- Doesn't adjust any frequency
- Compatibility problem with Air Pod Pro
- Dynamic mode only works for taming frequency bands (compression), not boosting (expansion)
- LFO maximum frequency could be improved
- Instruments lose crystalline sound under 17Khz
- Only one channel side chain
- Need more bands for side chain
Requested features
14 requests- Disable popup window for node selections
- Larger UI for iPhones
- Fix plug-in reading issues
- Mouse compatibility
- Improve LFO maximum frequency
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- Add negative dynamic ratios
- Implement multi-band compressor
- Add a channel for ~5 bands side chain
- More documentation available
- Add brickwalls
- Fading spectrum on reverb app
- More Tonebooster AUs on iOS
- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard
In-app purchases
KeyStage
- Instrument UnitsFree
- Effect UnitsFree
- Player, Input, and Mixer UnitsFree
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- MIDI UnitsFree
- Small Tip$0.99
- Medium Tip$3.99
- Large Tip$9.99
TB Equalizer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is KeyStage free?
Is TB Equalizer free?
Which has better reviews, KeyStage or TB Equalizer?
Do KeyStage or TB Equalizer have ads?
Which is updated more often, KeyStage or TB Equalizer?
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