Comparison

KeyStage vs LAVA Tuner

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

LAVA Tuner

Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Lava Tuner is the world's most visual guitar tuner. Watch the lava rise and fall as you tune — red when you're flat or sharp, electric blue the moment you lock in. There's nothing else like it. Forget tiny needles and confusing displays. Lava Tuner's full-screen Lava Mode tells you instantly where your pitch is with a bold, intuitive visual that works at a glance — even on a dark stage. Features: Exclusive Lava Mode — a stunning full-screen visual tuner unlike anything on the App Store Classic Meter Mode for traditional needle-style tuning Real recorded guitar string samples for accurate pitch reference 12 tunings including Standard, Drop D, Open G, DADGAD, The Rain Song, and more Adjustable reference pitch from 390–490 Hz for alternative tuning standards Sharp and flat display modes Clean, premium design built for guitarists No ads. No subscriptions. No nonsense. Just tune. From The Art of Guitar — trusted by nearly one million subscribers worldwide.

Screenshots

LAVA Tuner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LAVA Tuner at $3.99 against KeyStage's $29.99. LAVA Tuner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). KeyStage's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

KeyStage costs $29.99 and LAVA Tuner $3.99 up front. KeyStage sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. LAVA Tuner asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KeyStage ships an update every 3 months, LAVA Tuner daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
KeyStage versus LAVA Tuner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKeyStageLAVA Tuner
Price$29.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.7 (37 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews91.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings37 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank—#191 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAli GokturkMike Geronsin

Bugs and requests

KeyStage

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Custom Translators Database not downloading
  • Snap to grid on wave files not lining up
  • Song switching via MIDI channels not working
  • App crashes when trying to use instruments Database (older iOS)
  • Occasional crashes
Show 2 more
  • Bluetooth MIDI requires another app
  • App still asks for more money to unlock features after purchase

Requested features

12 requests
  • More complete user manual with troubleshooting
  • Beginner's explanation of MIDI and AUv3
  • MIDI Clock In + Seq Sync
  • Global Tap Tempo
  • In-line FX bypass (MIDI mappable)
Show 7 more
  • Bus Mix Assignment for dynamic routing
  • Better integration with apps like Animoog
  • Midi FX like chord trigger, arpeggiator
  • Include sounds from common synth apps
  • Dark mode option
  • More comprehensive tutorials
  • Improve UI/UX

LAVA Tuner

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

KeyStage

One-time7
  • Instrument UnitsFree
  • Effect UnitsFree
  • Player, Input, and Mixer UnitsFree
Show 4 more
  • MIDI UnitsFree
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$3.99
  • Large Tip$9.99
None

LAVA Tuner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KeyStage free?
KeyStage costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is LAVA Tuner free?
LAVA Tuner costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do KeyStage or LAVA Tuner have ads?
Neither KeyStage nor LAVA Tuner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KeyStage or LAVA Tuner?
KeyStage ships an update every 3 months, and LAVA Tuner daily. Most recently, KeyStage was updated on October 21, 2026 and LAVA Tuner on October 6, 2026.

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