Comparison

Ribn vs ChordGen

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

Head to head
About

Ribn

This app provides a unique MIDI controller experience with 8 assignable ribbons. It allows you to record and loop finger movements, adding organic modulation to synthesizers and effects. Control various MIDI-responsive gear, from hardware synths to software instruments.

Highlights
  • 8 MIDI CC ribbon pads
  • Record and loop finger movement
  • Configurable MIDI channel and CC# per ribbon
  • Turn off looping for regular slider functionality
  • Switch between 3 sets of configurations with presets
  • MIDI sending in background
  • iPad landscape mode
Features
Read full description

Ribn is a MIDI controller with 8 assignable ribbons. What makes Ribn unique is its ability to record and loop your finger movement. This allows you to add organic repeating modulation to your synths and effects, kind of like complex LFOs. You can assign a unique MIDI channel and CC# to each ribbon. As long as your gear responds to MIDI CC messages you will be able to control it with Ribn. ** FEATURES ** • 8 MIDI CC ribbon pads • Add modulation to your MIDI hardware synths, effects, eurorack modulars, drum machines, etc. • Configurable MIDI channel and CC# per ribbon • You can name each ribbon to help you identify what parameter it's controlling • Turn off looping on individual ribbons to turn them into regular sliders • Choose any number of ribbons between 1 and 8 • Full screen mode (removes navigation bar to help you focus) • Switch between 3 sets of configurations using presets • MIDI sending works while the app is in the background • iPad landscape mode • Select multiple MIDI outputs • Ribbons record and loop your finger movement • Use a wired MIDI interface, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi • All settings are saved automatically • Works with external hardware as well as other iOS synths • Works on iPhone (including iPhone X) and iPad starting with iOS 10 ** EXAMPLE USES ** • Control hardware MIDI synths parameters like the filter cutoff frequency, resonance, oscillator octave, etc. • Control any soft synth in Ableton Live (or your favorite DAW) by connecting your iOS device to your Mac via Wi-Fi and choosing "Session 1" as the MIDI output in Ribn. • Control your Eurorack modules by running Ribn through a MIDI to CV converter. • Control other iOS synths like the Moog Model 15 or Arturia iSEM. • Control drum machines and effects. For example, try controlling the room size of a reverb effect unit with a looping ribbon or the snappiness of a snare drum on a drum machine. The possibilities are endless. • Daisy chain your MIDI hardware using MIDI Thru ports and assign each ribbon to a different MIDI channel. This way you can control more than one piece of hardware at a time. For example, you can assign the first 4 ribbons to a synth and the last 4 to an effect unit. ** HOW IT WORKS ** • Connect your MIDI gear (like a synth) to your iOS device using a MIDI interface (wired or bluetooth) • Launch Ribn and select your MIDI interface in the settings page. • Find out which CC# and MIDI channel your gear responds to (usually at the end of the manual) and enter this information in RIbn's edit view. • Slide your finger on a ribbon to send CC values and control the parameters on your MIDI gear. ** WHAT IS MIDI AND CC? ** • MIDI is just the way electronic musical instruments talk to each other. • CC (Continuous Controller) is just a way to control various parameters using MIDI. For example, a synth's filter cutoff frequency can be controlled using a MIDI CC signal. ** NOTE ** • Ribn is a MIDI controller and doesn't produce any sounds. To use Ribn you must connect it to a device that responds to MIDI CC signals (check your gear's manual to be sure). • Ribn doesn't send note data, it only sends CC signals (you can't play melodies with it, but you can control various parameters like synthesizer filters, or effects settings). • To connect your iOS device to MIDI gear you will need to buy a MIDI interface. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. Alternatively, you can connect to your Mac over Wi-Fi and control software synths that way. This setup is a little more complex but totally doable (I've tested controlling Ableton Live plugins over Wi-Fi with Ribn and it worked perfectly). • Audiobus and AUv3 are not supported at this time. However, you can still control other iOS synths by routing the internal MIDI ports and having Ribn run in the background.

About

ChordGen

Generate chords for any stringed instrument with custom tunings. This universal chord dictionary is ideal for beginners, songwriters, and musicians seeking new sounds. Easily search for specific chords and explore variations.

Highlights
  • Generate any chord
  • Select any instrument
  • Choose any tuning
  • Generate chords with bass notes
  • Text search system
  • Universal chord dictionary
Features
Read full description

Chords for any instrument, in any tuning. ChordGen is a chord generator and dictionary for fretted string instruments. Explore chords, try different tunings, and discover new ways to play, practice, and compose. Choose an instrument and tuning to see chord voicings directly on the fretboard. You can also create custom instruments and tunings to go beyond traditional setups. Explore chords Generate chords and see exactly how to play them. Quickly search for the chord you need and browse different voicings, including slash chords such as C/B. Instruments and tunings Use a range of fretted string instruments, change their tunings, or build your own configurations. Experiment with new combinations and discover different sounds. Create and organize chord sheets Create your own chord sheets or start from a chord-sheet link on the web. Add and organize chords, keep your songs together, and check each voicing while you play or work on a composition. Choose the voicing you want for any chord, or let ChordGen find suitable positions for the remaining chords based on the selected instrument and tuning. Whether you are learning an instrument, exploring an alternate tuning, studying harmony, playing your songs, or composing, ChordGen gives you a simple and flexible way to work with chords.

Screenshots

Ribn4 screens
ChordGen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ChordGen at Free against Ribn's $3.99. ChordGen also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Ribn's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (30 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases 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

ChordGen is free to download; Ribn costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChordGen holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ribn has 30 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ribn ships an update every 3 days, ChordGen every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ribn versus ChordGen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRibnChordGen
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (30 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings30 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNebojsa PetrovicGustavo Sore

Customer experience

Ribn

All ratings30 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%

ChordGen

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ribn

No in-app purchases

None

ChordGen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ribn free?
Ribn costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChordGen free?
ChordGen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ribn or ChordGen?
ChordGen is rated higher. Ribn averages 4.8 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while ChordGen averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Ribn or ChordGen have ads?
Neither Ribn nor ChordGen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ribn or ChordGen?
Ribn ships an update every 3 days, and ChordGen every 12 months. Most recently, Ribn was updated on October 16, 2026 and ChordGen on October 6, 2026.

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