6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker vs MidiStep
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker
Create electronic music with a 6-track drum synthesizer and sequencer. Shape unique sounds, build complex rhythms, and apply effects. Export your creations or sync with other music apps.
- 6-track drum synthesizer
- Step sequencer with random fill
- Independent FX per track
- Ableton Link and IAA support
- Parameter locking
- Export to AudioShare, Email, iTunes
- Live control and pattern switching
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A 6 track drum machine synthesiser & sequencer for creating beats, electro rhythms or wacky synth blips. Create sounds like the famous TR808 and 606 drum machines. Synthesizer controls shape each sound on each track to various electro synth drum & percussion sounds. Create drum patterns using step edit as on various drum synthesisers, drum machines & sequencers or can be generated randomly. Independent FX, GarageBand routing, Ableton Link, IAA, & Audiobus 3 support. Parameter Set to step per track manually or while playing. Press P-Set to enter mode (Flashing). turn dials, this stores on that current step. Double tap the P-Set to enter erase mode. Any dial turned will erase all that dials settings for the whole track. Easily capture what you hear, export to AudioShare, Audio-Copy, Email or iTunes Shared Folder Check out the "How to" video demo on Youtube https://youtu.be/in4V0P6nigM DRUM SYNTHESIS: 3 Filters: Low, High & Band Pass + resonance & side-pass high pass level, envelope amount & decay time. Adjust pitch VCA decay time + PUNCH for extra kick velocity. Extra attack for track 1 option. Create almost any drum synth sound SEQUENCER: Swing/groove Dynamics. Each step per track can also have a variable dynamics level (double tap) to accentuate pitch, filter or amplitude. RANDOM FILL: From zero to 100 percent this will create random non accentuated steps in mealtime so you can create free flowing dynamic drum beats sequences. Adjust number of steps & offsets in each track to create complex poly rhythms INIT starts over with a blank pattern. Find this in Settings/System. BPM control +/-1 or double tap for +/-5 increments. MOD SECTION: LFO low pass CUT-OFF & PITCH. The pitch level can give a vintage effect subtly detuning with low SPEED or faster for ring modulated effect. Trig forces reset on step to provide pitch or filter envelope. CHAIN MODE: Press P+1, P+2, P+3 for automatically switching to next 1,2, or 3 patterns at each loop end. Changing pattern manually will reset. Drum step edits cant be made during this mode. LIVE CONTROL feature: Use the pattern play section for the following cool tricks: [Sequence/Control/Pattern]: Instantly switch to a saved sequence while playing. Keys correspond to available programs, starting from the current program thats loaded (key 1 is your current program, key 2 is current program+1 etc). Highlighted keys show stored programs. Blue tint shows if your are in Pattern Play still. This is great for building up live tracks and can be cut instantly like DJ cross-fade. With P-Lock enabled, loading patterns locks parameters & just loads the patterns. EFFECTS (Global/master are in yellow.) OVERDRIVE. SPRING REVERB ECHO tempo synced with feedback & wetness. MIXER section: fade each track, mute/ unmute Bass boost and pan on each track SYNCING Ableton Link syncs with Link apps .Enable for precise timing without syncing. Press LINK button at the bottom for settings. You can link to our other apps like 2XB303 MIDI sync with External, Virtual or Audiobus. 6X806 can be master or slave. ( any simple class-compliant USB should work but some may need to be power assisted) Virtual MIDI In is always on. If you send from another app AND receive MIDI clock then you will be receiving both MIDI CLOCKS. While Ableton Link is enabled you can send clock. This means you can use one app to control 6X806 with external hardware MIDI note data is sent out on each channel AUDIO Record a fixed length, default to 32 steps. Can be changed in settings. Arming sampling with CAPTURE (flashing). Starts at counter 1 (ON). PLAY CAP to listen to your sample loop. Audio can be routed via IAA (Inter App Audio) into apps like Apple's Garageband. Garageband will also sync your sequence for excellent multi-track recording. Audiobus 3. Route audio to mix or record into other applications To save you press "Save To", it then flashes. Now choose destination ("!" means its occupied ) then press "Save All" to confirm.
MidiStep
Create complex rhythms and generative music with a powerful step sequencer. Control randomization for notes, chords, velocity, and more to generate unique, ever-changing musical patterns. Automate synth parameters with independent modulation lanes.
- User-controlled randomization for musical parameters
- Polyphonic chord playback per step
- Variable step sequence lengths
- Multiple linked patterns
- 8 independent modulation lanes
- Real-time modification of randomization
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MidiStep is a powerful and inspirational polyphonic step sequencer, and a dream for lovers of complex rhythms and generative music creation tools. The program uses sophisticated, user-controlled randomization to generate notes with a variety of parameters, including note values, note length, chords, patterns, velocity, gate, dividers, repeats, swing, and many more. You have complete control over what, when, and how much is randomized on a step-by-step basis. You can easily create patterns that have little to no variation, patterns that maintain a recognizable pattern but have some degree of variations to the notes, velocity, etc., all the way to patterns with extreme randomness with every pass – the degree of randomization is completely under your control for every parameter and for every step of a pattern. Features include per-step polyphonic chord playback, variable step sequence lengths for all parameters such as pitch, octave, velocity, note duration, beat divisions etc, and the capability to create multiple patterns which can be linked together in various ways. MidiStep also features 8 additional modulation lanes with independent play speeds. These can be used to automate parameters within your favourite synths. MidiStep uses sophisticated randomization settings for note values, note lengths, velocity, gate, dividers, repeats, swing, pitch bend and modulation. In addition, by setting different cycle lengths, step skips, step repeats, jumps, rewinds, cursor positions, pattern jumps, octave shifts, and many other parameters, you can create an infinite number of non-repeating sequences. The degree and types of randomizations for each of these parameters is up to you! Aleatoric music, also known as chance music, allows you to create patterns and entire compositions with user-controlled randomisation. The word 'aleatory' is derived from the Latin word 'alea' meaning dice. MidiStep allows you to turn on/off randomisation on a stepwise basis for almost all parameters, set the percent probability that the randomisation will occur, set min/max values, set exactly which parameters will be randomized, etc. The exact realization of the music will vary with each pass of the sequence, resulting in unique and captivating aleatoric renditions. All randomization controls can be modified in real-time. Features include: •Each of the 16 sequences can have unlimited types and degrees of randomness that you control. •8 independent sequencer lanes: Notes, Chords, Octaves, Velocity, Gate, Divider, Repeat, Delay. •8 independent Modulation sequencer lanes. •16 Patterns and 4 types of pattern switching, independent for each pattern. •Up to 16 steps per pattern, 16 patterns, and 16 cycles per pattern for a maximum sequence length of 4096 notes. •Independent sequencer length (1–16 steps) for each of the 16 lanes. •A Master step cursor independent of all other lanes. •Independent randomization parameters for each of the 16 lanes, with probability, min/max values, default values, skips, repeats, etc. •Unlimited variety of sequences, from slight variation to wildly different sequences on every pass. •126 scales and 126 chords – in every key, along with a scale and chord editor for you to create your own. •Chord complexity for 2–8 note chords, with notes specified or randomly generated. •Chord Articulation options – Block chords, Strum up/down, Arp up/down – with accent, length, speed, and random note order parameters. •Master lane and Chord lane previews. •Pattern Creator - automatic melody, chord, bass and drum backing. •Auto-scroll chord lane. •7-octave range for notes and chords (from C1–C8), with static and random octave offsets. •11 note lengths – from 1/32 note to 4 full measures, plus ties across notes, rests, repeated notes, and delays. •Two types of Swing with adjustable offset. •Humanize settings for note velocity and note timing. •Transposition of sequences using a keyboard – mono for single notes, and poly for chords.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker at $2.99 against MidiStep's $14.99. 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). MidiStep's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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
6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker costs $2.99 and MidiStep $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MidiStep holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker's written reviews are positive against 81% of MidiStep's.
6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker ships an update every 4 days, MidiStep every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker | MidiStep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (25 ratings) | 4.8 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews | 81.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 25 | 25 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rob Wilmot | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker
MidiStep
In-app purchases
6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker
No in-app purchases
MidiStep
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker free?
Is MidiStep free?
Which has better reviews, 6X806 Drum Synth Loop Maker or MidiStep?
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