Comparison

MIDISpy vs OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer

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

Head to head
About

MIDISpy

This utility helps monitor MIDI connections across various platforms. It offers basic filtering for different MIDI message types and supports multiple connectivity options.

Highlights
  • Standalone and AUv3 support
  • Basic message filtering
  • Inter-App MIDI
  • USB MIDI
  • Bluetooth MIDI
  • Network MIDI
Features
Read full description

MIDISpy - MIDI Monitor A handy little utility for monitoring MIDI connectivity. Overview: - Standalone and AUv3 support - Basic Filters for Note, Control Change, Clock and SysEx messages Connectivity: - Inter-App MIDI - USB MIDI - Bluetooth MIDI - Network MIDI - AUv3 Requirements: - iOS9+

About

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer

This app is a flexible MIDI drum sequencer for iOS, offering up to 16 tracks with advanced modulation and sequencing. It can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin in DAWs, and is optimized for drums but also suitable for melodies. It requires iOS 12 or higher.

Highlights
  • 16 mutable tracks
  • AUv3 MIDI plugin
  • Standalone operation
  • Parameter locking
  • Smart randomizer
  • Chainable patterns
  • Custom time signatures
Features
Currently charting
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OCTACHRON is a very flexible iOS MIDI Drum Sequencer with up to 16 tracks and rich modulation and sequencing capabilities. It is optimized for drums, but also a lot of fun for basic melody lines. It works standalone or as AUv3 MIDI plugin in your favorite iOS DAW or mixer. (E.g. AUM, Logic Pro, Cubasis, Beatmaker, ApeMatrix, Groove Rider, Nanostudio and more (not GarageBand)) PRESS REVIEWS - “OCTACHRON is almost perfect now” (haQ attaQ) - “Favorite MIDI Sequencer - User's Choice Award 2022” (iOS AUv3 Facebook Group) - “An exciting MIDI sequencer with advanced features” (Synth Anatomy) - “Particularly the probability parameters are a lot of fun” (Amazona) !!! PLEASE NOTICE: OCTACHRON IS A MIDI SEQUENCER AND DOES NOT CREATE ANY SOUNDS OF ITS OWN !!! We believe in specialization. This is why OCTACHRON is focused on in depth MIDI sequencing. Control your favorite iOS drums like Blip Box, Ruismaker or MV08, synths like Zeeon or Model D or any other hard- or software MIDI instrument with it. iOS 12 or higher required. If used with a host software, this has to be compatible with the MIDI AudioUnit standard. OVERVIEW - Standalone or AUv3 AudioUnit - 1-32 steps with flexible clock divider and custom time signatures - Up to 16 mutable tracks with adjustable length - Up to 8 chainable patterns (song mode) - Swing with flexible swing grid - Save, restore and export your pattern presets, MIDI files and MIDI mapping presets - Parameter lock for velocity, ratcheting, offset, trigger probability, trigger condition, gate length and MIDI CC Modulation - Scales generator - MIDI control pattern selection, play and mute - Customizable mapping and mapping presets - Works iOS 12 upwards - Optimized for iPad and iPhone - Also compatible standalone with M Macs and Apple Vision Pro LOTS OF MAPPING PRESETS FOR POPULAR DRUM APPS AND HARDWARE - AR-909, Axxon 2 & Blip Box - Dadamachines Automat, Digistix & DM1/DM2/Drumlab - DrumComputer by Sugar Bytes - EGDR 606, 808 & 909 - FAC Drumkit, Hammerhead - Koala Sampler & Korg Gadgets - MV08 & NS2 Slate - Pure Acid Drums - Ruismaker & Ruismaker FM - SDS-X, Sitala & Splat-To-Clat - VA Drum SM, VA Drum2 808 & 909 - Vatanator - Korg Electribe EMX & ER-1 - Korg Volca Beats - MFB 522 - Roland MC-101 - Roland TR-08 - Roland TR-707 & 727 - Roland TR-808 - Roland TR-909 Also save, load and share your own MIDI mappings ... SMART RANDOMIZER - Smart pattern randomizer - Randomizer configuration per track - Trigger mutation per track - Mutation of internal and CC modulation parameters PARAMETER LOCK - Velocity and MIDI CC modulation - Multiple hits per step with ratcheting - Offset - Trigger probability - Trigger condition - Gate length - MIDI CC on every step - 8 CCs per Track - Mutation of Internal and CC Modulation TRACK SETTINGS - Assign MIDI notes to each track or use mapping presets - Individual track length to create polyrhythms LIVE PERFORMANCE FEATURES - Instant pattern switch option - Mute function per track to easily build up layers CONNECTIVIY - Sequence other standalone apps, AUv3 AudioUnits or external hardware via MIDI - OCTACHRON derives its timing from the host application, its internal clock or via AbletonLink - Trigger on different MIDI channels per track NO TRACKING - OCTACHRON works offline - No push notifications - No ads or in-app purchases - No tracking tools - Active on social media and in the mobile music community - Ongoing development and support and many new features on the list FOR MELODIC INSTRUMENTS GENERATE VARIOUS SCALES IN ALL KEYS OCTACHRON is optimized for drums. But it also supports standard melodic scales like major, minor and also more unusual ones like mixolydian, phrygian and more ...

Screenshots

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MIDISpy at Free against OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's $9.99. MIDISpy also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (104 vs 4). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

MIDISpy is free to download; OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer has 104 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MIDISpy's written reviews are positive against 81% of OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDISpy ships an update every 3 weeks, OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
MIDISpy versus OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDISpyOCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)4.5 (104 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews80.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4104 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#161 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKai ArasMarkus Teufel

Customer experience

MIDISpy

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer

All ratings104 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral8.7%
Negative10.6%

Bugs and requests

MIDISpy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer

Reported bugs

24 issues
  • Clock div issues reported
  • No sound output reported
  • Projects broken by update
  • Skipping first note on pattern change
  • GUI glitchy/choppy
Show 19 more
  • Crashing when loading custom mapping
  • Repeating notes unexpectedly
  • Kick muting in song mode
  • Controller faders not working perfectly
  • Unwanted random notes
  • MIDI recording not an option
  • Pattern change via MIDI difficult
  • GarageBand AUv3 compatibility issues
  • No sound output
  • Projects corrupted after update
  • Clock division not working
  • Difficulty changing patterns
  • MIDI note sequences cannot be recorded
  • Choppy visual experience
  • Random notes played with ThumbJam
  • Crash when loading saved custom mapping
  • Skipping first note when switching patterns
  • Repeating notes without repeat enabled
  • Kick drum mutes in song mode

Requested features

26 requests
  • Add touchable pads
  • Add MIDI Step record feature
  • Add triplets
  • Add MIDI file export and import
  • Add system-wide preset save and load
Show 21 more
  • Add randomization for different genres
  • Increase channel count to 16
  • Add more options for MIDI input for real-time control
  • Add MIDI learn button for each track
  • Add option to record drums live into the sequencer
  • Add more patterns
  • Follow mode for song mode GUI
  • Enhanced mod edit mode with inline editing
  • Ability to drag/select patterns in song mode to auto loop
  • App preset for Arturia iSpark
  • MIDI channel per drum sound
  • Number indicating parameter value while changing
  • Ability to tie patterns
  • Note length option
  • 16 channel support
  • MIDI channel per track
  • Pattern resync for DAW synchronization
  • Expandable number of patterns and rows
  • Preview sounds
  • Import sound directly into slots
  • Triplets division

In-app purchases

None

MIDISpy

No in-app purchases

None

OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDISpy free?
MIDISpy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer free?
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDISpy or OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer?
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer is rated higher. MIDISpy averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer averages 4.5 from 104 ratings.
Do MIDISpy or OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer have ads?
Neither MIDISpy nor OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDISpy or OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer?
MIDISpy ships an update every 3 weeks, and OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer every 2 months. Most recently, MIDISpy was updated on September 30, 2026 and OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer on October 1, 2026.

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