Comparison

mfxConvert vs StepBud

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

Head to head
About

mfxConvert

This real-time MIDI event converter allows for simple or sophisticated remapping of various MIDI message types. Create multiple conversion setups within a single utility for flexible music production workflows.

Highlights
  • Real-time MIDI event conversion
  • Supports various MIDI message types
  • Pitch bend to controller conversion
  • Note velocity to channel pressure conversion
  • Create multiple conversion setups
  • AUv3 and CoreMIDI compatible
Features
Read full description

* INTELLIGENT MIDI CONVERTER * (AUv3 and CoreMIDI Effect) mfxConvert is a plugin for converting MIDI events in real time. It can be used for simple channel, note or controller remaps. However, it can also handle sophisticated conversions of event types, for example pitch bend to controller or note velocity to channel pressure. See below for the supported conversions. Simple to operate yet a very effective tool to have at your disposal. Create as many separate conversions as you need inside the one utility. Conversions supported: - note -> note, aftertouch, controller, program change, channel pressure, pitch bend or system realtime - aftertouch -> aftertouch, controller or channel pressure - controller -> note, aftertouch, controller, program change, channel pressure, pitch bend or system realtime - program change -> note, controller, program change or system realtime - channel pressure -> controller, channel pressure or pitch bend - pitch bend -> controller, channel pressure or pitch bend - system realtime -> controller, program change or system realtime * ABOUT mfxSeries * mfxSeries is a set of compact but powerful plugins for CoreMIDI or AUv3 hosts. Covering a range of use cases from common everyday MIDI manipulation tasks to creatively ambitious effects. Each plugin in the mfxSeries can be controlled and automated from the host as all controls are exposed as AUv3 parameters. mfxSeries plugins are built using the MidiBus library - http://midib.us

About

StepBud

This app is a versatile MIDI sequencer that allows for unlimited steps and detailed control over each step's parameters. It integrates with other music apps and supports various sequencing modes for creative performances.

Highlights
  • Unlimited steps
  • Step parameter control (note, velocity, rate, etc.)
  • Custom MIDI CC messages
  • Step locking and skipping
  • Master fader with copy/shift modes
  • Step Editor for detailed note editing
  • Arpeggio modes (up, down, random)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

StepBud is a MIDI Sequencer with Audio Unit AUv3 plugin, Audiobus and Ableton Link. Add an unlimited number of steps to your sequencer. Your steps appear with a LED and a fader on top of your screen. You can change the active mode that your step faders displaying/controlling. - Set the current note or chord in range of the scale and key you selected with respect the range of the octave you want to focus, - Set the velocity, rate, gate time, modulation, pitch bend, portamento, probability and swing for each step, - Try increasing the rate and repeat count your steps if you want to add more flavor. - Send unlimited custom MIDI CC messages if you want to control your hardware or software synth parameters. - Lock steps if you don't want them to change their value. - Skip steps for creating interesting live performances. Below the step faders, you have a master fader where you can control your entire sequencer. It has two modes which you can change from the settings strip on the bottom of the app. - In copy mode, it assigns its value to each step. - In shift mode, it shifts up or down each step. If you want to go off-scale or try some crazy chords on some of your steps, or maybe on all of them, you can go to the Step Editor by double tapping the LED of the step you want to edit. In StepBud's powerful Step Editor, you can set your step's notes either from the virtual keyboard or your connected MIDI keyboard. Don't forget to enable MIDI in port of your MIDI keyboard or the you want to receive MIDI from the settings menu. You may also preview the selected notes by pressing the preview button in Step Editor for making sure you created the perfect sound for your particular step. You can also toggle the steps you want to disable by tapping its LED. If you long-press the LED, you can access a menu where you may copy/paste the steps around, remove them or edit them. If you enable the lock mode from the settings strip on the bottom of the app, you may adjust each visible step fader on the screen by a single swipe gesture without having to lift your finger up. Try to change your arppegio mode from the settings strip. You can sequence your steps up, down, up-down or random order. StepBud is a MIDI sequencer app and it does not generate sounds itself. You need to route its MIDI out port in the settings menu to the audio app you want to sequence. Please note that you need to have an iOS 11+ device and an Audio Unit host application such as AUM, apeMatrix, Cubasis, BeatMaker or Audiobus in order to use the StepBud as an Audio Unit plugin. And don't forget to route StepBud's MIDI out to the app or audio unit you want to sequence. StepBud's MIDI layer powered by free and open-source project AudioKit https://github.com/AudioKit/AudioKit Also, StepBud offers its core components for free on GitHub. Feel free to star, fork or contribute. https://github.com/cemolcay/MusicTheory https://github.com/cemolcay/LiveFader https://github.com/cemolcay/MIDIEventKit

Screenshots

mfxConvert1 screens
StepBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: StepBud at 4.4 against mfxConvert's 3.3. StepBud also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (71% vs 56%). mfxConvert's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). 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

mfxConvert costs $2.99 and StepBud $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StepBud holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StepBud has 38 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of mfxConvert's written reviews are positive against 71% of StepBud's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

mfxConvert ships an update every 3 months, StepBud fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
mfxConvert versus StepBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermfxConvertStepBud
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.4 (38 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings738 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank—#200 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudeonic AppsCem Olcay

Customer experience

mfxConvert

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral22.2%
Negative22.2%

StepBud

All ratings38 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative13.2%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%

In-app purchases

None

mfxConvert

No in-app purchases

None

StepBud

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is mfxConvert free?
mfxConvert costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is StepBud free?
StepBud costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, mfxConvert or StepBud?
StepBud is rated higher. mfxConvert averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while StepBud averages 4.4 from 38 ratings.
Do mfxConvert or StepBud have ads?
Neither mfxConvert nor StepBud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, mfxConvert or StepBud?
mfxConvert ships an update every 3 months, and StepBud fortnightly. Most recently, mfxConvert was updated on October 24, 2026 and StepBud on October 24, 2026.

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