Xequence AU | Keys vs SKIIID
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Xequence AU | Keys
This app functions as a versatile MIDI keyboard controller within AUv3 hosts, offering expressive playing modes and customizable controllers. It's designed for music production enthusiasts to enhance their workflow with a responsive and resource-efficient interface.
- Scale-aware single or dual keyboard
- Adjustable key width and glide mode
- Velocity emulation
- Configurable MIDI CC touch ribbons
- Special controller modes (MPE-like)
- AU presets and state saving
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IMPORTANT: This app is targeted at music production enthusiasts and requires an AUv3 Audio Unit Host to run! It does not do ANYTHING on its own! Xequence AU | Keys is a comprehensive and expressive keyboard controller for use inside AU (Audio Unit) hosts like AUM, Cubasis, apeMatrix, etc. It features the same, widely acclaimed keyboard that users of Xequence, our advanced MIDI workstation, have grown to love. HIGHLIGHTS: - Fully scale-aware, very playable single or dual keyboard - Extremely fast and light on resources - Over 70 scales in 10 categories included - Freely adjustable key width - "Glide" mode for triggering keys by sliding between them - Velocity emulation (via vertical position on key) - Automatically adapts to nearly any plugin window size or aspect ratio - Unlimited instances - Full support for AU presets (and state saving / restoration) in the host - Configurable keyboard color and MIDI channel CONTROLLERS: - Any number of MIDI CCs (controllers) can be freely configured and shown as touch ribbons next to the keyboard - A number of standard controller numbers (such as 74 = Cutoff, 7 = Volume etc.) are included and can be set with a single tap SPECIAL CONTROLLER MODES: The following special modes can be set per controller and give an "MPE-like" feel while being compatible with non-MPE synths: - DEVICE ROTATION - controller moves according to device rotation - GATE - controller can be set to a default position, and then tapped anywhere to toggle it to that position and back (think "Trance gates" when used with eg. CC 7 / Volume) - KEY POSITION - controller moves when touching a keyboard key, depending on vertical position - KEY SLIDE - controller moves along when one or more fingers are moved vertically while holding any number of keys - The above modes can also be combined - Note that this is NOT MPE - controllers are always sent for all notes at once, not per individual note! Please report any issues via our website, we provide quick and comprehensive support!
SKIIID
This app is a percussion synthesizer designed for live performance. It features four morphing pads where finger position controls sound parameters and velocity. Explore deep sound design with a step sequencer, auto-mutation, and chaos engine for instant sound generation.
- Four morphing percussion pads
- Real-time parameter control via touch
- 16-step sequencer per pad
- Auto-mutate sound evolution
- Chaos engine for instant sound generation
- AUv3 plugin support
- MIDI input and Ableton Link sync
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SKIIID is a percussion synthesizer built for real-time performance. Four pads. Each one is a sound sculpted by where your finger lands. Move left or right to morph between synth parameters. Move up or down to control velocity. Simple to play, deep to explore. — PADS — Four independent drum voices. Each pad morphs between parameter extremes based on X-axis position. Velocity is Y-axis. — STEP SEQUENCER — 16-step sequencer per pad. Variable step length for polyrhythms. Reverse playback, shuffle, pin and random step modes. Sync to Ableton Link or run free. — AUTO-MUTATE — Evolves your sound automatically. Individual interval and intensity per pad, synced to tempo. — CHAOS ENGINE — RANDOM, CHAOS, and MUTATE modes generate new sounds instantly. — AUv3 PLUGIN — Run SKIIID inside AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, or any AUv3 host. Multiple instances work independently — different patches, different sequencers, no shared state. — MIDI — MIDI In for pad triggering. MIDI Learn for external controller mapping. Ableton Link for tempo sync. — WORKS ON — iPhone and iPad, all modern screen sizes. Landscape mode.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Xequence AU | Keys at 4.9 against SKIIID's 4.4. Xequence AU | Keys also leads on price ($2.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (14.2 vs 16.0). SKIIID's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 8 months). 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
Xequence AU | Keys costs $2.99 and SKIIID $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Xequence AU | Keys holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Xequence AU | Keys's written reviews are positive against 74% of SKIIID's.
Xequence AU | Keys ships an update every 8 months, SKIIID every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Xequence AU | Keys | SKIIID |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (18 ratings) — better | 4.4 (31 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 73.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18 | 31 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Ewering | Stephan Bolch |
Customer experience
Xequence AU | Keys
SKIIID
In-app purchases
Xequence AU | Keys
No in-app purchases
SKIIID
No in-app purchases









