Xequence AU | Keys vs PolyPipe
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!
PolyPipe
This app is a multi-lane polyphonic sequencer plugin for creating evolving musical patterns. It allows for independent control of rhythm, pitch, and modulation across multiple lanes, generating complex and unique sequences in real-time. Ideal for generative music and experimental pattern creation.
- Multi-lane sequencer with 4 independent lanes
- Pattern-based structure with multiple patterns per lane
- Advanced step parameters (pitch, velocity, gate, probability)
- Chord-aware steps and chord strumming
- Multiple step modes (random, chord, bass, hybrid)
- Polyrhythmic playback with differing lane/pattern lengths
- Probabilistic sequencing with per-step chance
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PolyPipe is a multi-lane, polyphonic AUv3 sequencer plugin designed for creating evolving musical patterns rather than fixed, repetitive loops. Instead of thinking in terms of a single step sequence, PolyPipe lets you build multiple independent lanes, each with its own rhythm, pitch logic, octave behavior, probability, and modulation data — all running together as a coherent musical system. It comprises elements of some of my favourite sequencers of all time, all rolled into a single interface. At its core, PolyPipe takes incoming MIDI notes (or internally generated notes) and uses them as a musical “seed.” These notes are then processed through patterns, scales, transposition rules, and step logic to generate new musical phrases in real time. This makes it especially suited for generative music, complex arpeggiation, bass-and-chord splitting, and long-form evolving sequences. Each lane in PolyPipe is its own sequencer voice. A lane contains one or more patterns, and each pattern is made up of steps. Steps don’t just define when a note plays — they can also define how it plays. A step can include pitch offsets, velocity, gate length, strumming, probability, repeats (ratchets), ties for legato behavior, and even chord information. Patterns can be enabled or disabled independently, shifted by octaves, and combined with global transposition. Because lanes can have different lengths, directions, and step modes, the resulting sequences naturally phase against each other, creating variation without manual intervention. PolyPipe applies musical logic at the MIDI output stage rather than hard-coding notes upfront. Pitch values can be forced into a chosen scale and key, allowing even highly experimental patterns to stay musically coherent. Different step modes (such as forward, backward, ping-pong, random, chord, bass, or hybrid note/chord modes) let each lane behave differently, from traditional arpeggios to controlled chaos. PolyPipe Sequencer is built for musicians who want to explore ideas quickly, create unique patterns, and discover results they wouldn’t think to program manually. It rewards experimentation: small changes to probability, repeats, or step logic can dramatically alter the musical output while staying rhythmically locked and musically usable. PolyPipe Features ○ Multi-Lane Sequencer: with 4 independent lanes. ○ Pattern-Based Structure: where each lane contains multiple patterns. ○ Advanced Step Parameters: including pitch offset, velocity, gate length, auto-roll, repeats (ratchets), and legato ties. ○ Chord-Aware Steps: allowing steps to trigger chords, rotated voicing, or individual notes depending on lane mode. ○ Multiple Step Modes such as Up, Down, Ping-Pong, Random, Drunk, Chord, Bass, and hybrid note/chord modes. ○ Chord Strumming: allowing guitar like strumming patterns. ○ Polyrhythmic Playback: through lanes and patterns of differing lengths and directions. ○ Probabilistic Sequencing: with per-step chance and variable repeat behavior for evolving patterns. ○ Octave Transposition Control: per pattern and globally for rapid harmonic variation. ○ MIDI CC Sequencing: allowing lanes to output modulation data. ○ Real-Time MIDI Interaction: where incoming notes influence pitch selection, chords, and playback behavior. ○ Live-Safe Parameter Editing: with immediate feedback and no need to stop playback. ○ Generative-Focused Design: optimized for long-form evolving sequences rather than static loops. ○ Long Patterns: up to 32 steps in length, chain-able up to 128 steps. ○ 4 MIDI Output Ports: allowing each of the 4 phase-locked arpeggiators to be routed to a different instrument. ○ Global Swing: allowing 8th- and 16th-note swing across all 4 arpeggiators. ○ Rhythm Generator: creates rhythmic patterns that are none chord/scale specific.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: PolyPipe at every 2 weeks against Xequence AU | Keys's every 8 months. Xequence AU | Keys's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $8.99) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). 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
Xequence AU | Keys costs $2.99 and PolyPipe $8.99 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 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Xequence AU | Keys's written reviews are positive against 75% of PolyPipe's.
Xequence AU | Keys ships an update every 8 months, PolyPipe every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Xequence AU | Keys | PolyPipe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (18 ratings) — better | 4.6 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 | 13 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Ewering | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Xequence AU | Keys
PolyPipe
In-app purchases
Xequence AU | Keys
No in-app purchases
PolyPipe
No in-app purchases





