Comparison

StepBud vs FAC Phazer

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

Head to head
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

About

FAC Phazer

This music effect plugin offers a rich sonic palette inspired by classic guitar pedals and hardware synthesizers. It provides extensive control over phasing effects with adjustable LFOs, unique characters, and versatile modulation options for all instruments and genres.

Highlights
  • Inspired by classic phaser units
  • Adjustable LFO with tempo sync
  • Four unique sonic characters
  • External modulation and Step mode
  • Stereo phase modulation
  • Universal AUv3 purchase
Features
Read full description

• Inspired by famous phaser units from guitarist and keyboardist world • Unique sonic character combined with a large amount of control • Adjustable LFO; diverse waveforms and synchronizable to host tempo • Versatile: External modulation (parameters), Step mode, and more • Unique Butterfly Meter: Shows LFO modulation and output level • Suitable for all musical genres and instruments • Stereo, adjustable phase modulation distance between both channels • Includes various presets for inspiration • Advanced Responsive Design, portrait and landscape views • Universal Purchase: AUv3 for iOS (iPad/iPhone), macOS and Vision Pro FAC Phazer will satisfy most fans of phasing effects, seducing them with its rich sonic palette and elegant interface. To achieve the classic phase effect, the original signal is blended with a slightly out-of-phase copy of itself. Altering the timing difference between the two signals produces the swooshing sound characteristic of phasing. Most phaser units available on the market are built around this circuit topology, each with its own specificities and limitations. Guitar pedals provide a great sonic signature out of the box and are a great source of inspiration, but we often overlook the impressive built-in effects sections of some hardware synthesizers. FAC Phazer combines the best of both worlds into a single plugin, offering access to all parameters involved in crafting the phasing effect. The design and development were inspired by both pedals and built-in phaser effects found in hardware synthesizers. This led to the creation of four unique characters: Classic, Midori, Step, and Tirus. All parameters can be applied to each of these characters, allowing you to create new, exciting, and outstanding sounds. The presets Slow, Moderate, and Jumpy Phase Pedal or also Fleur d’Oranger bring the classic pedals sound signature within your reach. If you're seeking more modern characteristics, the Step Sound I preset offers a splendid stepping mode, while the Midori Phase Shift II preset emphasizes the feedback in a unique way. On the other hand, the Tirus Anthem preset is an excellent starting point for exploring phasing effects produced with built-in synthesizer effects. An important aspect that strongly contributes to the variety of the sonic palette provided by the plugin is the modulation options. The LFO can run in free mode, be synchronized to the host tempo, or be defined by external automation parameters. The documentation is available at fredantoncorvest.com/FAC_Phazer.html

Screenshots

StepBud4 screens
FAC Phazer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FAC Phazer at 5.0 against StepBud's 4.4. FAC Phazer also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 71%). StepBud's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On ratings volume, ads 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

StepBud costs $4.99 and FAC Phazer $9.99 up front. FAC Phazer sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. StepBud asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FAC Phazer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of StepBud's written reviews are positive against 83% of FAC Phazer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StepBud ships an update fortnightly, FAC Phazer every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
StepBud versus FAC Phazer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStepBudFAC Phazer
Price$4.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.4 (38 ratings)5.0 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews83.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38 — better30
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCem OlcayFrederic Corvest

Customer experience

StepBud

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

FAC Phazer

All ratings30 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

StepBud

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

FAC Phazer

One-time3
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$14.99

Questions

Is StepBud free?
StepBud costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FAC Phazer free?
FAC Phazer costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StepBud or FAC Phazer?
FAC Phazer is rated higher. StepBud averages 4.4 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while FAC Phazer averages 5.0 from 30 ratings.
Do StepBud or FAC Phazer have ads?
Neither StepBud nor FAC Phazer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StepBud or FAC Phazer?
StepBud ships an update fortnightly, and FAC Phazer every 4 months. Most recently, StepBud was updated on October 24, 2026 and FAC Phazer on October 24, 2026.

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