StepBud vs FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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)
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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
FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer
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FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer transforms your device into a professional-grade audio measurement system. Whether you are calibrating home theater speakers, tuning car audio systems, analyzing room acoustics, or troubleshooting sound equipment, this app delivers the precision and features that audio professionals demand. PROFESSIONAL FFT ANALYSIS Real-time Fast Fourier Transform analysis with multiple resolution options. Choose from 4096, 8192, 16384, or 32768 point FFT sizes to balance frequency resolution and response time for your specific application. Higher FFT sizes reveal fine frequency detail while smaller sizes provide faster updates for dynamic measurements. OCTAVE-NORMALIZED DISPLAY Pink noise appears flat on the display, following the standard convention used in professional acoustics measurement. This octave normalization makes it easy to identify frequency response problems and compare measurements to industry standards. FLEXIBLE SMOOTHING OPTIONS Select the level of detail that matches your needs: - 1 Octave smoothing for quick system overview - 1/3 Octave for standard acoustic measurements - 1/6 Octave for detailed speaker analysis - 1/12 Octave for crossover tuning - 1/24 Octave for precision measurements DECAY AND AVERAGING MODES Multiple visualization modes help you capture the information you need: - Time-based decay (0.5s to 8s) for live sound analysis - Peak Hold to capture maximum levels - Running Average for stable long-term measurements MEASUREMENT TOOLS - Touch cursor for precise frequency and level readout - Peak frequency tracking with automatic detection - Pinch to zoom for detailed frequency range inspection - dB scale adjustment for optimal dynamic range display SAVE AND COMPARE Store measurements for later reference and comparison: - Save unlimited spectrum graphs with timestamps - Recall saved measurements as overlay for A/B comparison - Baseline subtraction mode shows difference from reference - Rename and organize your measurement library EXPORT AND SHARE Document and share your measurements: - Export high-resolution PNG images to Photos - Generate XLSX spreadsheet files with frequency and dB data - Share via email, messaging, or cloud storage CALIBRATION Device-specific microphone calibration ensures measurement accuracy. Adjust the calibration offset to match external reference microphones or compensate for known device characteristics. EXTERNAL MICROPHONE SUPPORT Connect professional USB or Lightning audio interfaces for improved measurement accuracy. The app automatically detects and switches to external input devices. USE CASES Home Theater Setup: Measure and balance speaker levels, identify room modes, verify subwoofer integration, and optimize crossover settings. Car Audio Tuning: Analyze frequency response at the listening position, identify resonances, and tune equalizer settings for optimal sound. Live Sound: Quick system checks, feedback identification, and real-time monitoring during performances. Studio Acoustics: Room analysis, monitor calibration, and acoustic treatment verification. Speaker Testing: Frequency response measurement, driver matching, and crossover design verification. Education: Visualize sound and frequency concepts for teaching acoustics and audio engineering. DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS Clean, dark interface optimized for use in low-light environments. High contrast display with cyan spectrum trace for easy visibility. Responsive controls designed for one-handed operation. No internet connection required. All processing happens locally on your device. Your audio data stays private. Privacy Policy: https://audiomillo.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://audiomillo.com/eula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: StepBud at fortnightly against FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer's every 4 months. StepBud also leads on price ($4.99 vs $6.99) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). 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
StepBud costs $4.99 and FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StepBud ships an update fortnightly, FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StepBud | FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (38 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cem Olcay | Yumm One |
In-app purchases
StepBud
No in-app purchases
FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is StepBud free?
Is FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer free?
Do StepBud or FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer have ads?
Which is updated more often, StepBud or FFT Spectrum Audio Analyzer?
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