OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer vs MelodyBud Generative Sequencer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
This app is a flexible MIDI drum sequencer for iOS, offering up to 16 tracks with advanced modulation and sequencing. It can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin in DAWs, and is optimized for drums but also suitable for melodies. It requires iOS 12 or higher.
- 16 mutable tracks
- AUv3 MIDI plugin
- Standalone operation
- Parameter locking
- Smart randomizer
- Chainable patterns
- Custom time signatures
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OCTACHRON is a very flexible iOS MIDI Drum Sequencer with up to 16 tracks and rich modulation and sequencing capabilities. It is optimized for drums, but also a lot of fun for basic melody lines. It works standalone or as AUv3 MIDI plugin in your favorite iOS DAW or mixer. (E.g. AUM, Logic Pro, Cubasis, Beatmaker, ApeMatrix, Groove Rider, Nanostudio and more (not GarageBand)) PRESS REVIEWS - “OCTACHRON is almost perfect now” (haQ attaQ) - “Favorite MIDI Sequencer - User's Choice Award 2022” (iOS AUv3 Facebook Group) - “An exciting MIDI sequencer with advanced features” (Synth Anatomy) - “Particularly the probability parameters are a lot of fun” (Amazona) !!! PLEASE NOTICE: OCTACHRON IS A MIDI SEQUENCER AND DOES NOT CREATE ANY SOUNDS OF ITS OWN !!! We believe in specialization. This is why OCTACHRON is focused on in depth MIDI sequencing. Control your favorite iOS drums like Blip Box, Ruismaker or MV08, synths like Zeeon or Model D or any other hard- or software MIDI instrument with it. iOS 12 or higher required. If used with a host software, this has to be compatible with the MIDI AudioUnit standard. OVERVIEW - Standalone or AUv3 AudioUnit - 1-32 steps with flexible clock divider and custom time signatures - Up to 16 mutable tracks with adjustable length - Up to 8 chainable patterns (song mode) - Swing with flexible swing grid - Save, restore and export your pattern presets, MIDI files and MIDI mapping presets - Parameter lock for velocity, ratcheting, offset, trigger probability, trigger condition, gate length and MIDI CC Modulation - Scales generator - MIDI control pattern selection, play and mute - Customizable mapping and mapping presets - Works iOS 12 upwards - Optimized for iPad and iPhone - Also compatible standalone with M Macs and Apple Vision Pro LOTS OF MAPPING PRESETS FOR POPULAR DRUM APPS AND HARDWARE - AR-909, Axxon 2 & Blip Box - Dadamachines Automat, Digistix & DM1/DM2/Drumlab - DrumComputer by Sugar Bytes - EGDR 606, 808 & 909 - FAC Drumkit, Hammerhead - Koala Sampler & Korg Gadgets - MV08 & NS2 Slate - Pure Acid Drums - Ruismaker & Ruismaker FM - SDS-X, Sitala & Splat-To-Clat - VA Drum SM, VA Drum2 808 & 909 - Vatanator - Korg Electribe EMX & ER-1 - Korg Volca Beats - MFB 522 - Roland MC-101 - Roland TR-08 - Roland TR-707 & 727 - Roland TR-808 - Roland TR-909 Also save, load and share your own MIDI mappings ... SMART RANDOMIZER - Smart pattern randomizer - Randomizer configuration per track - Trigger mutation per track - Mutation of internal and CC modulation parameters PARAMETER LOCK - Velocity and MIDI CC modulation - Multiple hits per step with ratcheting - Offset - Trigger probability - Trigger condition - Gate length - MIDI CC on every step - 8 CCs per Track - Mutation of Internal and CC Modulation TRACK SETTINGS - Assign MIDI notes to each track or use mapping presets - Individual track length to create polyrhythms LIVE PERFORMANCE FEATURES - Instant pattern switch option - Mute function per track to easily build up layers CONNECTIVIY - Sequence other standalone apps, AUv3 AudioUnits or external hardware via MIDI - OCTACHRON derives its timing from the host application, its internal clock or via AbletonLink - Trigger on different MIDI channels per track NO TRACKING - OCTACHRON works offline - No push notifications - No ads or in-app purchases - No tracking tools - Active on social media and in the mobile music community - Ongoing development and support and many new features on the list FOR MELODIC INSTRUMENTS GENERATE VARIOUS SCALES IN ALL KEYS OCTACHRON is optimized for drums. But it also supports standard melodic scales like major, minor and also more unusual ones like mixolydian, phrygian and more ...
MelodyBud Generative Sequencer
This app is a powerful AUv3 MIDI sequencer that allows for generative sequencing with randomized notes, velocity, octave, and gate length. It features parameter-locking for individual step customization and supports over 40 scales, with Ableton Link synchronization in its standalone version.
- Generative sequencing with randomization
- Parameter-locking for individual steps
- Support for over 40 musical scales
- Ableton Link synchronization (standalone)
- AUv3 plugin for hosting in audio apps
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MelodyBud is an AUv3 MIDI sequencer with great generative sequencing capabilities. Instead of a traditional sequencer, you can randomise your notes, velocity, octave, and gate length of your steps, add ratchets and glide to make it more interesting! One of the most powerful feature of MelodyBud is "parameter-locking". With parameter-locks, you can set a step's randomisation values individually. That lets you create richer melodies. For entering the parameter-locking mode, you can simply tap a step's number on the top of the sequencer. The step and the control knobs turn orange when you enter the parameter-locking mode. If you edit a control when you are in the parameter-lock mode, the sequencer will execute that configuration for that step instead of the global configuration. You can tap the step's number again for exiting the parameter-lock mode. You can work in more than 40 scales, you can even change them while the sequencer is running. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change them with the AU parameters and even modulate/automate them along with other parameters. The standalone version supports Ableton Link which lets you in-sync with other Ableton Link enabled apps. Please note that MelodyBud is a MIDI app. The standalone version has an optional internal synth where you can enable or disable on the settings menu. The AUv3 plugin requires an audio app for output. For the AUv3 functionality, it needs to be hosted within an app such as AUM, Loopy Pro, Cubasis, Logic Pro, Nanostudio, Drambo, or apeMatrix etc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MelodyBud Generative Sequencer at $6.99 against OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's $9.99. OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's advantage is ratings volume (106 vs 13) and review sentiment (81% vs 70%). On rating, update cadence, 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
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer costs $9.99 and MelodyBud Generative Sequencer $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer against 4.5 for MelodyBud Generative Sequencer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer has 106 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's written reviews are positive against 70% of MelodyBud Generative Sequencer's.
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer ships an update every 2 months, MelodyBud Generative Sequencer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer | MelodyBud Generative Sequencer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $6.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (106 ratings) — better | 4.5 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.0% of reviews — better | 70.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 106 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Markus Teufel | Cem Olcay |
Customer experience
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
MelodyBud Generative Sequencer
Bugs and requests
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
Reported bugs
24 issues- Clock div issues reported
- No sound output reported
- Projects broken by update
- Skipping first note on pattern change
- GUI glitchy/choppy
Show 19 moreShow fewer
- Crashing when loading custom mapping
- Repeating notes unexpectedly
- Kick muting in song mode
- Controller faders not working perfectly
- Unwanted random notes
- MIDI recording not an option
- Pattern change via MIDI difficult
- GarageBand AUv3 compatibility issues
- No sound output
- Projects corrupted after update
- Clock division not working
- Difficulty changing patterns
- MIDI note sequences cannot be recorded
- Choppy visual experience
- Random notes played with ThumbJam
- Crash when loading saved custom mapping
- Skipping first note when switching patterns
- Repeating notes without repeat enabled
- Kick drum mutes in song mode
Requested features
26 requests- Add touchable pads
- Add MIDI Step record feature
- Add triplets
- Add MIDI file export and import
- Add system-wide preset save and load
Show 21 moreShow fewer
- Add randomization for different genres
- Increase channel count to 16
- Add more options for MIDI input for real-time control
- Add MIDI learn button for each track
- Add option to record drums live into the sequencer
- Add more patterns
- Follow mode for song mode GUI
- Enhanced mod edit mode with inline editing
- Ability to drag/select patterns in song mode to auto loop
- App preset for Arturia iSpark
- MIDI channel per drum sound
- Number indicating parameter value while changing
- Ability to tie patterns
- Note length option
- 16 channel support
- MIDI channel per track
- Pattern resync for DAW synchronization
- Expandable number of patterns and rows
- Preview sounds
- Import sound directly into slots
- Triplets division
MelodyBud Generative Sequencer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
No in-app purchases
MelodyBud Generative Sequencer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer free?
Is MelodyBud Generative Sequencer free?
Which has better reviews, OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or MelodyBud Generative Sequencer?
Do OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or MelodyBud Generative Sequencer have ads?
Which is updated more often, OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or MelodyBud Generative Sequencer?
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