OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer vs JAX MIDI ModulePlayer
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 ...
JAX MIDI ModulePlayer
This app functions as a General MIDI compatible multi-timbre synthesizer and file player. It can be used as a sound module for external MIDI signals or as an audio unit within compatible host applications. Create and play back standard MIDI files with over 370 instruments and drum sets.
- GM/GS compatible synthesizer
- Plays standard MIDI files
- Over 370 instruments and drum sets
- 16 MIDI channels simultaneously
- Audio Unit (AUv3) support
- Standalone host functionality
- Universal app for Apple devices
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There is a manual at: https://midi.digitster.com/JAX%20MIDI/JAX%20MIDI%20ModulePlayer.pdf And a demonstration video at: https://youtu.be/DKwRxcfgy8s JAX MIDI Module & Player can be used as a GM/GS (General MIDI) compatible multi-timbre synthesizer for playing live or as a file player. It is usable as a sound module for external MIDI signals and as audio unit for usage in any host application, which supports Apples AUv3 format. With JAX MIDI Module & Player you can load available standard MIDI files and just play them back. It has inbuilt a fully featured GM/GS synthesizer with over 370 different instruments and drum sets, which is also playable in realtime on 16 MIDI channels simultaneously. The module works like the classic external hardware modules of the late 90s. If used as an audio unit, the MIDI stream is passed thru, so that other apps (like synthesizers and drum machines) can profit from the file playback. Internal sound generation can muted with the main volume slider. Important GM MIDI controllers are supported and also displayed for overview. The playing state of all channels is displayed in realtime. For JAX MIDI Module & Player, you may create your own MIDI files with notes with any external MIDI editor that can create standard MIDI files format 0 or 1, with controllers and tempo changes and all and then play back thru it with the internal or any external instrumentation. AudioUnits (AUv3) require a supporting host application to perform. But our app is able to perform as a standalone host for the embedded unit and provide basic Core MIDI functionality for communicating outside the sandbox. This build is truly 'universal', meaning, the unit is available for: - MacOS (Silicon M1) - iOS (iPhone) - iPadOS (iPads) Note: We now will separate the native macOS release (Mac Catalyst) from the iOS universal release, because native macOS releases need special optimizations. There also will be different prices for the native macOS apps. Making AUv3 technology available across all devices (for usage with GarageBand, Logic Pro X, MainStage 3 on the Mac), is quite a challenge. And we have chosen to deliver the releases across all devices instead of asking multiple times for money. Our builds come with latest technology support for all Apple devices (at the point of release). We therefore always develop with latest Apple frameworks and compilers. But we try to keep the compatibility at minimum requirements as far as even possible. Especially the latest M1/2/3 and cross platform optimizations forced us to drop all the legacy device support (below iOS 14). This is also true for all our older apps, which will be updated step by step to reflect the latest technologies.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer at $9.99 against JAX MIDI ModulePlayer's $29.99. OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 50%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer costs $9.99 and JAX MIDI ModulePlayer $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer has 106 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer's written reviews are positive against 50% of JAX MIDI ModulePlayer's.
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer ships an update every 2 months, JAX MIDI ModulePlayer every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer | JAX MIDI ModulePlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $29.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (106 ratings) — better | 4.2 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 106 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Markus Teufel | Jens Guell |
Customer experience
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
JAX MIDI ModulePlayer
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
JAX MIDI ModulePlayer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer
No in-app purchases
JAX MIDI ModulePlayer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer free?
Is JAX MIDI ModulePlayer free?
Which has better reviews, OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or JAX MIDI ModulePlayer?
Do OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or JAX MIDI ModulePlayer have ads?
Which is updated more often, OCTACHRON MIDI Drum Sequencer or JAX MIDI ModulePlayer?
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