Comparison

JamKoo vs YDS Controller

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

Head to head
About

JamKoo

Create and record music with realistic virtual instruments. Mix backing tracks, practice with various instruments, and share your performances with a community. Supports MIDI controllers and custom instrument libraries.

Highlights
  • Realistic virtual instruments
  • MIDI controller support
  • Backing track mixing and recording
  • Custom instrument library import
  • Layered recording
  • MP3 export
  • Score import and viewing
Features
Read full description

JamKoo is designed for live performance worship band and practice. JamKoo can turn your old keyboard to a realistic grand piano. JamKoo allows you to mix and record backing track with realistic virtual instruments. Application Scenario - Wind MIDI controller: add a background music, pick a saxophone or trumpet tone. Add some reverb FX, and practice anytime without disturbing others. - Piano: Connect your keyboard to iPad, iPhone via USB-MIDI or Bluetooth MIDI. Play and record your performance with this app, share the recording with your teacher. The piano sound and tuning is more realistic than an ordinary electric piano. - Electronic drum practice, import a classic rock track, pick a drum kit, and record your performance while adjusting the background volume and minimizing the reverb FX of the instrument. Recordings can be sent to other members of the band. Elegant and powerful Designed for music practice and live performances, the user who likes music is freed from the complexity of recording interfaces and can focus on the music itself. Sophistication doesn't necessitate complexity. Built-in high quality and deep sound library Pre-installed with a number of fine-tuned and rich sound sources, from a comprehensive instrument package containing 138 instruments to 7 Chinese musical instrument packages with outstanding sound. This is a musical weapon at your fingertips. Post&share in a flash Your works deserve more listeners! Harvest likes by posting at JamKoo community. Add your own instrument library If the pre-installed hundreds of instruments are not enough, you can also add your own instrument library and download the Soundfont format library to your own JamKoo library. Main features: - Support USB, Bluetooth MIDI source selection. - Pre-installed a set of high quality comprehensive sound library. - Pre-installed a set of Chinese musical instrument library. - Support individual patch transpose, octave, reverb. - Import backing track music from Music library or iCloud, dropbox etc. - Layered recording with backing track, as well as solo recording. - Support export to MP3 file. - Support AE-05/01 program change on the fly. - pitch bend range, sustain pedal. - Pro version users can add third party Soundfont format sound library. - Import and view scores in various format. - Support score page turning and patch scrolling by MIDI pedal Facebook Page: @RobkooMusic Twitter: @Robkoo_Music Feedback: contact@robkoo.com

About

YDS Controller

This app allows for detailed sound creation and editing for specific musical instruments. Users can customize instrument tones, adjust effects, and modify fingering configurations. It also provides instrument settings like breath resistance and tuning, offering a more intuitive visual interface than the instrument itself.

Highlights
  • Edit saxophone, synthesizer, and shakuhachi tones
  • Adjust effects and detailed sound parameters
  • Customize fingering configurations
  • Adjust breath resistance and response
  • Change instrument tuning
  • Display registered fingering lists
Features
Read full description

This dedicated app enhances the performance of the YDS-150 and further expands the range of sound creation—and includes instrument settings and sound editing. You can make detailed settings intuitively and visually from the app, that cannot be done on the instrument itself. ≪Function≫ * Editing voices  You can easily change saxophone tones such as alto, soprano, tenor, and baritone tones, as well as synthesizer tones and shakuhachi tones. You can also adjust effects and make detailed sounds. * Edit fingering You can customize the fingertips by changing them or adding new ones. * Instrument settings You can adjust the blowing feeling such as breath resistance and response, and change the settings such as tuning. * Fingering list It is possible to display the registered fingers in a list. It is useful to check the fingering.

Screenshots

JamKoo4 screens
YDS Controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JamKoo at 76% against YDS Controller's 35%. JamKoo also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). YDS Controller's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, 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

Both are free to download. JamKoo sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. YDS Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

YDS Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 164 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of JamKoo's written reviews are positive against 35% of YDS Controller's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JamKoo ships an update every 4 weeks, YDS Controller every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
JamKoo versus YDS Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJamKooYDS Controller
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (36 ratings)4.7 (164 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews — better35.5% of reviews
Number of ratings36164 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size288 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobkoo Information & Technologies Co., Ltd.Yamaha Corporation

Customer experience

JamKoo

All ratings36 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral5.6%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral17.6%
Negative5.9%

YDS Controller

All ratings164 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive35.5%
Neutral9.7%
Negative54.8%

In-app purchases

9 purchases

JamKoo

Subscriptions3
  • JamKoo Premium (monthly)7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • JamKoo Premium (quarterly)7 Days trial$0.993 Months
  • JamKoo Premium (yearly)7 Days trial$0.991 Year
One-time6
  • Taste of FireworksFree
  • Shakuhachi$0.99
  • Kong Audio Erhu$1.99
Show 3 more
  • Kong Audio Qudi$1.99
  • Kong Audio Hulusi$1.99
  • Kong Audio Suona$1.99
None

YDS Controller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is JamKoo free?
JamKoo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is YDS Controller free?
YDS Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, JamKoo or YDS Controller?
YDS Controller is rated higher. JamKoo averages 4.4 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while YDS Controller averages 4.7 from 164 ratings.
Do JamKoo or YDS Controller have ads?
Neither JamKoo nor YDS Controller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JamKoo or YDS Controller?
JamKoo ships an update every 4 weeks, and YDS Controller every 4 months. Most recently, JamKoo was updated on September 25, 2026 and YDS Controller on September 25, 2026.

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