Comparison

Velocity Keyboard vs Xequence 2

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

Head to head
About

Velocity Keyboard

This app offers a versatile MPE MIDI controller with advanced velocity sensing and multiple interface layouts. It provides extensive MIDI CC control and flexible modes for both MPE and non-MPE synthesizers, enhancing musical expression.

Highlights
  • Advanced velocity sensing algorithm
  • Four interface layouts (Keyboard, String, Scale, Drum Pad)
  • Standalone app and Audio Unit support
  • 8 simultaneous MIDI CC sources
  • Smooth MIDI pitch bending
  • Custom scale highlighting
  • Pitch bend correction algorithm
Features
Read full description

Velocity Keyboard is a powerful velocity-sensitive MPE compatible MIDI controller. FEATURES - unique velocity sensing algorithm that tracks touch force like no other app - Four interface layouts: Keyboard, String, Scale, and Drum Pad - runs as an Audio Unit or as a standalone app - 8 simultaneous sources of MIDI CC parameter control: touch area, touch force (on devices that support 3D Touch), touch Y-coordinate, velocity to CC and up to four MIDI CC control knobs - smooth MIDI pitch bending between notes in both string and keyboard layouts - highlight custom scales in any key - dedicated MIDI modes for maximum flexibility when controlling non-MPE compatible synthesizers - pitch bend correction algorithm plays more in-tune with more freedom of expression when bending between notes (compared to similar MIDI controller apps) - can output velocity as a MIDI CC or aftertouch message to better support synths that aren't designed with velocity sensing in mind What does this app do differently from our iFretless apps? - It uses much less RAM because it doesn't load any audio samples - It has MIDI aftertouch controls, so changes in touch pressure and location that occur after after the start of a note can control MIDI CC parameters - It supports highlighting notes in custom scales - It has piano keyboard, scale, and drum pad layout options - It has updated velocity sensing and pitch correction algorithms - It has better visibility, making it feel more playable on smaller screens, or with a larger number of rows and columns

About

Xequence 2

A powerful MIDI sequencer, editor, and controller for digital music production on iPhone and iPad. It offers a desktop-class editing experience, robust import/export, and advanced features like MPE support and Ableton Link.

Highlights
  • MIDI sequencer, editor, arranger, and controller
  • Desktop-class editing experience
  • Robust MIDI file import/export
  • MPE support with per-note editing
  • Scale support in editors and keyboard
  • Ableton Link and Audiobus 3 integration
  • Advanced clip-based arranger
Features
Read full description

This app is targeted at digital music production enthusiasts & professionals. Xequence is a comprehensive, fast & reliable MIDI sequencer, editor, arranger & controller for iPhone & iPad. Providing a desktop-class editing experience, it is the perfect centerpiece for a hardware studio, or for apps like AUM & Audiobus 3 to create a modular mobile music production environment. HIGHLIGHTS: - Efficient & fast User Interface for an amazing editing workflow - Robust MIDI File Import & Export (notes, controllers, program changes, etc.) - Extensive support for MPE (In-App Purchase) with per-note expression data editing - Support for scales everywhere (keyboard, pianoroll, etc.) - Over 70 included scales in 10 categories - MIDI Time Stretching in all editors - Best-in-class MIDI timing and clock output - Full Ableton Link 3 support - Full Audiobus 3 support - MIDI In & Thru with re-channelization & re-routing - MIDI Sync Master (Clock/Start/Stop/Continue/SPP) to sync other DAWs & sequencers to Xequence, e.g. to use audio tracks, or external drum machines. Several options for compatibility ARRANGER: - Unlimited Clips - Unlimited Tracks - Unlimited Sub Tracks per Track - 64 Undo/Redo steps - Flexible grid - Per-track non-destructive Swing & MIDI Delay - Linked Clips / Clones (editing the original changes all copies) - Powerful clip-based, per-track independent looping - Program changes - Selection tools: Marquee/Rectangle, Same Track, Same Instrument, Linked Clips, Invert, etc. - Editing tools: Create Copy, Create Linked Copy, Unlink, Split, Join, Convert loops to clips, etc. - Global clipboard, even between projects - Movement/Trimming Handles at screen edges for efficient editing PIANOROLL EDITOR: - 256 Undo/Redo steps - Scale-awareness ("folding") - Relative or absolute grid (move by grid increments or snap to nearest grid lines) - Live MIDI previews of all edits - Selection tools: Box, Same Note, Same Key, Same Beat Position, Invert, etc. - Editing tools: Copy, Legato, Quantize, Quantize Ends, Octave +/-, Flip H/V (mirror), Fill clip with selection, etc. - Smart Draw mode: Touch to create, touch again to delete, drag up/down to transpose, drag left/right to change length - Global clipboard, even between projects - Configurable "ghost" overlays - Note velocities quickly adjustable via a handle, or editable like controllers, see below: CONTROLLER EDITOR: - 256 Undo/Redo steps - Selection tools: Box, Same Beat Position, Invert - Selection modes: Add & Replace - Editing tools: Copy, Reduce, Quantize, Compress/Expand, Flip H/V (mirror), Ramp (various curves), Fill clip with selection - Smart Draw mode - Note Velocities can be shown as controllers and edited with the same tools - Configurable vertical grid & value entry KEYBOARD / CONTROLLER: - Scale-aware, very playable single or dual keyboards - Glide support - Adjustable key width - Velocity emulation (via vertical position) - Drum maps and pads, fully editable, 40+ factory maps - Touch ribbons for live control - Controllers can be moved by sliding (ribbon), device rotation (up to three axes at once), like a button (sustain pedal, "trance gates"), or by touching the keys at different vertical positions. All highly configurable. INSTRUMENTS: - Unlimited Instruments (MIDI configurations for devices / apps) - Up to 150controller slots per Instrument - Optional support for (N)RPNs (In-App Purchase) - Loading & Saving of instruments for re-use in other projects, 40+ factory presets included (In-App Purchase) - Compatible with virtually ALL apps and class-compliant MIDI interfaces VARIOUS: - Audio or MIDI Metronome - Note chasing (notes play even when playback starts in the middle) - Controller chasing - Perfect song looping, no dropouts/jitter at loop points - Supports any time signature/BPM (fixed per song) - Includes PolyHymnia, an advanced Generative Music module - Light and Dark themes Please report any issues via our website, we provide quick and comprehensive support!

Screenshots

Velocity Keyboard3 screens
Xequence 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Velocity Keyboard at $9.99 against Xequence 2's $19.99. Velocity Keyboard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.2). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Velocity Keyboard costs $9.99 and Xequence 2 $19.99 up front. Xequence 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Velocity Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Velocity Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 101 and 65 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Velocity Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 78% of Xequence 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Velocity Keyboard ships an update every 9 days, Xequence 2 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Velocity Keyboard versus Xequence 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVelocity KeyboardXequence 2
Price$9.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.8 (101 ratings) — better4.6 (65 ratings)
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings101 — better65
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.2
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Mangoo Consulting Company LimitedAlexander Ewering

Customer experience

Velocity Keyboard

All ratings101 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive82.2%
Neutral6.7%
Negative11.1%

Xequence 2

All ratings65 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative17.8%

Bugs and requests

Velocity Keyboard

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Xequence 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • No sound for some users
  • Auto-save failed, lost work
  • Exported MIDI out of sync
  • Controller values not resetting properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • AUV3 support
  • Tempo and time signature changes mid-song
  • MIDI control for transport (start/stop)
  • SysEx support
  • Always visible Metronome button

In-app purchases

None

Velocity Keyboard

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Xequence 2

One-time1
  • Enhanced Pack$4.99

Questions

Is Velocity Keyboard free?
Velocity Keyboard costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Xequence 2 free?
Xequence 2 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2?
Velocity Keyboard is rated higher. Velocity Keyboard averages 4.8 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while Xequence 2 averages 4.6 from 65 ratings.
Do Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2 have ads?
Neither Velocity Keyboard nor Xequence 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2?
Velocity Keyboard ships an update every 9 days, and Xequence 2 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Velocity Keyboard was updated on October 24, 2026 and Xequence 2 on October 26, 2026.

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