Velocity Keyboard vs Xequence 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Velocity Keyboard | Xequence 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (101 ratings) — better | 4.6 (65 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 82.2% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 101 — better | 65 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 14.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blue Mangoo Consulting Company Limited | Alexander Ewering |
Customer experience
Velocity Keyboard
Xequence 2
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
Velocity Keyboard
No in-app purchases
Xequence 2
- Enhanced Pack$4.99
Questions
Is Velocity Keyboard free?
Is Xequence 2 free?
Which has better reviews, Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2?
Do Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Velocity Keyboard or Xequence 2?
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