Xequence 2 vs Atom | Piano Roll 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Read full descriptionHide 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!
Atom | Piano Roll 2
This advanced AUv3 MIDI editor and sequencer allows for complex musical composition and live performance. It functions as a plugin within compatible music hosts, enabling users to create intricate patterns, launch clips, and customize workflows with scripting.
- AUv3 MIDI note editor
- Modular sequencer
- Clip launcher
- Step input and real-time recording
- Customizable layouts and themes
- Scripting for custom workflows
- Ghost lanes for harmonies and counterpoint
Read full descriptionHide full description
Reached #1 on the App Store in the Top Paid Music App Category. The most advanced AUv3 MIDI note editor, modular sequencer and clip launcher on iOS. Notes: - This plugin does not run as a standalone app and requires a compatible host. - MIDI is not sound. To make sound you'll have to feed the MIDI into a synthesizer or instrument app. Bring your own synths! - Hardware integration with controllers requires iCloud Drive. Compatibility: - Special integration with hosts: AUM and Drambo. - Tested hosts: ApeMatrix, Audiobus, BeatMaker, Cubasis, MTS, Zenbeats. Limited support by NanoStudio 2. Not supported by GarageBand. Build live sets for clip launching, or an entire track with unlimited length. Play the whole sequence, or adjust the loop markers to iterate over a single section. Step input, or record as played, all with perfect timing accuracy. Write your own code, share it with the community! You can control hardware devices, adding support for new controllers or completely changing the behavior of existing ones. Build your own styling with custom layouts and themes. Change colors, fonts, sizes… make it yours! Piano Roll 2 takes all the features you love about the first installment, and expands them into an entirely new breed of modular sequencer and clip launcher, unparalleled in flexibility and depth on iOS. We redesigned it from the ground up to incorporate a plethora of new features and workflows. - It's a sequencer that augments the capabilities of your host or DAW. - It's a composition tool that helps you to write beautiful melodies and complex polyrhythmic patterns. - It's a clip launcher that integrates seamlessly with supported hardware controllers. - It's a scripting playground that lets you customize your workflow with code. - It's a swiss-army knife of possibilities when working with MIDI. Here are just some of the many use cases this modular architecture supports: - Build live sets for clip launching. - Compose patterns with touch, Apple Trackpad and Apple Pencil, or use the step input mode to write melodies step-by-step. - Capture performances in real time and export your patterns as MIDI files. - Import and edit MIDI files created in other apps, or from commercial packs. - Record generated MIDI of other plugins or sequencers. - Write harmonies and counterpoint melodies by superimposing the patterns of other Atoms as ghost lanes. - Construct complex polyrhythms by taking advantage of custom time signatures and grid fractions. - Sequence the sequencers for full modular mayhem.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Atom | Piano Roll 2 at none against Xequence 2's 1. Atom | Piano Roll 2 also leads on iOS requirement (12.1 vs 14.2). Xequence 2's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 68%). On price, rating, 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
Xequence 2 costs $19.99 and Atom | Piano Roll 2 $19.99 up front. Xequence 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Atom | Piano Roll 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Xequence 2 against 4.5 for Atom | Piano Roll 2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 96 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Xequence 2's written reviews are positive against 68% of Atom | Piano Roll 2's.
Xequence 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, Atom | Piano Roll 2 weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Xequence 2 | Atom | Piano Roll 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (65 ratings) — better | 4.5 (96 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 67.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 65 | 96 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 | 12.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Ewering | Victor Porof |
Customer experience
Xequence 2
Atom | Piano Roll 2
User reviews
Xequence 2
From 65 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient and powerful MIDI editing
- 🎶 Great for composing music
- 💡 Innovative features
- ✅ Stable and reliable
Room to improve
- 😞 No AUV3 support
- 🚫 No sounds included, requires additional purchases
- 😵 Counterintuitive and difficult to learn for some
- 📉 Auto-save issues leading to data loss
- ❓ MIDI setup can be challenging for some users
Atom | Piano Roll 2
From 96 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎹 Excellent piano roll editor with intuitive interface
- 🎯 Powerful MIDI sequencing and clip launching capabilities
- 🔗 Great integration with AUM and hardware controllers like Launchpad
- ✨ Feature-rich with multiple layers, patterns, and flexible grid
- ⚡ Smooth and responsive performance
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues in AUM
- 🖱️ No mouse/trackpad support for drawing notes
- 📝 Missing MIDI CC editing functionality
- 🎚️ Poor velocity editing workflow
- 👁️ UI elements too small and cramped
Bugs and 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
Atom | Piano Roll 2
Reported bugs
13 issues- Crashes when saving sessions in AUM
- Notes get corrupted during playback
- White background display issue
- Position indicator jumps when loop doesn't start at bar 1
- Buttons for adding bars disappear after certain point
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- MIDI input processed incorrectly even in passthrough mode
- Notes don't play after being added to piano roll
- App doesn't appear in AU list on MacBook Pro
- Launchpad Pro MK3 session clip launch mode not working
- iOS 12 compatibility crashes
- Incompatibility with Cubasis 3 and GarageBand
- Responsiveness issues with Apple Pencil (resolved in updates)
- GUI rendering problems on some iPad models
Requested features
17 requests- MIDI CC editing and visualization
- Mouse and trackpad input support
- Logic Pro for iPad support
- Chord entry in step input mode
- Velocity editing improvements and visual feedback
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Dark mode option
- Drag and drop from Suggester
- Time stretch/MIDI stretch functionality
- Standalone mode without requiring AUM
- Launchpad Pro MK3 full compatibility
- Grid-style interface similar to Launchpad
- Step input for multiple notes simultaneously
- Better zoom and selection for longer patterns
- Undo last recording feature
- Parameter automation curves
- Easier MIDI channel switching
- Tutorials and documentation
In-app purchases
Xequence 2
- Enhanced Pack$4.99
Atom | Piano Roll 2
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Xequence 2 free?
Is Atom | Piano Roll 2 free?
Which has better reviews, Xequence 2 or Atom | Piano Roll 2?
Do Xequence 2 or Atom | Piano Roll 2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Xequence 2 or Atom | Piano Roll 2?
Other comparisons















