Comparison

Xequence 2 vs NOISE by Circles

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

Head to head
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!

About

NOISE by Circles

Record sounds from your environment and transform them into playable instruments. Shape precise loops on the waveform and export high-quality audio files for use in music production software.

Highlights
  • 24-bit / 48 kHz microphone recording
  • Direct waveform loop editing
  • Eight-pad pitched instrument preview
  • Major and minor scales with selectable root key
  • One-shot and loop playback
  • WAV file export
  • iPhone to desktop workflow
Features
Read full description

NOISE by Circles is a free sound-capture companion for musicians, producers, and sound designers. Turn sounds from the world around you into production-ready material for the NOISE desktop plugin or any DAW. Record a sound with your iPhone, shape precise loop regions directly on the waveform, and immediately explore the result as a playable eight-pad instrument. Choose a root key and scale, shift octaves, and switch between one-shot and looping playback while trying Hit, Hold, and Swell response shapes. When the sound is ready, export the complete recording or every loop region as clearly numbered 24-bit / 48 kHz WAV files. Optional boundary fades help avoid clicks, while the built-in 50 Hz high-pass option removes unwanted low-end rumble. Features: - 24-bit / 48 kHz microphone recording - Direct waveform loop editing - Multiple independent loop regions - Eight-pad pitched instrument preview - Major and minor scales with selectable root key - One-shot and loop playback - Hit, Hold, and Swell response shapes - Optional short boundary fades - Optional 50 Hz low-rumble filter - Clearly numbered WAV exports - Local recording library - System sharing for AirDrop, Files, and other destinations - A fast iPhone-to-NOISE desktop workflow Your recordings stay on your device unless you choose to share them.

Screenshots

Xequence 24 screens
NOISE by Circles4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NOISE by Circles at Free against Xequence 2's $19.99. NOISE by Circles also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Xequence 2's advantage is ratings volume (65 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads 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

NOISE by Circles is free to download; Xequence 2 costs $19.99 up front. Xequence 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NOISE by Circles asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NOISE by Circles holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Xequence 2 has 65 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Xequence 2 versus NOISE by Circles: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXequence 2NOISE by Circles
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (65 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings65 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander EweringCircles Audio LLC

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

NOISE by Circles

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Xequence 2

One-time1
  • Enhanced Pack$4.99
None

NOISE by Circles

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Xequence 2 free?
Xequence 2 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is NOISE by Circles free?
NOISE by Circles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Xequence 2 or NOISE by Circles?
NOISE by Circles is rated higher. Xequence 2 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while NOISE by Circles averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Xequence 2 or NOISE by Circles have ads?
Neither Xequence 2 nor NOISE by Circles shows ads.

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