Comparison

X/Y PAL vs Note Spark

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

Head to head
About

X/Y PAL

This app serves as an X/Y pad MIDI controller, allowing users to manage up to 8 parameters per pad. Customize MIDI channels, control change messages, value ranges, colors, and names for each parameter. Visualize CC value changes with on-screen bars.

Highlights
  • X/Y pad MIDI controller
  • Control up to 8 parameters per pad
  • Customizable MIDI channel and CC messages
  • Configurable CC value range
  • Parameter naming and coloring
  • MIDI output device selection
  • Visualized CC value changes
Features
Read full description

X/Y PAL is your handsome X/Y pad MIDI controller. Control up to 8 parameters per pad. Each parameter can be configured: - set MIDI Channel and control change message, - set the CC value range, - set a color and a name - pick the MIDI output device and - inverse the CC value mapping. On the iPad up to 4 pads can be visible in landscape mode and up to 2 in portrait mode. On the iPhone there can be 2 pads visible and controlled at once. Pick CC value mappings from a list of predefined devices to help create your custom pads. CC value change is visualized using bars on the side of each pad. ** CONFIGURE PARAMETERS ** - configure the X/Y Pads in the settings section - configure each of the 8 parameters by clicking on the sidebar in the settings section - pick from a predefined list of devices to easily set the CC value and name or just set some custom name and CC value - set the color of the parameter by clicking on the color button - inverse the CC value mapping by selecting the inverse button for the parameter - select the MIDI output for each parameter - configure the CC value range for each parameter.

About

Note Spark

Read full description

Note Spark is a practice app that helps you remember and improve your musical skills. You can record a digital piano performance and visualize it, or share it with your friends! Key Features: - Practice mode: Play along a MIDI track - Recording: Record a single track MIDI with a cable or Bluetooth - Backtracking track: Overlay tracks from Apple Music and record along with your favorite songs* - Open MIDI files and share your songs - Looping, editing and much more! Whether you're looking to save or visualize your musical performance, or want to learn/transcribe songs by ear, this app is the right tool for you! Note: - You might experience some latency when using Bluetooth audio devices. When connected to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, you might notice audio not lining up with visuals.  - If you're using Bluetooth MIDI, you can adjust the input latency in the app's Settings.

Screenshots

X/Y PAL2 screens
Note Spark4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Note Spark at weekly against X/Y PAL's every 8 months. X/Y PAL's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

X/Y PAL costs $1.99 and Note Spark $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, Note Spark weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
X/Y PAL versus Note Spark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterX/Y PALNote Spark
Price$1.99$1.99
Rating4.6 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.3 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDANIEL BRUEGGEmanolofdez

In-app purchases

None

X/Y PAL

No in-app purchases

None

Note Spark

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is X/Y PAL free?
X/Y PAL costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Note Spark free?
Note Spark costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do X/Y PAL or Note Spark have ads?
Neither X/Y PAL nor Note Spark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, X/Y PAL or Note Spark?
X/Y PAL ships an update every 8 months, and Note Spark weekly. Most recently, X/Y PAL was updated on September 25, 2026 and Note Spark on September 5, 2026.

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