X/Y PAL vs Note Spark
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Note Spark
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | X/Y PAL | Note Spark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (9 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DANIEL BRUEGGE | manolofdez |
In-app purchases
X/Y PAL
No in-app purchases
Note Spark
No in-app purchases









