Comparison

BlueKeyDetect vs MTC Generator

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

Head to head
About

BlueKeyDetect

Instantly identify the musical key and tempo of songs by recording short audio clips. Ideal for musicians in jam sessions needing quick key information.

Highlights
  • Record audio clips
  • Detect musical key
  • Display beats per minute (BPM)
  • Supports guitar and bass jam sessions
  • Multiple recording options for accuracy
Read full description

If you are part of a jam sessions with guitar or bass, you should know the key in which the others are playing. The pros among you may be able to hear that, but I either need the information from the chord sheet or someone knows the key ... As a programmer, I quickly have an app in mind simply recording a piece of a song and then recognizing the key via my iPhone. The result is the BlueKeyDetect app: One touch on the display plus a short piece of recording and the beats per minute with the key of the song are displayed. You should record short pieces several times or a slightly longer one to get the correct key displayed. There are limits, since the key in the song can also change and depending on the song, the recognition can be difficult anyway, but in practice it still works quite well if you take a few things into account: ① Find places in the song where there is a lot of sound. Drums and percussion don't do much to recognize the key. ② The longer you record the song, the greater the chances of recognizing the correct key. Alternatively, you can record short phrases several times and then choose the most detected key. ③ Background noise makes detection difficult, so if possible record only the song and not at a low level.

About

MTC Generator

This application generates and sends MIDI Timecode (MTC) over a network to synchronize audio and lighting systems. It allows for precise control of playback, including starting, stopping, and resetting timecode, facilitating seamless rehearsals and live performances.

Highlights
  • Generates MIDI Timecode (MTC)
  • Sends MTC via Network MIDI
  • Controls playback (Start, Stop, Reset)
  • Synchronizes audio and lighting systems
  • Facilitates precise time jumps
  • Compatible with QLab
Read full description

MTC – MIDI Timecode Generator sends MIDI Timecode (MTC) via Apple’s Network MIDI protocol. Your device must be on the same network as your Mac and simply connected in Audio MIDI Setup → MIDI Network Configuration. In QLab, for example, you can adjust the Timecode settings in your Main Cue List and trigger cue groups via incoming timecode. Important: The "Stop" button also sends a MIDI note. It should trigger “Pause All” in your controls, providing an additional safeguard for the pause mode of the timecode. With Start, Stop, and Reset, you can control playback or perform precise time jumps, which is essential during rehearsals. During a rehearsal, you can jump to any position in music or lighting scenes while all connected systems remain perfectly synchronized via timecode.

Screenshots

BlueKeyDetect4 screens
MTC Generator3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BlueKeyDetect at 10.0 against MTC Generator's 17.6. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

BlueKeyDetect costs $0.99 and MTC Generator $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for BlueKeyDetect against 5.0 for MTC Generator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BlueKeyDetect ships an update every 8 months, MTC Generator every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BlueKeyDetect versus MTC Generator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlueKeyDetectMTC Generator
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan ArnholdDanyel Kern

Customer experience

BlueKeyDetect

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

MTC Generator

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BlueKeyDetect

No in-app purchases

None

MTC Generator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BlueKeyDetect free?
BlueKeyDetect costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MTC Generator free?
MTC Generator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BlueKeyDetect or MTC Generator?
BlueKeyDetect and MTC Generator are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do BlueKeyDetect or MTC Generator have ads?
Neither BlueKeyDetect nor MTC Generator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BlueKeyDetect or MTC Generator?
BlueKeyDetect ships an update every 8 months, and MTC Generator every 9 months. Most recently, BlueKeyDetect was updated on September 27, 2026 and MTC Generator on September 17, 2026.

Other comparisons