NS MIDI Player vs ScoreParrot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NS MIDI Player
This application allows users to play MIDI files on their Apple devices. It supports various MIDI formats, custom sound fonts, and synchronized lyrics. Advanced features like audio export and MIDI output connection are available via a one-time purchase.
- Play standard MIDI files (.mid, .midi, .kar)
- Support for custom SoundFonts (.sf2, .dls)
- View time-synced lyrics
- Connect to MIDI outputs
- Export MIDI as audio
- Queue multiple songs
- Background audio and AirPlay support
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NS MIDI Player is a simple MIDI player for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Features include: - Free! - No ads, subscriptions, or data collection - Play standard MIDI files (SMF) with file extensions .mid, .midi, and .kar - GM and GS standards supported with the default SoundFont - Use custom SoundFonts with file extension .sf2 or .dls - View time-synced lyrics - Connect to MIDI outputs with Core MIDI* - Export MIDI files as audio* - Queue multiple songs to be played in order* - "Open with" from other apps, such as Safari - Integrated with the Files app (iOS and iPadOS) - Supports drag-and-drop - Supports Quick Look previews - Share MIDI files directly from the app - Supports background audio and AirPlay - Lock screen and Control Center controls with scrubbing - Gapless repeat mode - Playback speed control with tap tempo - Customizable reverb - Transpose* Note: Features marked with an asterisk (*) require upgrading to the full version before they can be used. This is a one-time purchase shared across all of your devices and helps support further development. All other features are free. Included FluidR3Mono GM SoundFont is licensed under the MIT License. Included Sample MIDI file is "Hard Times" from http://www.soundswell.co.uk/pages/swmids.htm and is in the public domain. This app and its creator are not affiliated with the creators of these files in any way.
ScoreParrot
This app transforms audio recordings or uploaded music files into MIDI data. It offers playback visualization and exports the transcribed music in MIDI, MusicXML, or PDF formats. Users can save files directly to their device or share them.
- Record audio directly
- Upload audio files (MP3, WAV, M4A)
- Export as MIDI, MusicXML, PDF
- MIDI playback visualization
- Save/share to Files, AirDrop
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ScoreParrot listens to music and turns it into MIDI. Upload an audio file or record directly in the app. ScoreParrot returns a MIDI file you can import into any DAW, or notation app. ScoreParrot can also export the MIDI as musicxml or PDF format. FEATURES • Record audio directly in the app or upload audio in common formats - MP3, WAV, M4A • Play back the MIDI with a piano roll or falling notes visualization to preview transcribed notes • Save the MIDI / musicxml / PDF file to Files, AirDrop, or share. • View past transcription orders SUBSCRIPTION ScoreParrot Pro unlocks 1800 minute audio transcription per month. A free tier with 15 minute per month limit lets you try the service before subscribing. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ScoreParrot at 5.0 against NS MIDI Player's 4.5. ScoreParrot also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). NS MIDI Player's advantage is ratings volume (211 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. NS MIDI Player sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and ScoreParrot sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ScoreParrot holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NS MIDI Player has 211 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
NS MIDI Player ships an update every 3 months, ScoreParrot every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NS MIDI Player | ScoreParrot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (211 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 211 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 130 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nitin Seshadri | SWINNOVATE INC |
Bugs and requests
NS MIDI Player
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes frequently during normal use
- Settings menu causes crashes
- Export/conversion button force closes app
- Soundfont file picker fails to open
- Audio initialization errors with some soundfonts
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- App freezes after several minutes of use
- Some MIDI files only play with default soundfont
- Reverb and echo instruments play at incorrect volumes
- App stops playing when sent to background
- File extension case sensitivity (.mid vs .MID)
- Large MIDI files (1.2MB+) fail to load or load extremely slowly
- Soundfont compatibility issues with newer formats
- Audio output issues despite correct system settings
- App reappears on iPad after deletion from Mac
Requested features
16 requests- Playlist creation and management
- Instrument selection/replacement per channel
- Background playback with screen off
- Auto-play all files in folder
- Pitch adjustment capability
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- MIDI file browser within app
- Visual feedback (piano roll, notes, chords)
- Support for additional formats (MMF, MXMF, PMD, MLD)
- DLS level 1 support
- Drag and drop from Finder
- File deletion button
- Track history/recently played list
- Persistent soundfont loading
- Loop sections of MIDI files
- External control via Bluetooth
- Batch file processing
ScoreParrot
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NS MIDI Player
- Thanks$0.99
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
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- NS MIDI Player (Full Unlock)$7.99
- Large Tip$9.99
ScoreParrot
- ScoreParrot Pro$7.991 Month
Questions
Is NS MIDI Player free?
Is ScoreParrot free?
Which has better reviews, NS MIDI Player or ScoreParrot?
Do NS MIDI Player or ScoreParrot have ads?
Which is updated more often, NS MIDI Player or ScoreParrot?
Other comparisons
