moodunits vs MIDI Layers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
moodunits
This application provides a collection of instrument and effect Audio Units for use within compatible music production apps. It features a sample-based instrument with pre-loaded sounds and essential effects like delay, reverb, and EQ, designed for ease of use and CPU efficiency.
- Sample-based instrument (Waverley)
- 30 factory presets with tweakable parameters
- Essential audio effects (delay, reverb, EQ, filter, distortion)
- CPU-light design
- AUv3 compatible
- User guide and store access
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Please note: moodunits have been designed as a set of instrument and effect Audio Units. You need to load moodunits into any AUv3 compatible host application running on iPad or iPhone, such as GarageBand or AUM. The moodunits app is not a standalone instrument. More about moodunits... Waverley is the principal instrument in the moodunits collection. It’s sample-based, but it isn’t a fully-fledged sampling app that allows you to load and edit your own samples. There are already great apps out there that allow you to do that. Waverley in moodunits is pre-loaded with 30 factory sounds, that can be tweaked to taste via parameters that will hopefully be familiar to most of you. However, don’t worry if some parameter names look technical or scary - just experiment! You can’t really “break” Waverley or make “bad” sounds with it. moodunits also comes with some basic effects, allowing you to create a great sounding musical project using just moodunits and your favourite AU host. In keeping with the moodunits design principal, the effects are light on CPU and expose a few essential parameters. They're probably not going to replace your favourite bells and whistles mega reverb or delay, but their simplicity might come as a refreshing change. Currently these effects include a delay, reverb, low-pass filter, 10-band EQ, peak limiter and distortion. Please note: The moodunits app is not a standalone instrument, but can be used to access a detailed PDF user guide and the MU Store for additional downloads. Once you run the app, your moodunits are registered on your device and are ready to be used for music projects in your AU host of choice. For instructions on how to use Audio Units, please refer to relevant documentation for your host, e.g. GarageBand or AUM, etc. Note for advanced users: with the exception of the filter cutoff frequency and resonance in the filter AU, none of the parameters are exposed for automation. Also, please note that the design goals for moodunits is focussed on ease of use, so some advanced users may find the features basic. The screenshots and demo videos online should give you a good idea of what's possible. If in doubt, please ask.
MIDI Layers
This app allows musicians to intelligently route MIDI data, enabling complex keyboard splits, layered instruments, and seamless scene switching for live performances. Create up to 12 scenes with numerous layers, each with customizable MIDI output and note remapping.
- Up to 127 layers per scene
- 12 scenes per preset
- 16 output ports and channels
- Remote scene switching
- Layer mutes and mute groups
- Scales per scene
- Per-layer velocity curves
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MIDI Layers is an AUv3 MIDI plugin designed to allow sophisticated routing of MIDI data in hosts such as AUM or Cubasis. Have you ever wanted to play multiple instruments from a single master keyboard during a live performance? Would you like to be able to set up keyboard splits, crossfade layers or create an ensemble of layered instruments? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then MIDI Layers may be your solution. Layers allows you to create up to 12 scenes, each with up to 127 layers, spanning your entire master keyboard. These scenes allow you to seamlessly switch between various layer mappings at any time during a performance. Each layer controls the MIDI output, which can be routed to one of MIDI Layers 16 output ports and 16 channels. So if you have 5 layers in your scene, each layer is able to divert MIDI key input to 5 destinations, allowing you to control 5 instruments from one master keyboard. Layers can overlap, meaning you can create an ensemble of two or more instruments. Layers can also have cross fades so that you can fade from one instrument to another across a specified range. You can also control the velocity curves of a layer if you need to emphasize note velocity at a certain set of octaves. Each layer can also be remapped so that you can target a different key range on the destination instrument. This allows you to have several single note layers that can target specific drum machine samples for instance. You can assign a song per scene, or have several scenes containing parts of the same song. Switching scenes is simple, using the on screen scene buttons, via AU parameters, or you can even add a special control layer to a scene which can then be triggered via your master keyboard. It is also possible to assign a Program Changes to a layer. When you switch scenes, each layer can fire off its own program change to your destination instruments. Each scene can be assigned its own scale, which enables you to play using only the white notes so say goodbye to wrong notes. Finally, layers can be assigned to mute groups, allowing you to quickly turn on/off groups of layers with a single key or button press. Features: ○ Up to 127 layers per scene. ○ 12 scenes per preset. ○ Supports 16 output ports and 16 channels. ○ Remote switching of scenes using MIDI or AU. ○ Supports layer mutes and mute groups. ○ Named scenes with large scene selection mode. ○ Supports scales per scene which can be played using white notes only. ○ Each layer can define a Program Change that is sent when scenes are switched. ○ Supports per layer velocity curve. ○ Supports per layer remapping of notes on output. ○ Each layer can have a cross fade settings assigned. ○ Definable Master Keyboard size (6, 7, 8 or 10 octave). ○ Scene and mute control layers. ○ Provides default custom layouts. Please Note: This product will not work with GarageBand since it cannot load AUv3 MIDI plugins.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: moodunits at $3.99 against MIDI Layers's $12.99. moodunits also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 57%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). MIDI Layers's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 15.6). On rating, 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
moodunits costs $3.99 and MIDI Layers $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MIDI Layers holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 50 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 93% of moodunits's written reviews are positive against 57% of MIDI Layers's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
moodunits ships an update every 5 days, MIDI Layers fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | moodunits | MIDI Layers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (50 ratings) | 4.7 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.5% of reviews — better | 57.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 50 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3.0 GB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rob Jackson | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
moodunits
MIDI Layers
Bugs and requests
moodunits
Reported bugs
3 issues- Expansion packs not showing initially
- Crashes on exporting audio
- MU Store Error: Download could not be started
Requested features
7 requests- New packs, presets, synths
- More effects options (e.g., chorus)
- Reduced bundle for all moods
- Automation for iOS
- Own instrument sampler
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- More FX and Units
- Juno pads and basses
MIDI Layers
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
moodunits
No in-app purchases
MIDI Layers
No in-app purchases









