Comparison

bFaaaP Pro & Switch vs MusicBall

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

Head to head
About

bFaaaP Pro & Switch

This app works with a special device to allow individuals with leg disabilities, young children, and the elderly to play the piano with sustained tones using head movements. An iOS device detects head motion and transmits signals to activate an electric piano pedal.

Highlights
  • Head motion detection via iOS device
  • Sustained piano tones without foot pedal
  • Electric piano pedal activation
  • Accessibility for leg disabilities
  • User-friendly setup guide
Features
Read full description

bFaaaP Pro & Switch turns head movements into piano sustain-pedal control, so you can play the pedal completely foot-free. It is the companion app for the bFaaaP barrier-free assist pedals β€” one app that drives two devices, depending on your instrument: - bFaaaP Pro (acoustic pianos): a motorized device that physically presses the real sustain pedal. It anchors with an inflatable "airback" β€” non-destructive, no bolting β€” and self-calibrates. - bFaaaP Switch (digital pianos): switches the sustain electronically through the pedal jack. Small, light and motor-free. Using the front camera, the app detects the angle of your head and converts it into pedal ON/OFF signals, sent over Bluetooth Low Energy to the bFaaaP device on your instrument. The same head-angle control works for both devices. This lets people who cannot use a foot pedal β€” including wheelchair users and players with limited leg mobility β€” enjoy expressive, pedal-based performance. WHO IT IS FOR - Pianists who cannot operate a foot pedal - Music therapy, special-needs and inclusive music education - Anyone exploring accessible, barrier-free music making HOW IT WORKS - Detects head angle with the front TrueDepth camera (ARKit face tracking) - Converts the angle into sustain pedal ON/OFF - Sends the signal over Bluetooth Low Energy to bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch PRIVACY - The camera is used ONLY to read your head/face angle. - That value is processed on-device, used to generate the pedal signal, then discarded. - No face data, image or video is stored or shared with anyone. AN OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT bFaaaP is an open-source, open-hardware barrier-free project by Shishido & Associates. The source code, hardware build details, the story behind it, and ways to contribute are public: - Project & community: https://bfaaap.com - Source code (open source): https://github.com/bfaaap/bfaaap_opensource - Developer & related services: https://saaipf.com SEE IT IN ACTION Watch bFaaaP being played in real concerts and recitals, with setup and how-to guides: - How the system works (overview): https://youtu.be/iyRqPa8TLgE - Live concert β€” grand piano + bFaaaP Pro: https://youtu.be/V3cXeNW9jXY - How to use bFaaaP Switch (electronic piano): https://youtu.be/XOVENtBsOp4 - Full performance & demo collection (English): https://saaipf.com/en/bfaaap/#videos - Build & set up your own β€” step-by-step guide (English): https://bfaaap.com/en/build/ - All videos (YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAvTy1k8rHs2WrEKPx1amg The app's source code is open and free on GitHub, so anyone can build and run it themselves. This App Store version is free, too β€” just install it and start playing. If you would like to help keep bFaaaP free and open for everyone, donations and support are always welcome (see the links above and at saaipf.com). Thank you for your support. You will need a bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch device to control a real pedal. Both are open hardware β€” visit bfaaap.com to learn how they are built and how to take part.

About

MusicBall

Features
Read full description

Drop in a song. Watch a machine get built to play it. MusicBall takes a piece of music and constructs a whole contraption around it β€” plates, curving rails, spiralling drops. Then a ball falls through the lot, and every note you hear is the ball hitting something. It's oddly hard to stop watching. EVERY SONG GETS ITS OWN MACHINE Change the song and everything changes. A gentle piece grows tall spirals the ball winds slowly down through. A fast one packs tight columns it ping-pongs between. Switch back and forth and you'll never see the same machine twice. YOU'LL START TO SEE THE MUSIC Every note has its own colour, and it keeps that colour wherever it turns up. A few minutes in and you're spotting a melody's repeats on the wall before you hear them come round again. PICK WHO PLAYS THE MELODY Hand the tune to a different part and the whole machine rebuilds around it. Or let the spotlight travel between parts as the piece goes on β€” the ball slides across to a new rig each time the lead changes. Or run two balls at once, side by side. EVERY HIT LANDS ON THE BEAT The ball never fakes it. It arrives exactly when the note does, every single time β€” so what you're watching and what you're hearing are the same thing happening. BRING YOUR OWN FAVOURITE Seven classics are built in to get you started: Canon in D, The Entertainer, Turkish March, In the Hall of the Mountain King, FΓΌr Elise, Prelude in C and GymnopΓ©die No. 1. After that, bring in anything you like β€” your file stays on your phone. FLY THE CAMERA Ride along with the ball, or take over: spin around it, pan across the machine, pinch to take in the whole thing at once. NOTHING TO SIGN UP FOR No account. No ads. No tracking, nothing collected. It works exactly the same in Airplane Mode.

Screenshots

bFaaaP Pro & Switch4 screens
MusicBall4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: bFaaaP Pro & Switch at Free against MusicBall's $4.99. bFaaaP Pro & Switch also leads on iOS requirement (14.5 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

bFaaaP Pro & Switch is free to download; MusicBall costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 5 level
bFaaaP Pro & Switch versus MusicBall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterbFaaaP Pro & SwitchMusicBall
PriceFree β€” better$4.99
Update frequencyEvery 20 monthsβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.5 β€” better26.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size1 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomoyuki ShishidoθΎ‰ ι‚“

In-app purchases

None

bFaaaP Pro & Switch

No in-app purchases

None

MusicBall

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is bFaaaP Pro & Switch free?
bFaaaP Pro & Switch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MusicBall free?
MusicBall costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do bFaaaP Pro & Switch or MusicBall have ads?
Neither bFaaaP Pro & Switch nor MusicBall shows ads.

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