Session Notes AU vs BrainBud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Session Notes AU
This app integrates note-taking directly into your music production workflow, allowing you to manage lyrics, mix ideas, and session details within your DAW. Version 2.0 enhances writing tools, navigation, and data safety with features like iCloud sync and backups.
- Integrated DAW workflow
- Markdown-aware writing
- Keyboard accessory tools
- Automatic iCloud sync
- Backup and restore functionality
- AUv3 plugin and standalone app
- Customizable themes and fonts
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Session Notes AU keeps your lyrics, mix notes, set lists, production reminders, and session notes inside the same DAW workflow where you track, edit, rehearse, and mix. Instead of bouncing out to a separate notes app, you can keep the writing and the work in the same place. Version 2.0 turns Session Notes AU into a more capable production companion with better writing tools, better note navigation, a flexible editor layout, and a safer day-to-day writing flow. Built For Real Session Work - Keep notes inside your DAW workflow instead of breaking focus - Switch quickly between the note browser and the active note - Resize the editor and note list with a drag handle - Use a more polished note browser with clearer active-note focus Brand New Writing Tools In 2.0 - Markdown-aware writing support - Keyboard accessory tools for lists, checklists, links, undo, redo, find, stats, and quick structure helpers - List, checklist, numbered-list, and blockquote continuation - Indent, outdent, and paired insertion helpers - In-note Find with live match highlighting - Live document stats while you write - Autosave for existing notes while you work Safer Session Flow In 2.0 - Automatic iCloud sync across devices - Manual sync when you want more control - Backup to Files App - Restore from backup if needed - Safer handling for note changes across devices Also Included - AUv3 plug-in workflow plus standalone app - Save, Save As New Note, share, delete, and reorder actions - Multiple themes for different studio environments - Separate font and size controls for browser text, title text, and note body text - Comprehensive built-in in-app manual Session Notes AU is designed for musicians, producers, engineers, and performers who want notes to feel like part of the session, not a second app sitting off to the side.
BrainBud
This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.
- Centralized key and scale control
- MIDI out to multiple Bud apps
- Budcast for parameter broadcasting
- Randomize musical parameters
- AUv3 plugin for automation
- Requires other Bud apps to function
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BrainBud controls the keys and scales of the Bud apps all at once. Connect BrainBud’s MIDI out to MIDI inputs of: - SnakeBud - PolyBud - MelodyBud - ShiftBud - ScaleBud 2 - In Theory - Textquencer - Binarhythmic - Auto Bass - BounceBud - MuseBud - Kebarp - FuncBud - Note to Be You can also broadcast the current key/scale to the newly connected apps with Budcast button. If you’d like to experiment, you can try the randomise button. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change the BrainBud's parameters or even automate them with AU parameters. For using the AUv3 plugin make sure you have an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix. BrainBud is a MIDI based app and requires other Bud apps present in order to work right. If you don't have any other Bud apps mentioned above, you can't make a use of BrainBud. BrainBud doesn't produce any kind of sound on its own.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BrainBud at 5.0 against Session Notes AU's 4.1. BrainBud also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Session Notes AU's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 2) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On update cadence, 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
Session Notes AU costs $1.99 and BrainBud $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Session Notes AU has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Session Notes AU's written reviews are positive against 100% of BrainBud's.
Session Notes AU ships an update every 3 months, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Session Notes AU | BrainBud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Thompson | Cem Olcay |
Customer experience
Session Notes AU
BrainBud
In-app purchases
Session Notes AU
No in-app purchases
BrainBud
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Session Notes AU free?
Is BrainBud free?
Which has better reviews, Session Notes AU or BrainBud?
Do Session Notes AU or BrainBud have ads?
Which is updated more often, Session Notes AU or BrainBud?
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