Comparison

Session Notes AU vs BrainBud

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Session Notes AU4 screens
BrainBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Session Notes AU versus BrainBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSession Notes AUBrainBud
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating4.1 (10 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian ThompsonCem Olcay

Customer experience

Session Notes AU

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral37.5%
Negative0.0%

BrainBud

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Session Notes AU

No in-app purchases

None

BrainBud

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Session Notes AU free?
Session Notes AU costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BrainBud free?
BrainBud costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Session Notes AU or BrainBud?
BrainBud is rated higher. Session Notes AU averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while BrainBud averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Session Notes AU or BrainBud have ads?
Neither Session Notes AU nor BrainBud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Session Notes AU or BrainBud?
Session Notes AU ships an update every 3 months, and BrainBud every 2 months. Most recently, Session Notes AU was updated on September 5, 2026 and BrainBud on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons