MIDIculous Learning Software vs Crescendo Masters Edition
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDIculous Learning Software
This music learning software allows users to play MIDI files with high-quality virtual instruments. It offers features to manipulate pitch, key, and tempo for various media, and enables teachers to create synchronized learning files for students.
- High-quality MIDI file player
- Load and manipulate MIDI, Audio, and Video files
- Create and share proprietary LMS/LMV learning files
- Virtual instrument display with animated colorization
- VST/AU/AAX plugin support
- Resizable interface and detachable widgets
Read full descriptionHide full description
High Quality MIDI File Player: MIDIculous is the most feature-rich music learning software for students and teachers. At its core it is a high quality MIDI File Player where you can use the stock General MIDI soundest or you can use AUv3 apps already installed on your iPad. ————— Learning Tool for Musicians: If you upgrade to the Pro Expansion, you will gain the ability to load virtually any MIDI, Audio, and video file to be able to change the pitch, key, transpose, and loop in order to learn from the various different media sources. We recommend trying to find the MIDI file as this is the only file format that allows you to view the actual note data using our beautiful virtual instruments. ————— Proprietary LMV and LMS Files: LMV and LMS respectively stands for Live-MIDI-VIDO and Live-MIDI-Sync. Out of the box, MIDIculous can play these files for free. These are proprietary files that can contain a combination of MIDI, Audio, and/or video at the same time. So picture this super learning file that contains multi-channel MIDI and a video file all in one, where a student can see the video AND see the notes of the MIDI in sync at the same time, such that when the user wants to change the pitch, loop, or slow down the video to learn, all of the comments are precisely in sync with one another. A teacher who purchases the Pro version will be able to make this proprietary file and send this file to all of their students and the student can view this file using the FREE player. This makes for the most amazing supplemental tool and resource for their students. ———— Online Learning Display: With the most beautifully designed virtual instruments (Bass, Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, Organ) a teacher can display or project their screen through avenues such as Zoom, Ecamm, and OBS for a virtual seminar or session with their student. Allowing the student to see the animated colorization of instruments allows for a better teaching and learning experience. ———— The FREE Versions Allows: 1. FREE Version plays LMS and LMV files 2. Full MIDI Input and Instruments Display 3. Play Plugins through LMS/LMV Files The Pro Version Unlocks: 1. Play all supported media files 2. Detach Instruments and Widgets 3. Load as a Plugin in your DAW 4. Create LMS and LMV files for students ———— Main Highlights: • Completely new source code and architecture • Comes as a VST/AU/AAX Plugin • New Resizable Interface and widgets • All components detachable and colorable (Score, Chords, Instruments, Pedals) • Plugin Manager to Manage Plugins • Updated Animated Modwheels • Updated Animated 3-Foot Pedals (Sustain, Soft, Sostenuto) • Updated recognition of sharps, accidentals, and enharmonics ———— Main Features • Vector based UI for crisp HD graphics • Resizable GUI and Distortion modes • Load MIDI Files with full sound, Sysex changes, tempo, and key signatures recognized • Load Audio Files • Load Video Files • Load LMS (Live-MIDI Sync) which is a MIDI and an Audio file in one file for detailed instructions from teachers with MIDI data. • Load LMV (Live-MIDI Video) which is a Video and Audio file together for enhanced visual lesson with MIDI data. • Change Pitch, Tempo for file or loop points for Audio, MIDI, and Video • High Quality Re-Pitch algorithm with adjustable re-pitching and slow-down modes • Score View • Solfege Notation with two international standard version options • Create Loop points • Save all settings and loop points to a .midiculous file • GM Sound source through OS • Set the Root Tempo and Root Key. • Split keyboard options for MIDI Input and for MIDI file playback • Panic button for stuck notes • Dedicated MIDI input that can be mixed with MIDI notes. • Viewable Sustain pedal view • Detachable objects with fully customizable colors • Keyboards to have multiple keyboard views • VST/AU/AAX Plugin Capable • MIDI Forwarding Options • Dedicated Plugin Manager to isolate crashed plugins
Crescendo Masters Edition
Easily arrange professional-quality sheet music, guitar tabs, and percussion notation. Add notes, accidentals, text, and lyrics, then listen back to your compositions with MIDI playback. This tool is ideal for composers to write, save, and print their musical ideas.
- Create sheet music, guitar tabs, percussion notation
- Change time and key signatures
- Add whole to thirty-second notes with accidentals
- Drag notes to adjust pitch and placement
- Add text for titles, tempo, dynamics, lyrics
- MIDI playback for compositions
- Save and print music
Read full descriptionHide full description
Crescendo Masters makes arranging your own professional quality sheet music fun and easy. Create sheet music, guitar tabs, or percussion notation. With Crescendo, you can easily change the time signature and key signature and choose between Treble, Bass, Tenor, and Alto Clefs. Add notes from whole to thirty-second and assign sharps, flats, or natural accidentals to them. You can also easily drag notes to change their pitch or placement. Place text wherever in your sheet music to add titles, specify tempo changes and dynamics, or write lyrics. When you are finished, listen back to your composition with MIDI playback. Crescendo is the perfect program for composers to write, save and print their music compositions on their computer. This version of Crescendo is under a 7-day free trial. Once the trial expires, you will have to pay for the subscription in order to access the full features.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Crescendo Masters Edition at fortnightly against MIDIculous Learning Software's every 7 months. Crescendo Masters Edition also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. MIDIculous Learning Software sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Crescendo Masters Edition sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MIDIculous Learning Software ships an update every 7 months, Crescendo Masters Edition fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIculous Learning Software | Crescendo Masters Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 314 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MIDIculous LLC | NCH Software |
Customer experience
MIDIculous Learning Software
Crescendo Masters Edition
In-app purchases
MIDIculous Learning Software
- MiDIculous Signature Keys$9.99
- Pro Expansion$12.99
Crescendo Masters Edition
- Full Features (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
Questions
Is MIDIculous Learning Software free?
Is Crescendo Masters Edition free?
Do MIDIculous Learning Software or Crescendo Masters Edition have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDIculous Learning Software or Crescendo Masters Edition?
Other comparisons















