Comparison

Master vs Soloist Recorder

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

Head to head
About

Master

Learn maritime navigation rules with an interactive system designed for effective retention. This app breaks down complex regulations into manageable sections with visual aids and mnemonics. It revisits incorrect answers and provides instant graphical feedback, making the learning process intuitive and efficient.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning system
  • Step-by-step rule guidance
  • Mnemonics and memory aids
  • Interactive visuals
  • Graphical feedback on answers
  • Practice section with progress tracking
Features
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Master-Nav is a progressive COLREGS learning system developed by a Master Mariner. The COLREGS are notoriously difficult to learn and retain — Master-Nav makes it significantly easier through an interactive system built around how your brain actually works. Instead of guessing through random question banks, Master-Nav guides you step by step through every rule from start to finish. Wrong answers are revisited until the rules stick — properly. Complex regulations are broken down into learnable chunks — bite-sized sections supported by mnemonics, memory aids and interactive visuals designed around how the brain actually retains information. Every incorrect answer is shown graphically alongside the correct one — immediately clear, no confusion. And with a single tap, the relevant COLREGS rule is accessible from any question at any time. Master-Nav covers COLREGS Parts A to D — General, Steering & Sailing, Lights & Shapes and Sound & Light Signals — plus Annex IV Distress Signals. Over 1000 questions in multiple formats, with a dedicated Practice Section that tracks right, wrong and unanswered so you always know where to focus. COLREGS — the easy way.

About

Soloist Recorder

Features
Read full description

Play a real recorder song in your first session—then improve with feedback that stays honest when the microphone is uncertain. Soloist Recorder combines recognizable songs, a structured method, Baroque and German fingerings, tuning, play-along practice, and conservative on-device grading. If a take is too quiet, noisy, or unclear, the app abstains instead of inventing a wrong-note verdict. PLAY SONGS YOU RECOGNIZE • Start with Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and Ode to Joy • Explore 150 graded recorder pieces, including 12 vetted traditional or public-domain standards • See letter notes beneath standard notation • Follow a 12-song Soloist Belt path; the first three belts are included LEARN STEP BY STEP • 12 structured units with 49 guided lessons • Five included foundation lessons • Recorder-native work on note reading, rhythm, articulation, register changes, chromatic notes, phrasing, and recital preparation • Short daily plans that adapt to your next useful practice step SEE AND HEAR EVERY FINGERING • Soprano recorder chart across the taught C5–D7 range • Baroque and German systems • Thumb, front-hole, and supported half-hole states • Tap-to-hear reference notes • Large, readable iPad layouts for a music stand REVIEW WHAT THE MIC HEARD • Measured pitch and timing feedback • Note-by-note evidence, heatmaps, targeted loop drills, session summaries, saved-take history, and trends with Pro • Low-confidence audio produces an honest, neutral abstention • Recorder audio is analyzed on device and never uploaded PRACTICE TOOLS • Forever-available tuner with A=440 and A=415 choices • Metronome, Tone & Register Lab, Sight Reading, fingering atelier, quizzes, and recorder knowledge • Measured octave-jump guidance without guessing at a physical cause BRING YOUR OWN MELODY Create monophonic recorder practice from a file, a hummed idea, or music played aloud. One completed import is included on this installation; Pro includes unlimited completed imports. Only import material you have the right to use. Imported melodies stay on your device. ASK COACH, YOUR WAY The included Coach reply is on device, and Pro makes on-device guidance unlimited. With a monthly or yearly plan, learners aged 18 or older can separately opt in to take-aware remote Coach replies, written by a third-party AI service, under fair use. Under-18 learners—and anyone who does not consent to remote processing—use on-device guidance only. Remote replies may contain errors; verify fingerings in the app. A USEFUL INCLUDED TIER The fingering chart and tuner, five foundation lessons, eight graded songs, top-line take feedback, one completed import, and one on-device Coach reply are included. Pro unlocks the remaining lessons and songs, detailed feedback and history, unlimited completed imports, and unlimited on-device guidance. Buy Lifetime once to keep all of it for good, or choose a monthly or yearly plan, which also includes eligible adult remote Coach access. No account is required. Soloist Recorder runs on iPhone and iPad. Microphone permission is needed only for features that listen to you; lessons, notation, reference tools, and manual practice controls remain available without it. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in App Store account settings. Lifetime is a one-time purchase and does not renew. Privacy: https://recorder.keenshift.ai/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://recorder.keenshift.ai/terms Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Master4 screens
Soloist Recorder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Soloist Recorder at Free against Master's $1.99. Master's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On ads and device support 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

Soloist Recorder is free to download; Master costs $1.99 up front. Soloist Recorder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Master ships an update fortnightly, Soloist Recorder every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Master versus Soloist Recorder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMasterSoloist Recorder
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (100 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews96.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings100 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeterjohn ChisholmMitaanshu Agarwal

In-app purchases

None

Master

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Soloist Recorder

One-time1
  • Soloist Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Master free?
Master costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Soloist Recorder free?
Soloist Recorder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Master or Soloist Recorder have ads?
Neither Master nor Soloist Recorder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Master or Soloist Recorder?
Master ships an update fortnightly, and Soloist Recorder every 2 months. Most recently, Master was updated on November 7, 2026 and Soloist Recorder on November 5, 2026.

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