Comparison

OODA vs PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

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

Head to head
About

OODA

This app offers a unique approach to MIDI sequencing with interactive and semi-generative features. Connect steps with conditional 'wormholes' for structured variation and create melodic variations in real-time without disrupting the groove. Its flexible grid supports various musical applications, from simple melodies to complex generative patterns.

Highlights
  • Record sequences up to 64 steps
  • Interactive step sequencing with wormholes
  • Four independent voices with customizable settings
  • Real-time melodic variation control
  • Flexible grid configuration
  • Standalone and AUv3 host compatibility
  • MIDI clock sync and output
Features
Read full description

OODA is a fresh take on the classic MIDI step sequencer with interactive and semi-generative enhancements. What makes OODA unique is that you can connect arbitrary steps together using conditional “wormholes” to add structured (or random) variation to your sequences. Another unique feature is that OODA’s underlying model is decoupled from its voices. This allows you to interact with your sequences and create melodic variations in real time without affecting your groove. OODA’s open-ended sequence grid can be easily configured for almost any use case. Anything from simple melodies and bass parts to semi-generative chords and arpeggios, OODA can do it all with a little creativity! Features: - Record sequences up to 64 steps with the in-app keyboard or an external MIDI device - Interact with your sequence on the fly using four “action” buttons - Link together steps using conditional wormholes to create structure and variation - Create complex patterns of melody and rhythm using four independent voices - Change voice speed independent of sequencer speed - Comes with ten factory presets to give you an idea of what OODA is capable of - Explore a deep, yet focused set of parameters - Sequencer Settings - Grid size (4x4 or 8x8) - Sync voices to sequencer rate - Sequencer rate - Sequencer direction - Shift amount (semitones) - Live toggle rests and skips - Wormhole Patcher - Conditionally “reroute” your sequence by connecting arbitrary steps - Per-step wormholes - Destination and normal steps per wormhole - Trig conditions and probability for moving through each wormhole (see below for list) - Voice Settings - Four voices with independent settings - Enable/disable - Rate of play (in beat time from 16 bars to 32nd T) - Includes unique note values based on the Golden Ratio for maximum generative fun! - Length of note (10% to 100%) - Variety of rules for selecting notes from active step (see below for list) - Pitch offset - Unique pattern control for creating rhythms and polymeters, now with step options - Easily add holds, ties, accents (positive and negative), ratchets, and trig conditions - MIDI velocity and channel - Flexible Connectivity - Use in a compatible audio unit host like AUM, or in standalone mode - Control multiple instruments at once with five MIDI outputs - One for all voices together, and one for each voice by itself - Sync to the tempo of other devices using Ableton Link or MIDI clock (standalone) - Send MIDI clock to external synths (standalone, experimental feature) - Connect to Bluetooth MIDI devices - Modulate OODA’s parameters in a compatible AUv3 host (audio unit) - Eight unique MIDI CC outputs derived from OODA’s sequencer model - Sequencer X, Sequencer Y, Sequence Phase, Action OR, and per-voice random - Includes macOS app! IMPORTANT: OODA can be used as a standalone app or as an AUv3 plugin. There are some important differences between the two. The standalone app features a simple, toggleable "Sidekick Synth" so you can quickly experiment with OODA. Of course, you can also send MIDI from the standalone app. Meanwhile, the OODA AUv3 plugin does NOT generate sound. Instead, you use it to send MIDI (note messages) to other apps, plugins, or hardware instruments that do the actual sound generation. AUv3 plugins must be used inside a compatible host. Available Wormhole Rules - Always, 1x through 7x, 2:2 through 8:8, 10%, 25%, 33%, 50%, 67%, 75%, 90%, Last, Not Last Available Voice Rules - Nth, Lowest, Highest, Random, Up, Down, UpDown, DownUp, UpDown+, DownUp+, Rise, Fall View manual: https://www.audiosymmetric.com/manuals.html View tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Uka-nFom-pgTB-DftgDvA

About

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

Create complex musical sequences with multiple polyrhythmic tracks. Control note, velocity, gate, and MIDI CC parameters with independent step lengths and rates. Route MIDI output to your favorite synths and AUv3 hosts.

Highlights
  • Multitrack polyrhythmic MIDI sequencing
  • Note and MIDI CC tracks
  • Configurable step lengths per mode
  • Independent track rates
  • Assignable MIDI channels
  • Ramp value for CC smoothing
  • AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

PolyBud is a multitrack polyrhythmic AUv3 MIDI sequencer. You can add multiple note or MIDI CC tracks to the each pattern. The note tracks has the note, velocity, gate, ratchet, probability and randomisation modes. You can set different step lengths to the each mode which would introduce polyrhythmic variations immediately. Another great feature is the each track can run in a different rate which is great for creating unique polyrhythmic sequences. Also, you can assign different MIDI channels to the each track so that you can control multiple synths within a single PolyBud pattern. The MIDI CC tracks is great for modulating the synth parameters. You can introduce polyrhythmic modulations by setting the different step lengths and different rates to your MIDI CC tracks. Also, you can set a ramp value for smoothing up the CC value changes per step. If you set the ramp value to 0% then you can have the classic sample and hold modulation. PolyBud is a MIDI app and it don't produce any sound of its own. You need to route PolyBud's MIDI out to your audio apps in order to run PolyBud. For the AUv3 plugin, you need an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubase, NanoStudio, ZenBeats, BeatMaker, apeMatrix etc.

Screenshots

OODA2 screens
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer at every 2 weeks against OODA's every 4 months. PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer also leads on price ($5.99 vs $8.99) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). OODA's advantage is ratings volume (38 vs 9). On rating, 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

OODA costs $8.99 and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for OODA against 4.9 for PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 9 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of OODA's written reviews are positive against 100% of PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OODA ships an update every 4 months, PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OODA versus PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOODAPolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer
Price$8.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.8 (38 ratings)4.9 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan RobinsonCem Olcay

Customer experience

OODA

All ratings38 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive91.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative4.3%

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OODA

No in-app purchases

None

PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OODA free?
OODA costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer free?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OODA or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer?
PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer is rated higher. OODA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer averages 4.9 from 9 ratings.
Do OODA or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer have ads?
Neither OODA nor PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OODA or PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer?
OODA ships an update every 4 months, and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer every 2 weeks. Most recently, OODA was updated on October 27, 2026 and PolyBud Polyrhythmic Sequencer on October 24, 2026.

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