Comparison

MIDI Layers vs Transposer Pro

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

Head to head
About

MIDI Layers

This app allows musicians to intelligently route MIDI data, enabling complex keyboard splits, layered instruments, and seamless scene switching for live performances. Create up to 12 scenes with numerous layers, each with customizable MIDI output and note remapping.

Highlights
  • Up to 127 layers per scene
  • 12 scenes per preset
  • 16 output ports and channels
  • Remote scene switching
  • Layer mutes and mute groups
  • Scales per scene
  • Per-layer velocity curves
Features
Read full description

MIDI Layers is an AUv3 MIDI plugin designed to allow sophisticated routing of MIDI data in hosts such as AUM or Cubasis. Have you ever wanted to play multiple instruments from a single master keyboard during a live performance? Would you like to be able to set up keyboard splits, crossfade layers or create an ensemble of layered instruments? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then MIDI Layers may be your solution. Layers allows you to create up to 12 scenes, each with up to 127 layers, spanning your entire master keyboard. These scenes allow you to seamlessly switch between various layer mappings at any time during a performance. Each layer controls the MIDI output, which can be routed to one of MIDI Layers 16 output ports and 16 channels. So if you have 5 layers in your scene, each layer is able to divert MIDI key input to 5 destinations, allowing you to control 5 instruments from one master keyboard. Layers can overlap, meaning you can create an ensemble of two or more instruments. Layers can also have cross fades so that you can fade from one instrument to another across a specified range. You can also control the velocity curves of a layer if you need to emphasize note velocity at a certain set of octaves. Each layer can also be remapped so that you can target a different key range on the destination instrument. This allows you to have several single note layers that can target specific drum machine samples for instance. You can assign a song per scene, or have several scenes containing parts of the same song. Switching scenes is simple, using the on screen scene buttons, via AU parameters, or you can even add a special control layer to a scene which can then be triggered via your master keyboard. It is also possible to assign a Program Changes to a layer. When you switch scenes, each layer can fire off its own program change to your destination instruments. Each scene can be assigned its own scale, which enables you to play using only the white notes so say goodbye to wrong notes. Finally, layers can be assigned to mute groups, allowing you to quickly turn on/off groups of layers with a single key or button press. Features: ○ Up to 127 layers per scene. ○ 12 scenes per preset. ○ Supports 16 output ports and 16 channels. ○ Remote switching of scenes using MIDI or AU. ○ Supports layer mutes and mute groups. ○ Named scenes with large scene selection mode. ○ Supports scales per scene which can be played using white notes only. ○ Each layer can define a Program Change that is sent when scenes are switched. ○ Supports per layer velocity curve. ○ Supports per layer remapping of notes on output. ○ Each layer can have a cross fade settings assigned. ○ Definable Master Keyboard size (6, 7, 8 or 10 octave). ○ Scene and mute control layers. ○ Provides default custom layouts. Please Note: This product will not work with GarageBand since it cannot load AUv3 MIDI plugins.

About

Transposer Pro

Features
Read full description

This app is designed to show how a note written for a given instrument (e.g. a Clarinet in Bb) would be written on another instrument (e.g. a Horn in F). - Intended for music students, conductors, composers and anybody who wants to get quicker at reading scores - Choose from over 100 instruments to transpose - many with configurable keys and clefs - Use the slider to interactively see the result of the transposition - Includes info on instrument ranges and transposition properties - Supports 4 clefs (automatically selected based on instrument conventions and register) - Includes guidance on the fundamentals of reading transposing instruments - Supports dark and light themes

Screenshots

MIDI Layers4 screens
Transposer Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Transposer Pro at $0.99 against MIDI Layers's $12.99. MIDI Layers's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months) and iOS requirement (13 vs 16.3). On ads, in-app purchases 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

MIDI Layers costs $12.99 and Transposer Pro $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Layers ships an update fortnightly, Transposer Pro every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MIDI Layers versus Transposer Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI LayersTransposer Pro
Price$12.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.7 (13 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better16.3
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comMatt Welch

In-app purchases

None

MIDI Layers

No in-app purchases

None

Transposer Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI Layers free?
MIDI Layers costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Transposer Pro free?
Transposer Pro costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MIDI Layers or Transposer Pro have ads?
Neither MIDI Layers nor Transposer Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Layers or Transposer Pro?
MIDI Layers ships an update fortnightly, and Transposer Pro every 11 months. Most recently, MIDI Layers was updated on October 16, 2026 and Transposer Pro on October 3, 2026.

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