MIDI Layers vs ANALOGyGR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
ANALOGyGR
This virtual analog synthesizer generates experimental sound design and atmospheric textures using a unique 'granalog' approach. It features eight polyphonic voices with multiple oscillators and adjustable grain parameters for dynamic, evolving sounds. Designed for real-time performance and manipulation, it integrates with MIDI devices and hosts.
- Eight-voice polyphonic virtual analog synth
- Granular-inspired oscillator rendering
- Adjustable grain shape and length
- Randomized oscillator and grain parameters
- MIDI CC and polyphonic aftertouch support
- Real-time performance manipulation
- AUv3 plugin and standalone operation
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ANALOGyGR Granalog Synth (AUv3) ANALOGyGR is a virtual instrument plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host such as Logic Pro or GarageBand. Please note that the standalone version does not include a built-in keyboard - you need to connect a suitable MIDI device to play the synth. What's a "granalog" synth? It's granular... but (probably) not as you know it. ANALOGyGR (analog-ee gee are) is not a granular synth in the traditional sense, but it does borrow some ideas and terminology from granular synthesis. Please note that ANALOGyGR is not a file-based audio effects processor that allows you to load your own samples, and this is what makes it different, possibly even unique! At its heart, ANALOGyGR is an eight voice polyphonic virtual analog synth with oscillators that are rendered as "grains". While ANALOGyGR can get close to sounding like a "normal" synth, it's really aimed at people who prefer more experimental type sound design and atmospheric textures. For traditional analog sounds, I'd ask you to also take a look at the popular ANALOGyXS (poly) and ANALOGyX1 (mono) synths as all three cover slightly different sonic territory. Design Overview Each of the 8 voices in ANALOGyGR have 3 dedicated grain oscillators each (saw, triangle and square waveforms), and these 24 oscillators are used to generate grains of varying shape (saw, ramp and triangle envelopes) and variable length (50ms to 10 seconds). The oscillator and grain shape can also be randomly selected on each grain cycle for some really interesting dynamic textures, and grains are also randomly spread in the stereo field. ANALOGyGR also has a noise generator that can be applied to the main amplitude ASR envelope, or at the grain level. Grain notes can be pitched up or down an octave on alternate cycles or randomly per voice, and can also glide from one note to the next which can make even the simplest chord sound much more intriguing! ANALOGyGR also shares many of the "under the hood" features introduced in ANALOGyXS and ANALOGyX1 which can result is some very complex, evolving and dramatic sounds for a relatively small synth with just 16 parameters. Speaking of which... ANALOGyGR has been designed very much as a performance-based instrument to be played and manipulated in real-time. To facilitate this, all of the instrument parameters are controllable via dedicated MIDI CCs from your keyboard or another MIDI generator plugin. ANALOGyGR can also respond to channel and polyphonic aftertouch pressure MIDI messages for an enhanced and expressive playing experience. As the sounds of ANALOGyGR typically tend to evolve over time, it is perhaps better suited to sustained note passages and sparse / simple chord voicings combined with a dynamic playing style. Please note that while ANALOGyGR has been designed to be CPU-friendly, if you want to take advantage of the extended MIDI capabilities such as polyphonic aftertouch and parameter modulation, a fairly up to date hardware setup is recommended. More info: https://www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ANALOGyGR at $2.99 against MIDI Layers's $12.99. ANALOGyGR also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 57%) and chart position (#196 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
MIDI Layers costs $12.99 and ANALOGyGR $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MIDI Layers against 4.7 for ANALOGyGR. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 57% of MIDI Layers's written reviews are positive against 100% of ANALOGyGR's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDI Layers | ANALOGyGR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (13 ratings) | 4.7 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #196 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 13 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 4Pockets.com | Rob Jackson |
Customer experience
MIDI Layers
ANALOGyGR
In-app purchases
MIDI Layers
No in-app purchases
ANALOGyGR
No in-app purchases









