Comparison

MIDI Layers vs ANALOGySAW

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

ANALOGySAW

This virtual instrument plugin emulates 90s-era 'super saw' synthesizers with a warm, virtual-analog sound. It offers variable unison oscillators, polyphony, and stereo spread for atmospheric pads and EDM textures.

Highlights
  • Variable unison saw oscillators (1-5 per voice)
  • 10-voice polyphony
  • Detune, drift, and stereo spread options
  • Virtual analog warmth
  • Full ADSR amp envelope
  • 24dB ladder filter
  • Dedicated modulation LFOs
Read full description

ANALOGySAW Super Saw Synth (AUv3) ANALOGySAW 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. Overview ANALOGySAW is a tribute to the "super saw" digital synths from the 90's, wrapped up in old-school virtual-analog warmth, with a few "ANALOGy" twists. Featuring up to five unison saw wave oscillators per voice, and ten voice polyphony (*) with detune, drift and stereo spread options, ANALOGySAW might be your new favourite mini synth for big STEREO atmospheric pads, or dreamy EDM textures. Breaking from the "super saw" tradition, the number of unison oscillators for a voice is continuously variable between one and five, allowing for some interesting "in-between" sounds not available on other synths. Spread is applied to the unison oscillators so every note you play can have a big stereo image, and ten note polyphony remains consistent regardless of the number of unison oscillators. The virtual analog vibe is also well represented with randomised drift for the voice oscillators and modulation LFOs. ANALOGySAW also breaks slightly from the "ANALOGy" family tradition by offering a full ADSR amp envelope, a 24dB "ladder" filter, and a separate modulation section with dedicated LFOs for pitch and filter modulation, plus filter envelope. (*) About Voices and Oscillators Sometimes these terms are interchanged in a confusing way, especially in the case of super-saw synths. For ANALOGySAW, a voice corresponds to a note that you play, and you can play up to ten notes before "voice stealing" occurs. Each voice has up to five oscillators each, so you can think of ANALOGySAW as a 50 oscillator synth! MIDI Implementation ANALOGySAW is a 10 voice polyphonic velocity-sensitive MIDI instrument and is playable over a keyboard range from A0 (21) to C7 (96) on any MIDI channel. ANALOGySAW also responds to mod wheel, expression / volume (CC#11), sustain (CC#64), all notes off (CC#123) and pitch-bend (+/- 2 semitones). About The UI Not everyone likes the UIs of my latest (2025) plugins - I get it. However, the simplistic and generic approach allows me to (a) 99% focus on the DSP, sound quality and CPU performance, and (b) significantly reduce the development (and potential maintenance) time, which is reflected in my pricing. For more info and support please visit: www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson

Screenshots

MIDI Layers4 screens
ANALOGySAW4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ANALOGySAW at $2.99 against MIDI Layers's $12.99. ANALOGySAW also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). MIDI Layers's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 ANALOGySAW $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ANALOGySAW holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MIDI Layers has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI Layers ships an update fortnightly, ANALOGySAW every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MIDI Layers versus ANALOGySAW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI LayersANALOGySAW
Price$12.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.7 (13 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS1312.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comRob Jackson

Customer experience

MIDI Layers

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

ANALOGySAW

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MIDI Layers

No in-app purchases

None

ANALOGySAW

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI Layers free?
MIDI Layers costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ANALOGySAW free?
ANALOGySAW costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI Layers or ANALOGySAW?
ANALOGySAW is rated higher. MIDI Layers averages 4.7 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while ANALOGySAW averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MIDI Layers or ANALOGySAW have ads?
Neither MIDI Layers nor ANALOGySAW shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI Layers or ANALOGySAW?
MIDI Layers ships an update fortnightly, and ANALOGySAW every 2 months. Most recently, MIDI Layers was updated on September 21, 2026 and ANALOGySAW on September 8, 2026.

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