SAND vs Sequincer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SAND
This app is a grid-based music sequencer that allows users to create compositions using AUv3 plugins and external MIDI devices. It offers extensive tools for arranging clips, editing notes, automating parameters, and routing MIDI.
- Grid-based MIDI sequencing
- AUv3 plugin hosting
- External MIDI device support
- Advanced clip editing
- Track and effect management
- Song mode for arrangement
- MIDI routing and mapping
Read full descriptionHide full description
Have SAND in your pocket. Create music anywhere. Sketch your ideas, compose with MIDI and audio clips, host your favorite plugins. All designed for creative flow, whether you're at home or on the go. SAND is a music sketchpad for AUv3, MIDI, and audio clips—built so you can try ideas quickly, without setup getting in the way. Please note: SAND does not generate sound on its own—it relies on AUv3 plugins you can find on the App Store. Try SAND free for 14 days; in-app purchases unlock features after the trial. GRID SEQUENCER Arrange MIDI and audio clips on a grid to build your ideas. Copy, duplicate, merge, combine, and drag-and-drop clips to shape your project. Quick clip tools: quantize, length, legato, transpose from the clip menu. Render MIDI clips as audio by dropping them onto an audio track. MIDI TRACKS Work with instrument and MIDI tracks in your projects. Load an instrument and unlimited audio and MIDI effects on each track. Hide tracks and assign custom icons to keep sessions organized. Save tracks as templates for future projects. Edit MIDI in a piano-roll clip editor: quantize, legato, split, duplicate, copy, and paste. Build chords with the chord selector. Adjust note position, pitch, duration, and velocity. Handle bars edit position and pitch on the note. Use an adjustable grid or free placement. Scale highlighting helps you stay in key. Record with an optional count-in or from the first note. Quantize recordings for tighter timing. AUDIO TRACKS Add dedicated audio tracks alongside your MIDI material. Import audio into clips from other apps or the clip import flow, with preview before committing. Record audio into clips with per-track input settings and track arming. Set loop or one-shot playback, beat-aligned or immediate start, and optional clip BPM. Looping clips follow project tempo. The audio editor supports copy, paste, crop, gain adjustment, normalize, silence, fades, reverse, pitch, stretch, and split. With automatic or manual preview. PLUGIN HOST Host AUv3 instruments, audio effects, and MIDI processors. Control parameters and presets, and save default states for new instances. Record notes and MIDI from plugin interfaces, and capture output from MIDI plugins. Mark plugins as favorites for faster access. SONG MODE Arrange clips in sections with independent lengths, played back seamlessly in order. Launch every clip in a section at once, sections work as scene launchers. Set a different time signature per section when needed. AUTOMATION Automate volume, pan, effect parameters, and MIDI for dynamic changes across your tracks. MASTER TRACK Apply effects globally across the project. Use the master track's clip to generate bass lines and chord progressions. MIDI ROUTING Record from external MIDI devices, including hardware synths. Send MIDI out for real-time playback and route MIDI between tracks. Use SAND as a virtual MIDI input and output. MIDI MAPPING Map a MIDI controller to control the app with a flexible, customizable layout. "Shift" mappings extend what a single controller surface can do. PROJECT VERSIONS Save and restore named snapshots of a project—experiment freely, then return to an earlier state. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Rename projects and branch copies with Save As…. (iOS 18+) Start new work from project templates. (iOS 18+) SYNC Sync with other apps and DAWs using Ableton Link. ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD AND PADS Record with a velocity-sensitive on-screen keyboard. Choose scale and root to limit keys to a scale, and adjust visible keys to match how you play. Play and record beats with on-screen drum pads. IMPORT / EXPORT Export clips as audio or MIDI. Export projects as Ableton Live sets. Record performances and export audio, including stems for separate processing.
Sequincer
Compose music on the go with this grid-based MIDI sequencer. Easily add notes, adjust durations, and build complex arrangements with multiple tracks and instruments. Supports MIDI and MusicXML import, and works as a standalone app or AUv3 plugin.
- Grid-based note input
- Adjustable note duration and velocity
- Multi-track composition
- AUv3 MIDI plugin support
- MIDI and MusicXML import
- Diatonic and chromatic input modes
- Apple Pencil compatibility
Read full descriptionHide full description
Sequincer is a multi-track, grid-based MIDI sequencer for iPhone and iPad which makes it easy to compose music on the go. Just tap the grid to add notes and hit the play button to hear your creation. Notes added by a tap will have the duration of whichever beat division is selected. You can select a wide range of beat divisions by tapping the "1/4" button, or by pinching horizontally to double and halve the current value. You can change a note's duration by tapping on it to shorten it, or by holding and panning to the right to increase it. There are four tiers: a free preview tier, then Loops, Producer, and Composer. The free tier lets you preview the app. The second tier, Loops, gives you 4 tracks and 64 beats to compose (16 standard bars). The third tier, Producer, brings this to 16 tracks and 1000 beats, enough for a full-length song. The fourth tier, Composer, allows you to use up to 64 tracks and an even greater number of beats, enough for a complete symphony. The 7-note input system, inspired by sheet music, uses the diatonic scale, and you can add accidentals for any new note by dragging up or down as soon as you create it. The 12-tone chromatic mode lets you input notes like on most piano rolls. Velocity, tempo changes and other properties can be edited for each bar in "Structure" mode, by tapping the bar's header or using the edit button. You can write up to 64 simultaneous tracks each with its own instrument, all overlaid on the same piano roll so you can see your full composition at a glance. Each track can be selected, muted, or soloed. • Works as standalone or as a plugin Sequincer is also an AUv3 MIDI processor, so you can use it inside host apps like AUM. Each track can send MIDI to a different synth, making it ideal for layering sounds or building complex arrangements. • Flexible timing and rhythm Create as many bars as you need, and set a custom beat count for each one. Pinch horizontally to zoom in or out on the beat divisions: add quarters, eighths, sixteenths, or even dotted rhythms for compound time. Pinch vertically to zoom in and out of the piano roll. Add tempo change events to speed up or slow down specific parts. • MIDI and MusicXML compatibility Import MIDI files or MusicXML (sheet music). Sequincer currently supports many standard features like tempo changes, dynamics, and jumps. Route tracks to external MIDI devices • Write with real notes Each bar can be set to a musical key, so you’re always writing in scale. A C sharp and a D flat might sound the same in equal temperament, but they’re not the same note. If you’re writing a B flat minor chord for example, you need a D flat for the minor third–a C sharp would be an augmented second. This harmonic awareness makes it possible to experiment with other tuning systems such as Pythagorean, Meantone, and more. To add accidentals, drag the note up or down as you place it. • Compatible with Apple Pencil on iPad Hover to hear notes before placing them. Double-tap to quickly switch instruments. Use a squeeze gesture (on Pencil Pro) to open the track palette. It’s a fast and intuitive way to compose, if you’ve got a compatible device. • Available on all your devices Your creations are automatically synced with iCloud so you can start on your iPhone and finish it on your iPad. Happy composing! This app is subject to Apple’s standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Sequincer at fortnightly against SAND's every 2 months. SAND's advantage is ratings volume (86 vs 16) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment 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
Both are free to download. SAND sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Sequincer sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SAND against 4.6 for Sequincer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAND has 86 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of SAND's written reviews are positive against 75% of Sequincer's.
SAND ships an update every 2 months, Sequincer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SAND | Sequincer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (86 ratings) | 4.6 (16 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 86 — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matteo Caldari | Alexis Doualle |
Customer experience
SAND
Sequincer
Bugs and requests
SAND
Reported bugs
27 issues- Record function always starts when entering Midi Instrument or FX
- Sand not opening in overview
- Integration with other apps seems off
- Record does not pick up data
- Cannot save ideas from one app to another
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Auv3 interfaces don't scale well
- Note editing, snapping/quantization awkward and buggy
- Sand won't run within AUM anymore
- Sand not recognized within AUM
- Sand wouldn't recognize other apps as host
- Rendering issues
- Editing notes in pitch grid flies up
- Entering note values difficult
- Changing note length has issues
- Bugs not worked out, more brought in
- Clips out of sync when manually triggered
- Unpredictability for creating new notes
- Selecting notes for editing difficult
- Synchronizing between tracks problematic
- Occasional crashes
- Notes editing/selection/moving process is a pain
- No BT headphone support
- Less than 50% of synths/plugins show up
- Many plugins don't work properly
- App prompts for purchase again after buying
- Pattern length adjustment by 1 is crazy
- No snapping for note length stretch
Requested features
58 requests- Sand always open in overview
- Long press in sequence track window
- Random/chance abilities in clips (Polyend Play style)
- Semi-generative function or scale-based patterns/sequences
- Save AUv3 presets
Show 53 moreShow fewer
- Audio integration with audio quantization
- Audio clips
- Return to zero button
- More clip actions for performance (fire clip/scene, count in, repeat, single shot)
- Trigger sequences not just on bars
- Packaged as a MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet time signatures (3/4, 6/8)
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- More clip actions for performance
- MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet Time Signatures
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- Pattern length adjustment in note editor
- Snapping for note length stretch
- More clip actions for performance
- MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet Time Signatures
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- Pattern length adjustment in note editor
- Snapping for note length stretch
Sequincer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SAND
- 14-day trialFree
- 14 Days TrialFree
- Unlock$9.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Audio Tracks$9.99
Sequincer
- Pro3 Months trial$2.991 Month
- Pro3 Months trial$9.996 Months
- Pro3 Months trial$12.991 Year
- Loops PromoFree
- Loops$9.99
- Upgrade Producer to Composer$9.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Upgrade Loops to Producer$9.99
- Upgrade Loops to Composer$19.99
- Producer$19.99
- Composer$29.99









