Flare Scratch vs Ableton Note
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Flare Scratch
This app simulates a high-torque DJ turntable, allowing users to scratch music from their iPod library or pre-loaded beat loops. It offers various classic scratching techniques and features like zoom mode for precision and mirror mode for left-handed users.
- Scratch iPod Library tunes
- High torque turntable simulation
- Loop player
- Zoom mode for precision
- Classic scratch techniques
- Mirror mode for left-handers
- Preloaded beat loops
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Scratch like a pro with Flare, the high torque DJ turntable. Either cut up the built-in records over a beatloop, or your own iPod Library tunes. Get this party started right with Flare, the undisputed Vinyl champion of the AppStore. "Pure Turntablism" --Vdrumpro999 Flare is a high torque turntable that fits in the palm of your hand, and features: • scratch your iPod Library tunes (!!!) • 1 high torque deck • 1 loop player • incredible vinyl sound • the ability to cut it up anywhere • zoom mode for precision scratching • transformer button capable of 11ms clicks • mirror mode for left handers • classic scratches: transformer, baby, tear, 1-click orbit • hamster switch • 5 preloaded beat loops produced by luke dubs, ready to cut over • 3 bundled battle records to get you started Coming soon: pitch control.
Ableton Note
Create musical ideas with curated sounds and effects. Build beats, melodies, and sample your surroundings. Seamlessly transfer your projects to Ableton Live for further development.
- Create beats and melodies
- Sample sounds with phone microphone
- MIDI Editor for sequencing
- Transfer projects to Ableton Live
- 76 Drum Sampler kits
- 317 synth sounds
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Start new musical ideas with a curated selection of sounds and effects. Create beats and melodic parts, sample your world, and continue your tracks in Ableton Live. Note is a place to form ideas, explore new sounds and find direction. Get your ideas out or just experiment until inspiration hits, using a selection of Ableton Live’s drum kits, synths and melodic instruments. Create your own sound palette by sampling with your phone’s built-in microphone. And use Note’s built-in MIDI Editor to sequence notes, beats and chords or make tweaks as you listen back Follow your ideas wherever they lead by sending your projects to Live without leaving the app with the help of Ableton Cloud. Open projects from Live’s browser and keep working – you can edit all your MIDI notes, and all your samples and sounds from Note are exactly the same. Ableton Note users get a free license for Ableton Live Lite – simple, intuitive software used by musicians, producers and DJs around the world to write, record, and perform. For Ableton Move users, Note also offers the chance to keep working on a Set from your phone. Begin with a beat: • Choose from 76 Drum Sampler kits • Tap out a beat using the 16-pad grid, or sequence one with the MIDI Editor • Play each drum hit melodically using 16 Pitches mode • Quantize your beat or nudge notes to fix loose timing or mistakes • Add more layers of rhythm • Create beat repetitions with Note Repeat • Change parameters to shape your sound • Experiment with effects or apply swing for variations Start with a melody: • Choose from 317 synth sounds and 60 Melodic Sampler instruments • Play or program your melody or chord progression with the 25-pad grid, piano roll or MIDI Editor • Set a key and scale to get instantly harmonic results • Add more layers of harmony • Change parameters to shape your sound • Add effects to experiment with sound design Sample your environment: • Create your own kits by recording percussive sounds into Note’s Drum Sampler • Record tonal sounds to create your own Melodic Sampler instruments • Manipulate your samples by cutting, filtering or repitching them • Sequence samples into beats, melodies and chords using the MIDI Editor • Shape or transform your sounds with effects • Import your own samples or audio directly from videos Work with Audio • Add audio clips from the library • Warp tempo or adjust pitch of your clips • Record audio directly using your phone’s built-in microphone • Connect an audio interface to record external sources • Combine recorded and imported audio with your beats and melodies Capture improvisations: • Play something, then tap the Capture button to keep it • Play at a tempo that feels comfortable and Note will detect it • Note will recognize the length of the phrase and create a loop • Quantize it, add to it, or change the sound • Connect MIDI hardware to play keys and change the sound of your instruments Create variations: • Note features a grid-based Session View layout • Double your loops to create variation within clips • Duplicate your clips and create different versions of your ideas • Add, delete or adjust multiple notes at once with the MIDI Editor • Create eight tracks with up to eight clips on eight scenes • Try different clip combinations and song structures • Export your work as an audio file to listen and share
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ableton Note at 4.2 against Flare Scratch's 3.5. Ableton Note also leads on ratings volume (701 vs 71) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). Flare Scratch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($4.99 vs $6.99). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads 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
Flare Scratch costs $4.99 and Ableton Note $6.99 up front. Ableton Note sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Flare Scratch asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ableton Note holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ableton Note has 701 ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Flare Scratch's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ableton Note's.
Flare Scratch ships an update every 3 weeks, Ableton Note every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Flare Scratch | Ableton Note |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 3.5 (71 ratings) | 4.2 (701 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.9% of reviews | 72.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 71 | 701 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #7 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 1010 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Async | Ableton AG |
Customer experience
Flare Scratch
Ableton Note
User reviews
Flare Scratch
From 71 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Hardest working dev
- 👍 Realistic scratching experience
- 💡 Ability to use own music library
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashing issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 App not optimized for newer devices
Ableton Note
From 701 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Intuitive workflow
- 🎨 Great sound quality
- 🤝 Seamless Ableton Live integration
- 💰 Affordable price
- 🔥 Inspiring for creativity
Room to improve
- 🔇 No audio track support
- 🎹 Limited note editing capabilities
- ⏱️ Bluetooth latency issues
- 🔢 Restricted to 4/4 time signature
- 🔧 Lacking some advanced features
Bugs and requests
Flare Scratch
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashing when adding music
- Inability to change loop or turntable tracks
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Pitch control
- Crab scratch button
- More skins/customization options
- Recording functionality
- Ability to load own beats/loops
Ableton Note
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional loss of unsaved work
- Freezing issues when editing clips
Requested features
6 requests- Audio track support
- Expanded note editing tools
- Midi controller support
- More effects and synth options
- Time signature flexibility
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- Ability to import samples from Ableton Live
In-app purchases
Flare Scratch
No in-app purchases
Ableton Note
- Drift In-App Purchase$3.99









