Comparison

Music Studio vs KORG iM1

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

Head to head
About

Music Studio

This app provides a comprehensive music production environment for mobile devices. It features a virtual keyboard, a multi-track sequencer, and a wide array of studio-quality instruments and real-time effects. Users can record, edit, and mix their music with professional-level tools.

Highlights
  • Virtual piano keyboard with pitch bend
  • 194 studio-recorded instruments
  • 127-track sequencer with extensive note editing
  • 10 real-time audio effects
  • Microphone recording and audio track editing
  • Sampler for custom instruments
  • MIDI import/export
Read full description

Music Studio offers a complete music production environment for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch with features and a sound quality previously only known to desktop applications and expensive audio hardware. It combines a piano keyboard, 124 studio-quality instruments with sustain, a fully fledged 127-track sequencer, extensive note editing, reverb, real-time effects and much more on a user-friendly interface. Try the free Lite version! AWARDS & REVIEWS • "A recent composition of mine started on the iPhone with Music Studio" - Jason Hayes, lead composer of "World of Warcraft" • "GarageBand on your iDevice" - TouchMyApps.com • "Music Studio is loaded to the brim with features and is a no brainer for composers" - AppAdvice.com • "If you’re at all serious about your music you can’t really afford to miss out on this app." - razorianfly.com • "Music Studio justifies the purchase of an iDevice if you're really into it." - appfreakblog.com • Awards from BestAppEver.com, iPhoneAppsPlus.com, apps4idevices, Palm Sounds FEATURES • Photorealistic dynamically configurable 85-key keyboard • Instant positioning via the slide gesture and resize with the pinch gesture • Drum pads, chord pads and chord programming • 194 studio-recorded instruments (16bit 44.1kHz sampled from real instruments) • 124 free instruments, 70 available in the in-app shop • 6 categories: symphonic, classical, band, electronic, world, drum kits • Release and attack time configurable per instrument • Sustain samples • Pitch bend wheel and accelerometer control • Audio tracks: • Microphone recording • AudioCopy & AudioPaste • iPod library or wav/mp3/AAC/ogg file import • Waveform and audio region editing • Record up to 24 channels simultaneously with CoreAudio (class compliant) hardware • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support (input & output) • Sampler to create custom instruments and kits from audio files and recordings • Background audio playback and recording • Low-latency, highly optimized, 128x polyphony, battery saving audio engine • 100 drum loops • 10 real-time effects with lots of parameters: Reverb, Delay, 3-Band-Equalizer, Filter, Phaser, BitCrusher, Amp, Compressor, Limiter, StereoWidener • 127-track sequencer • Beat & metronome settings (tempo and signature) • Mute, solo, effect bus, pan and volume adjustment for each track • Edit tracks, bars and even individual notes: Draw, quantize, transpose, repeat, move, length, velocity, etc. • MIDI import and export • Save and load your songs and export to wav and AAC formats • iOS Files app support allows you to create and manage folders • Share your songs via email, Dropbox, iCloud Drive, AudioCopy and SoundCloud • Wi-Fi and iTunes file transfer to your computer • Songs and MIDI files can be opened directly from Safari and Mail • Unlimited undo and redo • Detailed in-app help • Play or record 2 different instruments at the same time with 2 keyboard rows • iPhone and iPad Retina Display supported • Compatible with CoreMIDI (MIDI in and out), Virtual MIDI and MIDI hardware. Video tutorials are available on the Xewton YouTube channel.

About

KORG iM1

This app faithfully reproduces the legendary M1 synthesizer, offering its iconic sounds and expanded features for modern music creation. It provides a vast library of presets and intuitive performance tools, making it accessible to both experienced musicians and beginners.

Highlights
  • Faithful reproduction of original M1 sound
  • Expanded filter resonance and 18 effects
  • Gigantic library of 3,300 sounds
  • Intuitive KAOSS pad for performance
  • Smart Sound Browser for quick sound selection
  • Compatible with KORG Gadget
Features
Read full description

A complete reproduction - and more - of the legendary M1 that defined an era. Mobile Digital Synthesizer for the iPad. ● Selected by Apple as "App Store Best of 2015" ● Ranked #1 on the App Store on Top Paid Music category in more than 20 countries! (15/5/27) Since it went on sale in 1988 the legendary M1 music workstation rapidly achieved record-breaking sales, becoming a mainstay of the music scene from the late 1980s and beyond. The common element of electronic instruments that have left their name in history is that they had a unique sound that was difficult if not impossible to replicate. Sounds such as the “M1 Piano” is instantly recognizable and have appeared on countless hit records over many years, and yet these are sounds that could only be produced by the M1. And that’s what you can now have on your iPad! ● A faithful reproduction of the original M1 Sound The PCM data provides the library of the original M1. For the hardware, we analyzed the circuit diagram of the original design, and completely replicated it in software down to the last detailed parameters. Engineers with an exhaustive knowledge of the M1 made careful adjustments in order to obtain the sound of the original unit, something that cannot be obtained simply by sampling the original sounds. ● A continued evolution of the M1 Not content with simply reproducing the original, iM1 provides further evolutionary developments. Synth parts now have the Filter Resonance that was requested at the time of the original. The effect parts, originally consisting of only two effects, have been powered-up to 18 effects. The user interface has also been refreshed with additions such as a KAOSS pad. iM1 is the ultimate version of the KORG M1. ● A gigantic library encompassing 3,300 sounds and 34 cards* In addition to all 19 of the ROM cards originally released for the M1, iM1 also covers the sounds of the M1EX which expanded the internal PCM of the M1, as well as the sounds of the T-series which appeared as an evolution of the M1. There’s also “BEST OF M1”, a selection of 100 great M1 programs. The new “Smart Sound Browser” makes it quick to find the desired sound. You can also view the sounds ranked by how often they are selected by iM1 users around the world. *with all the expansion card installed via in-app purchase ● KAOSS pad lets anybody perform iM1 features a KAOSS pad from the popular KAOSSILATOR, allowing you to perform intuitively just by touching the screen. By using the dual KAOSS pads to play phrases or adjust the sound, even people who are not accustomed to keyboard instruments or knowledgeable about synthesizers can enjoy performing the iM1. There’s also a conventional keyboard, as well as the “Smart Keyboard”, which lets you specify a scale setting and play phrases with a single finger. ● Use with KORG Gadget for song production iM1 can be used together with Gadget, the music production DAW app that won the App Store Best App of 2014 award in Japan. If both apps are installed, you can use iM1 as a sound module within Gadget, taking advantage of the program sounds in iM1 for music production. iM1 also supports Audiobus and Inter-App Audio, so it can also be used for GarageBand etc. ● Connect a MIDI keyboard and use as a sound module In addition to enjoying iM1 on its own, you can connect a USB MIDI keyboard* via a Lightning adaptor and play the iM1 as an external sound module. You can easily take along an even more powerful workstation sound module as part of your iPad-based compact mobile system. *microKEY, nanoKEY etc. ● Interchangeable with the KORG Legacy Collection and the original M1 Sounds that you create in iM1 can be sent from your iPad via iTunes to a Mac/PC. If you have the Legacy Collection M1, you can use those sounds in a DAW. More info at korg.com

Screenshots

Music Studio4 screens
KORG iM14 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Music Studio at $14.99 against KORG iM1's $29.99. Music Studio also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). KORG iM1's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (82% vs 69%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Music Studio costs $14.99 and KORG iM1 $29.99 up front. Music Studio sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and KORG iM1 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KORG iM1 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 425 and 1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Music Studio's written reviews are positive against 82% of KORG iM1's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music Studio ships an update every 2 months, KORG iM1 every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Music Studio versus KORG iM1: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic StudioKORG iM1
Price$14.99 — better$29.99
Rating3.8 (425 ratings)4.7 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.3% of reviews81.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4251K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size775 MB200 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHKORG INC.

Customer experience

Music Studio

All ratings421 ratings
Positive67.7%
Neutral5.5%
Negative26.8%
Written reviews430 reviews
Positive69.3%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.0%

KORG iM1

All ratings1,007 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews487 reviews
Positive81.5%
Neutral7.4%
Negative11.1%

User reviews

Music Studio

From 425 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful music production capabilities
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🎨 Wide selection of instruments and sounds
  • 💡 Ability to record audio and MIDI tracks
  • 🔌 Good integration with external devices and apps

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • 🔇 Audio playback problems
  • 📁 Difficulty organizing and managing projects
  • 🕹️ Unintuitive controls and navigation
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required

KORG iM1

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Authentic M1 sound reproduction
  • 💰 Great value for money
  • 🎹 Faithful recreation of the original hardware
  • 🎨 Powerful sound customization options
  • 🔗 Works well with MIDI controllers

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
  • 🔇 Low output volume compared to other apps
  • 🤔 Confusing UI for patch editing and saving
  • 🔴 Missing AUv3 support for integration with DAWs

Bugs and requests

Music Studio

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Bluetooth/wireless audio not working
  • Crashes and freezes when using certain features
  • Recorded audio files not saving properly
  • Syncing issues between devices and cloud storage
  • Instrument sounds distorting or cutting out

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pitch correction and speed adjustment tools
  • Improve audio file management and organization
  • Implement inter-app audio support for better integration
  • Add more natural-sounding instrument samples
  • Provide a more modern and customizable user interface

KORG iM1

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Disappearing or missing purchased sound cards
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity issues
  • Compatibility problems with certain iOS versions or devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add AUv3 support for better DAW integration
  • Improve preset management and saving capabilities
  • Increase master volume control options
  • Expand sound library with more cards/expansions

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Music Studio

One-time6
  • 80s Retro Kits$2.99
  • Classic Pack$3.99
  • Band Pack$3.99
Show 3 more
  • Electro Pack$3.99
  • World Pack$3.99
  • 60 Instrument Bundle$6.99
2 purchases

KORG iM1

One-time2
  • M1 Cards Pack$4.99
  • T1 Cards Pack$4.99

Questions

Is Music Studio free?
Music Studio costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is KORG iM1 free?
KORG iM1 costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Music Studio or KORG iM1?
KORG iM1 is rated higher. Music Studio averages 3.8 out of 5 from 425 ratings, while KORG iM1 averages 4.7 from 1K ratings.
Do Music Studio or KORG iM1 have ads?
Neither Music Studio nor KORG iM1 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music Studio or KORG iM1?
Music Studio ships an update every 2 months, and KORG iM1 every 7 months. Most recently, Music Studio was updated on October 29, 2026 and KORG iM1 on October 30, 2026.

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