MIDIKeys vs Scale Numbers Piano
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDIKeys
This app acts as a virtual MIDI keyboard controller, allowing you to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware. It offers customizable velocity, octave transposition, and tilt controls for expression.
- Virtual MIDI keyboard
- Send MIDI messages
- Octave transposition
- Adjustable velocity
- Tilt expression control
- Customizable MIDI channel
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MIDIKeys is a MIDI keyboard controller that can be used to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware MIDI synthesizers. MIDIKeys doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is for playing hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via MIDI hardware interfaces connected to the iPhone dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like IK Multimedia SampleTank® for iOS or ThumbJam running in the background on your iPhone. The entire range may be transposed up or down (up to a three octave limit) by touching the 8va -/+ buttons on the main screen. Touching the display for the transpose value between the octave shift buttons resets the transpose to C3 (60). Both fixed or variable note MIDI Note On event velocity based on touch position within the key are available as options on the settings page. While playing, you may also optionally send real-time volume, expression, modulation, or wind controller MIDI messages by tilting the iPhone/iPod Touch to the right or left. Set the transmit channel using the MIDI Channel slider. Any channel from 1-16 may be selected. Channel 1 is the default. Choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIKeys will show up as an input option labeled "MIDIKeys" in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MIDIBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. Note-on events may be sent with either a fixed or variable velocity based on where you touch on the key. Set the maximum velocity using the Velocity slider. Any value from 0-127 may be selected. Default value is 100. Select between fixed or variable velocity mapped to the touch position using the selector. When the velocity is mapped to touch, the minimum velocity is approximately 10% of the value set on the Velocity slider and the max is 100% of the value. Touching lower or higher on the key (area below the black keys only for the white keys) results in lower or higher velocity values sent in the MIDI Note On event for the key. Black key highest velocity starts at the bottom of the key and gets lower as you touch higher. MIDIKeys can send Volume, Expression, Modulation, or Breath Control message by tilting the device to the right or left. Select a controller on the Tilt Controller selector. Default is no controller messages. When a controller is enabled, tilting the device to the right or left will send the selected controller messages to the external device. Values increase as the device is tilted farther to the right. You may set the tilt sensitivity using the Tilt Sensitivity slider. The range is from 1 to 4, with higher values being more sensitive. Default value is 1.5. If you ever have "stuck" notes, you may touch the "Shhh" icon on the main screen to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message and stop the sounds. All settings are saved when exiting MIDIKeys and restored the next time it is run.
Scale Numbers Piano
Compose melodies and chords simultaneously on your device. Record and loop your creations for improvisation and songwriting. Learn music theory and play popular songs with a unique scale number system, no prior knowledge needed.
- Play melody and chords together
- Record and live loop compositions
- Theory lessons and songbook
- Scale number system for easy learning
- Built-in sampler instruments
- MIDI input for DAWs
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This app lets you play melody and chords at the same time on your iPhone or iPad. Record and live loop your compositions for improvising or songwriting. Included theory lessons and songbook with hundreds of famous tunes which you can play with no previous music theory background. Great for songwriters, singers, producers, music students or if you just want to play some recognisable tunes. The whole app is based around simple scale numbers, which are the gold standard for understanding music. Either use the built-in sampler instruments to play on your device, or connect to your DAW for full midi input to your favourite synths. See a demo video of the app's features at scalenumbers.com __ Scalenumbers does not collect any user data: https://scalenumbers.com/termsandprivacy __ If you're having an issue, please email me at support@scalenumbers.com rather than leaving a review, as apple doesn't send developers any alerts when reviews are left, so I won't know you've tried to contact me.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Scale Numbers Piano at 4.2 against MIDIKeys's 3.4. Scale Numbers Piano also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). MIDIKeys's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. Scale Numbers Piano sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MIDIKeys asks for nothing beyond the download.
Scale Numbers Piano holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 12 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of MIDIKeys's written reviews are positive against 65% of Scale Numbers Piano's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
MIDIKeys ships an update every 6 weeks, Scale Numbers Piano fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIKeys | Scale Numbers Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (16 ratings) | 4.2 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews — better | 65.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 340 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Eskin | Scale Degrees LTD |
Customer experience
MIDIKeys
Scale Numbers Piano
In-app purchases
MIDIKeys
No in-app purchases
Scale Numbers Piano
- Full Version$2.99
Questions
Is MIDIKeys free?
Is Scale Numbers Piano free?
Which has better reviews, MIDIKeys or Scale Numbers Piano?
Do MIDIKeys or Scale Numbers Piano have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDIKeys or Scale Numbers Piano?
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