MIDIKeys vs MIDI Recorder with E.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.
MIDI Recorder with E.Piano
Record and play back MIDI performances with an integrated FM E.Piano sound. Capture musical ideas anywhere using the on-screen keyboard or external MIDI devices. Files are saved in Standard MIDI File Format 0 and can be shared via iTunes File Sharing or iCloud.
- Record and playback MIDI performances
- Integrated FM E.Piano sounds
- On-screen keyboard for note input
- Supports external MIDI keyboards
- Standard MIDI File Format 0 output
- iTunes File Sharing and iCloud support
- Virtual MIDI support
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MIDI Recorder with E.Piano simply performs record/playback as you input MIDI signals. You can record your performance completely. As a bonus, the app includes FM E.Piano sounds. Also there is an on-screen keyboard, you can make a note of your idea anywhere. All features are available without subscription or expiration. - You can toggle kinds of signals to record. - You can select MIDI channels. - By default the app processes signals from/to all connected MIDI ports. - The app makes files of Standard MIDI File Format 0. - iTunes File Sharing and iCloud are supported. - Virtual MIDI is supported. - Supports external MIDI keyboards. MIDI is a standard about controlling audio devices. You can control musical instruments with separately sold MIDI adapter for iPhone/iPad. The internal FM synthesizer processes only note on, note off, and sustain control, and ignores the others. Attention: This app may sound even if the silent switch is on. Do not hesitate to write a review if you encounter some troubles. Terms of Use: https://www.kiraqtech.jp/termsofuse/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MIDI Recorder with E.Piano at 4.6 against MIDIKeys's 3.4. MIDI Recorder with E.Piano also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 70%) and ratings volume (65 vs 16). MIDIKeys's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. MIDI Recorder with E.Piano sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MIDIKeys asks for nothing beyond the download.
MIDI Recorder with E.Piano holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 65 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of MIDIKeys's written reviews are positive against 82% of MIDI Recorder with E.Piano's.
MIDIKeys ships an update every 6 weeks, MIDI Recorder with E.Piano every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIKeys | MIDI Recorder with E.Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (16 ratings) | 4.6 (65 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 65 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Eskin | Ryouta Kira |
Customer experience
MIDIKeys
MIDI Recorder with E.Piano
In-app purchases
MIDIKeys
No in-app purchases
MIDI Recorder with E.Piano
- Monthly$1.991 Month
- Yearly$19.991 Year
- Small Tip$0.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$14.99
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- Huge Tip$39.99
Questions
Is MIDIKeys free?
Is MIDI Recorder with E.Piano free?
Which has better reviews, MIDIKeys or MIDI Recorder with E.Piano?
Do MIDIKeys or MIDI Recorder with E.Piano have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDIKeys or MIDI Recorder with E.Piano?
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