iSequence HD vs Tabletop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iSequence HD
Create professional music on your iPad with an intuitive 8-track sequencer, a vast library of instruments, and flexible mixing with DSP effects. Record, edit, and arrange loops, beats, and melodies in real-time, controlling every aspect of your music project.
- 8-track sequencer
- 160+ built-in instruments
- Custom instrument sampler
- Real-time recording and automation
- Step sequencer and FX editor
- Flexible mixer with DSP effects
- Wi-Fi file sharing
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iSequence is a long-running iPad music app appreciated for its speed, simplicity, and distinctive workflow. Build beats, melodies, and arrangements with an intuitive 8-track sequencer with 32-step patterns, shape sounds with its sampler, and mix everything with flexible DSP effects. Whether you are sketching loops or building full tracks, iSequence keeps music creation direct and hands-on. FAST, FLUID WORKFLOW Create patterns, record parts in real time, and edit them without interrupting playback. Switch between tracks, instruments, step sequencing, and automation as you build your song. iSequence is built for sketching ideas quickly, jamming with loops, and arranging complete tracks in a simple, focused environment. INSTRUMENTS • 160 built-in instruments, including acoustic sounds, drum kits, pads, leads, sweeps, and ambient textures • Additional sound banks available in the BankShop • Play with the on-screen piano keyboard or drum pads • Create custom instruments with the built-in sampler • Supports CoreMIDI and MIDI instruments REAL-TIME RECORDING AND AUTOMATION • Record notes as you play • Change tracks and instruments during playback • Use the metronome and slowdown mode for easier recording • Record parameter changes in real time STEP SEQUENCER • 8 tracks with FX curve editing • 32 steps per row / pattern • Instruments are not tied to tracks, allowing flexible sequencing and layering • Edit notes with the piano keyboard, drum pads, and other controls • Adjust note duration, panning, velocity, and gliss • Copy, paste, move, and transpose patterns and selections • Arrange patterns into full song structures MIXER AND EFFECTS • Adjust tempo, master volume, and shuffle • Mute, solo, and set levels for each track • Route tracks to 5 configurable effect channels • Includes Filter, Reverb, Flanger, Delay, Ring Modulator, EQ, Lo-Fi Crusher, Live Looper, and Distortion SAMPLER • Import, record, or paste samples to build custom instruments • Edit loop points, ADSR envelope, and sample mapping • Slice loops and synchronize them to tempo automatically FILE SHARING • Export songs as HSQ, MIDI, or WAV • Import samples and presets • Copy tracks to the audio clipboard • Import HSQ songs
Tabletop
Create music with a modular studio environment. Mix and match over 40 virtual instruments, effects, and sequencers to compose songs, beats, and mashups. Expand your sound palette by purchasing additional devices.
- Modular music creation environment
- Over 40 virtual instruments and effects
- Mix and match devices
- Create beats, songs, and mashups
- Piano roll timeline editor
- MIDI support
- Share music to SoundCloud
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Tabletop is an expandable studio with over a dozen included musical devices. Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Select from over 40 devices including samplers, mixers, effects, sequencers and more. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog. Need help? Email support@retronyms.com and we’ll answer your questions. Retronyms has partnered with industry giants like Akai Professional and Arturia to create some of the Tabletop-Ready Apps, like iMPC, iMini, and iProphet! Using the Tabletop features of time stretching and pitch shifting, you can slice loops and time stretch them to different tempos and pitches in iMPC Pro. You can also use sliced loops from purchased AudioCopy sound packs inside Gridlock and iMPC Pro. Loops from these sound packs will automatically match the tempo of your sessions. Tabletop is an audio playground where you can create beats, compose songs, mix live, make mashups with samples from your iPod library, and more... the possibilities are endless. Plug the output of a keyboard into a delay to add an echo, or wire it up to a mixer and adjust the pan. Chain up multiple effects to create new and evolving sounds. FEATURES: • 43 devices including effects, sequencers, drum machines, and synths • 14 devices are included for free • 64 bit audio support • Access powerful Tabletop-Ready Apps • Piano Roll style timeline editor • Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and create notes • Control Tabletop’s keyboards, drum pads, knobs, faders, and other parameters • Correct note timing with Fix to Grid • Edit note length and velocity • Undo changes and edits with Tabletop’s History Menu • Features Core MIDI Support • Works with any MIDI-compatible hardware • Customize control mapping with Midi Learn mode • Connect multiple devices • Share your music to SoundCloud and interact with other Tabletop users
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: iSequence HD at 4.2 against Tabletop's 3.3. iSequence HD also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 55%). Tabletop's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. iSequence HD sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
iSequence HD holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 86 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of iSequence HD's written reviews are positive against 55% of Tabletop's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iSequence HD | Tabletop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (33 ratings) — better | 3.3 (86 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews — better | 55.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33 | 86 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 156 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BeepStreet | Retronyms Inc |
Customer experience
iSequence HD
Tabletop
User reviews
iSequence HD
From 33 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful sequencer
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🎨 Great sound quality
- 💰 Good value for money
- 🎶 Excellent for music creation
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Limited audio export options
- 🔒 Lack of Audiobus/Inter-App Audio support
- 🔢 Limited track count
- 🔀 Difficulty with time signatures and polyrhythms
Tabletop
From 86 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Innovative modular design
- 🎨 Versatile music creation
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔋 High CPU usage
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔇 Poor sound quality
Bugs and requests
iSequence HD
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on startup or during use
- Issues with sample loading and playback
- Inconsistent behavior with certain features
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
Requested features
6 requests- Expanded track count
- More effects and sound design capabilities
- Audiobus and Inter-App Audio integration
- Improved sample import and management
- Support for more time signatures and rhythms
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Ability to save and load full projects
Tabletop
Reported bugs
3 issues- Synth parameters not saving properly
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Unreliable audio export
Requested features
4 requests- MIDI support
- Improved sequencing capabilities
- More free sound modules
- Waveform editing and sample management
In-app purchases
iSequence HD
- Funny farm bank$1.99
- Chiptunes bank$1.99
- Acoustic bank$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Electro/house bank$2.99
- Trance waves$2.99
- Loops vol.1$2.99
- Loops vol.2$2.99
- Beat elements bank$2.99
Tabletop
- EKKO$1.99
- WHIRL$2.99
- Verve$2.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- XFADE$2.99
- TT-303$2.99
- Cueboard$2.99
- GLITCHBOARD$3.99
- Deadbeat$3.99
- X0X Drum Deranger$7.99
- RS4000$9.99
- Bundle E$24.99









