iSequence HD vs Core Synth HD
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
Core Synth HD
Create music with a powerful monophonic synthesizer for iPad. Explore dual oscillators, customizable filters, and an arpeggiator. Save your custom sounds and enhance your live performances with intuitive controls.
- Dual overlapping oscillators
- Four wave patterns
- Low Pass Filter with ADSR
- Volume Envelope Shaper (ADSR)
- Arpeggiator with multiple modes
- Save unlimited patches
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Top free iPad music app in 5 countries, top 10 in more than 50! Get your groove on with Core Synth HD, the definitive monophonic synthesizer for the iPad. With tons of features packed into a small package, Core Synth is great for live performing. A Pitch Wheel replicates perfectly the real thing! This free app has the following features: - Pitch Wheel - 2 Octave keyboard - Keys light up in different colors when pressed Oscillator Module - Dual overlapping oscillators - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth * Select from 5 octaves * Adjust glide between notes * Fine tune Oscillator 2 with option to sync with Oscillator 1 Volume Envelope Shaper - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Low Pass Filter Module - Adjust Cutoff and Resonance - Edit ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Upgrade to the full version within the app for the following additional features: - 7 Octave Keyboard - Octave control to move along entire range - Modulation Wheel Patches Module - Save an unlimited number of individually named patches - Browse through your collection before applying patch - Delete unwanted patches Modulation Module - Four wave patterns: Square, Triangle, Sawtooth and Reverse Sawtooth - Modulate Filter, Pitch or Wave - Adjust LFO Rate and amount Arpeggiator Module - Arpeggio moves up to 5 octaves - Four step modes: Up, Down, Up/Down, Random - Adjust rate Many more exciting enhancements to follow! Core Synth HD includes open source code from MobileSynth developed by Allen Porter.
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iSequence HD at 77% against Core Synth HD's 31%. iSequence HD also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (33 vs 5). Core Synth HD's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Core Synth HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
iSequence HD holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iSequence HD has 33 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of iSequence HD's written reviews are positive against 31% of Core Synth HD's.
iSequence HD ships an update every 3 months, Core Synth HD every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iSequence HD | Core Synth HD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (33 ratings) — better | 3.4 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews — better | 30.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 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 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 156 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BeepStreet | Core Engine Apps |
Customer experience
iSequence HD
Core Synth HD
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
Core Synth HD
From 5 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Good for learning basics
- 🎶 Nice retro sound emulation
- 💰 Great value for free/low cost
- 🎹 All controls visible
- 💡 Simple and clear interface
Room to improve
- 🔇 No sound issues
- 🔇 Sound stopped working
- 🔇 No sound after purchase
- 🔇 No sound on specific iOS versions
- 🐛 Glitching/microclicks
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
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- Ability to save and load full projects
Core Synth HD
Reported bugs
21 issues- No sound on iPad Pro
- No sound on iOS 12
- No sound since last update
- Program doesn't start after update
- Ad blocks view
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- App crashes on load
- App crashed frequently
- Rarely produced sound
- Annoying clicking noise when playing a note
- Stopped playing notes after a while
- App reset to free module after purchase
- Lost saved presets after update
- CS doesn't work after iOS6 update
- Sound quit working suddenly
- No sound after purchase
- No audio on iPad 2
- Keyboard stops making noise after playing
- Crashes on every load
- Clipping pops and clicks
- Audible clicks between notes
- Constant click with the sounds
Requested features
17 requests- Add MIDI support
- Add Audiobus support
- Add recording with copy/paste
- Add sine wave for sub basses
- Add polyphony option
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Add tempo sync delay, flange, chorus
- Add bit reduction
- Fix modulation clipping
- Fix clicking/popping sounds
- Add manual
- Add more presets
- Add noise generator
- Add detuning on both oscillators
- Add ability to map LFO to mod wheel
- Add switch to turn arpeggiator on/off
- Add Core Midi and MIDI over wifi support
- Fix Osc Octave Text numbering
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
Core Synth HD
- Full Version Upgrade$1.99









