iSequence HD vs CalmusNotation
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
CalmusNotation
Create and visualize musical compositions using AI-powered graphical notation. This app leverages advanced AI, inspired by NASA's Lisp programming, to generate original music based on user input and can display music from other compatible apps for live performance.
- AI-powered music composition
- Graphical notation display
- Real-time performance visualization
- Lisp-based AI engine
- User input-driven music creation
- Integration with CalmusComposer and CalmusPlay
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Graphical Notation is an app for music creation and graphical notation using Artificial Intelligence. The coreof Graphical Notation is the CalmusAI brain where the modern composing methods are programmed into the brain using Lisp programming language. NASA has historically used Lisp for artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, most notably in the 1990s Remote Agent project, the first AI system to control a spacecraft. CalmusNotation does not collect or use any musical material from the internet but creates new music based on the input from the user. In addition - CalmusNotation can also receive composed music from CalmusComposer and CalmusPlay - and present the music as graphical notation for live performance - in real-time. CalmusComposer composes music with Artificial Intelligence and can send the musical result to GraphicalNotations to be presented for life performance. CalmusComposer is connected to GraphicalNotation through WiFi local network - by selecting CalmusNotation in Settings. GraphicalNotation is connected to CalmusComposer, through WiFi local network - by selecting the MacOS device in the settings of GraphicalNotation. CalmusNotation needs Internet connection.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iSequence HD at 77% against CalmusNotation's 0%. iSequence HD also leads on ratings volume (33 vs 5). CalmusNotation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and rating (4.4 vs 4.2). On price, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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. CalmusNotation asks for nothing beyond the download.
CalmusNotation holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. 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 complicate that: 77% of iSequence HD's written reviews are positive against 0% of CalmusNotation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
iSequence HD ships an update every 3 months, CalmusNotation every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iSequence HD | CalmusNotation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (33 ratings) | 4.4 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 156 MB | 294 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BeepStreet | Erki-tonlist sf |
Customer experience
iSequence HD
CalmusNotation
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
CalmusNotation
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
CalmusNotation
No in-app purchases









