Comparison

iSequence HD vs CalmusNotation

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

CalmusNotation4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iSequence HD sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. CalmusNotation asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iSequence HD versus CalmusNotation: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSequence HDCalmusNotation
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (33 ratings)4.4 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size156 MB294 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeepStreetErki-tonlist sf

Customer experience

iSequence HD

All ratings32 ratings
Positive78.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.9%
Written reviews222 reviews
Positive76.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative14.4%

CalmusNotation

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

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 more
  • Ability to save and load full projects

CalmusNotation

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

iSequence HD

One-time8
  • Funny farm bank$1.99
  • Chiptunes bank$1.99
  • Acoustic bank$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Electro/house bank$2.99
  • Trance waves$2.99
  • Loops vol.1$2.99
  • Loops vol.2$2.99
  • Beat elements bank$2.99
None

CalmusNotation

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iSequence HD free?
iSequence HD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CalmusNotation free?
CalmusNotation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iSequence HD or CalmusNotation?
CalmusNotation is rated higher. iSequence HD averages 4.2 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while CalmusNotation averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.
Do iSequence HD or CalmusNotation have ads?
Neither iSequence HD nor CalmusNotation shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSequence HD or CalmusNotation?
iSequence HD ships an update every 3 months, and CalmusNotation every 4 months. Most recently, iSequence HD was updated on October 14, 2026 and CalmusNotation on October 8, 2026.

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