Comparison

Music Studio Lite vs Numa Player

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

Head to head
About

Music Studio Lite

Create music on your mobile device with a comprehensive digital audio workstation. Features include a multi-track sequencer, studio-quality instruments, and real-time effects. Ideal for composers and aspiring musicians on the go.

Highlights
  • 127-track sequencer
  • 11 studio-recorded instruments
  • Real-time effects
  • Multi-track recording
  • Note editing
  • Sampler
  • CoreMIDI support
Read full description

Music Studio offers a complete music production environment for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch with features and a sound quality previously only known to desktop applications and expensive audio hardware. It combines a piano keyboard, 11 studio-quality instruments (124 in the full version), a fully fledged 127-track sequencer, extensive note editing, reverb, real-time effects and much more on a user-friendly interface. AWARDS & REVIEWS OF THE FULL VERSION • "A recent composition of mine started on the iPhone with Music Studio" - Jason Hayes, lead composer of "World of Warcraft" • "GarageBand on your iDevice" - TouchMyApps.com • "Music Studio is loaded to the brim with features and is a no brainer for composers" - AppAdvice.com • "If you’re at all serious about your music you can’t really afford to miss out on this app." - razorianfly.com • "Music Studio justifies the purchase of an iDevice if you're really into it." - appfreakblog.com • Awards from BestAppEver.com, iPhoneAppsPlus.com, apps4idevices, Palm Sounds FEATURES • Photorealistic, dynamically configurable 60-key keyboard (85 in the full version) • Instant positioning via the slide gesture and resize with the pinch gesture • Drum pads, chord pads and chord programming • 11 studio-recorded instruments (16bit 44.1kHz sampled from real instruments) • Release and attack time configurable per instrument • Sustain samples • Pitch bend wheel and accelerometer control • Audio tracks: • Microphone recording • AudioCopy & AudioPaste • iPod library or wav/mp3/AAC/ogg file import • Waveform and audio region editing • Record with CoreAudio (class compliant) hardware • Sampler to a create custom instrument or kit from audio files and recordings • Background audio playback and recording • Low-latency, highly optimized, 128x polyphony, battery saving audio engine • 10 drum loops • High-quality reverb, resonant filter, compressor and limiter effects • 127-track sequencer • Beat & metronome settings (tempo, signature) • Mute, solo, effect bus, pan and volume adjustment for each track • Edit tracks, bars and even individual notes: Draw, quantize, transpose, repeat, move, length, velocity, etc. • Unlimited undo and redo • Detailed in-app help • Play or record 2 different instruments at the same time with 2 keyboard rows • iPhone and iPad Retina Display supported • Compatible with CoreMIDI (MIDI in and out), Virtual MIDI and MIDI hardware. LIMITATIONS OF THE LITE VERSION • Saving, exporting and sharing is disabled, hence only one song can be created. • Only 11 instead of 124 instruments are available • The number of audio tracks is limited to 2 (up to 127 in the full version) • Only 1 user instrument or kit can be created (unlimited in the full version) • The keyboard is limited to 5 octaves instead of 7 (85 keys) • 6 Effects are not available: Delay, EQ, Amp, Phaser, BitCrusher, StereoWidener. • Only 10 instead of 100 beats • The full version features Files app support, iTunes file sharing and a WiFi server for exchanging files with your computer. • MIDI import/export is disabled. • The full version supports Audiobus and Inter-App Audio. • No add-on packages (+70 instruments) Video tutorials are available on the Xewton YouTube channel.

About

Numa Player

This free virtual instrument offers a vast library of high-quality sounds for music creation. It features a flexible multizone system, advanced sound engine, and extensive effects, suitable for both live performances and studio work across multiple platforms.

Highlights
  • Free multitimbral instrument player
  • Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS)
  • Standalone or plugin mode
  • Multizone sound management
  • Advanced multi-core sound engine
  • Extensive sound library
  • 9 insert effects and 3 master effects
Features
Read full description

Numa Player is a completely free virtual instrument. It's not only the perfect companion for your SL Keyboard, but it is also much more! The User Interface scales to different monitor sizes to fit best in your Audio/MIDI setup and makes Numa Player the first Studiologic Instrument Player available for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. KEY POINTS • A completely free Multitimbral Instrument Player. • The Only Cross-Platform Instrument: macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. • Works in Standalone or Plugin mode. • The perfect match for Studiologic SL Controllers. • Live performances and Studio features. • A new "easy to use" user interface. • 4 Parts, 27 free sounds. • 9 Insert Effects and 3 Master Effects. MULTI-CORE. The advanced sound engine of Numa Player 2 takes your performance to the next level. It's now optimized to harness the full power of your device's multi-core cpu, delivering exceptional performance and ultra-low latency even in the most demanding setups1. Enjoy higher polyphony and smoother playback, no matter how complex your project gets. MULTIZONE. Designed with ultimate flexibility in mind, Numa Player 2 allows you to create and manage infinite Zones effortlessly. Add, duplicate, or drag and reposition zones with ease, all within an intuitive interface that puts full creative control at your fingertips. Customize each zone with its own sound parameters, keyboard ranges, and MIDI settings, or even assign custom colors for clear and easy navigation during your performance. MANY SOUNDS. Numa Player 2 comes packed with an extensive library of professionally recorded, high-quality sounds, covering a wide range of music genres and styles. Among Acoustic Pianos, punchy leads, orchestral textures and intricate percussive elements, find the perfect sound to bring your music to life. WHAT'S YOUR PROGRAM? In a Program you can combine any sound with its own insert effects. Save and load your program sets for Live performances and Studio sessions. 9x3 SOUND EFFECTS. MULTIPLY YOUR MOODS. Numa Player provides up to 9 integrated insert effects for each part and a Master effects section. LIVE OR STUDIO. PLAY SMARTER LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Organize the best Live Performarce setup with your devices and MIDI controllers or use Numa Player as an instrument plugin inside your DAW2 to create professional music sequences.

Screenshots

Music Studio Lite4 screens
Numa Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Numa Player at 4.7 against Music Studio Lite's 3.9. Numa Player also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 71%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). Music Studio Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). On price, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Numa Player sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Music Studio Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Numa Player holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 280 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Music Studio Lite's written reviews are positive against 85% of Numa Player's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Music Studio Lite ships an update every 3 months, Numa Player every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Music Studio Lite versus Numa Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic Studio LiteNuma Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (280 ratings)4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews85.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2801.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHFATAR SRL

Customer experience

Music Studio Lite

All ratings277 ratings
Positive71.1%
Neutral7.2%
Negative21.7%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral8.2%
Negative21.2%

Numa Player

All ratings1,189 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews237 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative10.5%

User reviews

Music Studio Lite

From 280 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Impressive sound quality
  • 🎨 Versatile instrument selection
  • 🎶 Great for music creation
  • 💡 Portable DAW functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and glitches
  • 🤔 Unintuitive interface
  • 📺 Compatibility issues with newer devices
  • 🔇 Audio playback problems

Numa Player

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great sounds
  • 👍 Excellent sound quality
  • 👍 Stable and reliable
  • 👍 Fantastic free app
  • 👍 Impressive for a free app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Polyphony issues
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes
  • 🐛 Notes dropping out
  • 🐛 Sound glitching
  • 🐛 Sustain pedal issues

Bugs and requests

Music Studio Lite

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Can't get rid of reverb
  • Drum pads can't be removed
  • Keyboard gets stuck on 'waveform' view
  • Screen layout issues on iPhone 11 and up

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add quantization feature
  • Enable vertical view on iPad
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
  • Implement undo/redo functionality
  • Expand sound library and effects

Numa Player

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashing issues in GarageBand
  • Incompatibility with some MIDI controllers
  • Sustain pedal causing noise

Requested features

6 requests
  • More types of resonance (aliquot, body, bridge/soundboard)
  • New piano models (Bosendorfer, Yamaha CFX)
  • More instruments (brass, saxes)
  • Ability to save custom patches
  • Ability to resize on-screen keyboard
Show 1 more
  • MIDI learn functionality

In-app purchases

None

Music Studio Lite

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Numa Player

One-time3
  • VINTAGE PIANOS$17.99
  • GRAN CODA$24.99
  • STAGE D$24.99

Questions

Is Music Studio Lite free?
Music Studio Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Numa Player free?
Numa Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Music Studio Lite or Numa Player?
Numa Player is rated higher. Music Studio Lite averages 3.9 out of 5 from 280 ratings, while Numa Player averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Music Studio Lite or Numa Player have ads?
Neither Music Studio Lite nor Numa Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music Studio Lite or Numa Player?
Music Studio Lite ships an update every 3 months, and Numa Player every 6 weeks. Most recently, Music Studio Lite was updated on October 31, 2026 and Numa Player on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons