Tabletop vs BK Partner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
BK Partner
Control your Roland BK-series instrument's sounds and accompaniments from your iPad. It mirrors the instrument's front panel for quick access to functions, tones, and rhythms. Supports Core MIDI and Roland Wireless Connection.
- Browse and select instrument tones
- Control musical accompaniments
- Duplicate instrument's front control panel on iPad
- Fast visual access to main functions
- Support for Core MIDI
- Support for Roland Wireless Connection
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This software application for iPad let you browse, select, and control the sounds ("Tones") and musical accompaniments ("Rhythms") of your Roland BK-series instrument. When using BK Partner you can: - Play your BK-series instrument while using your iPad as a duplication of its front control panel. This provides fast visual access to the BK's main functions, Tones, and Rhythms. Work with Core MIDI or Roland Wireless Connection (if supported by BK Instrument) *Note: The BK Partner can only display English texts.
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BK Partner at 4.0 against Tabletop's 3.3. BK Partner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 11.0). Tabletop's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (85 vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. Tabletop sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. BK Partner asks for nothing beyond the download.
BK Partner holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabletop has 85 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 61% of BK Partner's.
Tabletop ships an update every 3 months, BK Partner every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tabletop | BK Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (85 ratings) | 4.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews | 60.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 8.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.4 GB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Retronyms Inc | Roland Corporation |
Customer experience
Tabletop
BK Partner
Bugs and requests
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
BK Partner
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Tabletop
- EKKO$1.99
- WHIRL$2.99
- Verve$2.99
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- 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
BK Partner
No in-app purchases









