Tabletop vs Xkey Piano
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
Xkey Piano
This app transforms your iPad into a mobile piano, offering a full-size MIDI keyboard experience. It's designed to work seamlessly with a CME Xkey keyboard but can also be used on its own for musical exploration.
- Use iPad as a mobile piano
- Connect and use CME Xkey keyboard
- Select various instruments
- Adjust tempo and use metronome
- Experience polyphonic aftertouch
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Have you ever dreamt using your iPad as a mobile piano? Xkey Piano is a free iOS app that requires a CME Xkey keyboard to get maximum user experience. Xkey is a thin and beautiful USB MIDI keyboard with 25 or 37 full-size keys, made for mobile musicians. If you don’t have any, you can still play around and have fun on your iPad only… Just bought an Xkey? Get started and don’t lose time looking for other MIDI compatible apps ! * Learn how to plug and use your Xkey with your iPad * Select instruments * Change the tempo and use the embedded metronome * Experience polyphonic aftertouch * And much more coming soon! Xkey sets you free!
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Xkey Piano at none against Tabletop's 11. Xkey Piano also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 11.0). Tabletop's advantage is review sentiment (54% vs 20%) and ratings volume (85 vs 7). On price, rating, 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. Xkey Piano asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tabletop holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tabletop has 85 ratings behind it against 7, 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 20% of Xkey Piano's.
| Parameter | Tabletop | Xkey Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (85 ratings) — better | 3.1 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.9% of reviews — better | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 85 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 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 | 7.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.4 GB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Retronyms Inc | ESI Audiotechnik GmbH |
Customer experience
Tabletop
Xkey Piano
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
Xkey Piano
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Tabletop
- EKKO$1.99
- WHIRL$2.99
- Verve$2.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- 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
Xkey Piano
No in-app purchases









