Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox vs Mazetools Soniface Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox
This app acts as a MIDI control surface for iPads, simulating a 31-button diatonic button accordion. It's designed to control external hardware or virtual instruments, offering customizable MIDI settings and a push/pull bellows simulation.
- 31-button three-row diatonic button accordion layout
- CoreMIDI control surface for iPad
- Simulates push/pull bellows action
- Customizable MIDI volume, channel, and velocity
- Supports transposition for different tunings
- Virtual MIDI port output option
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The Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox is a 31-button three-row diatonic Button Accordion CoreMIDI control surface for the iPad. The app doesn't produce any sound on it own, it is designed for playing hardware and software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via a CoreMIDI compatible interface connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like Roland Sound Canvas for iOS, IK Multimedia SampleTank®, or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your iPad. Inspired by the iconic Hohner Corona II, the app uses the standard GCF (Sol) button layout popular for Tex-Mex, Norteño, Tejano, Conjunto, Vallenato, and similar styles of button accordion. Please visit the app website to see a demo video of playing SampleTank with the Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox. Touch the buttons with the fingers on your right hand to play. Buttons highlight when playing. Multiple buttons may be pressed at the same time to make chords. This style of accordion plays different notes depending on whether you are pushing or pulling on the bellows. Touch the anywhere in the bellows image at the top of the screen for PUSH notes, lift your finger for PULL notes. The PUSH/PULL indicator shows the current bellows direction. Also, the sides of the bellows light up tracking the bellows motion You may slide your fingers between the buttons. Touch the MIDI connector icon at the upper left corner to show the MIDI controls. Using the controls, you may set the overall instrument MIDI volume, MIDI modulation, MIDI channel (1-8), key attack velocity playing style (fixed or variable), velocity min/max, and transposition (+/- 12 semitones). Both fixed and variable velocity modes are provided to allow for expressive playback. In the variable velocity modes, the X or Y touch position within the bellows sets the velocity for the notes being played. The range for the velocity is set using the Min and Max Velocity sliders. For fixed velocity, the Max Velocity slider value is used. You may also set the Max Velocity to less than the Min Velocity to reverse the direction for velocity mapping in the bellows touch areas. The app is based on the standard GCF tuning. Other common tunings can be achieved by setting the transposition control. For example, for FBbEb (Fa) tuning, set a -2 semitone transposition. For EAD (Mi) tuning, set a -3 semitone transposition. Touch the '?' icon to show the base layout note names for each button (without transposition). Use the "Transmit MIDI Port" switch to choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps (matches previous versions of the app) or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, the app will show up as an input option in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MidiBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. All MIDI settings are saved when the app quits and restored the next time it is run. Touch the 'i' button at the middle top to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message quiet any "stuck" notes if they occur. Settings for use with other MIDI synthesizer apps: Sonosaurus ThumbJam: - In "Preferences", under "Options", enabled "Background Audio". If using the "Virtual Port" transmit port option, enable the input port under Preferences / MIDI Control / MIDI Input Connections. IK Multimedia SampleTank: - In Settings (touch the gear icon), enable "Background Audio". IK Multimedia iRig MIDI Hardware MIDI Interface: - For simple direct connection, in MIDI SqueezeBox, set the "Transmit MIDI Port" option to "Omni" . - If using a MIDI filtering app like MidiBridge to modify the data stream, in MIDI SqueezeBox, set the "Transmit MIDI Port" option to "Virtual Port". Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings. Touch the 'i' icon to show the instructions page. Be sure to visit the AppCordions.com website for MIDI setup and demo videos!
Mazetools Soniface Pro
Create audiovisual performances and interactive installations by composing music and designing geometric visuals. Experiment with sound and visual objects, control instruments via multitouch, and use motion gestures for dynamic expression. Supports multiple display outputs for immersive experiences.
- Unlimited instruments and patterns
- Airplay Visual Mode with HDMI output
- Unlimited internal audio recording
- Motion interface for gesture control
- Cross-platform project file compatibility
- Generative visual synthesizer
- MIDI input and output
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Soniface Pro Features - Unlimited instruments - Pattern mode to create unlimited scenes - Airplay Visual Mode with HDMI Video-Outputsfor performance & VJing - Unlimited internal audio recording in .wav - By purchasing the Pro, you are directly supporting development Key Features Creative space to explore sound, music and geometric visuals Experiment with audio and visual objects and create your own scenes Operate controllers and play instruments via multitouch Motion interface to control instruments and parameters through gestures, movements and dance Cross-platform compatibility of project files Simple design for mobile devices, complex (regular) design for tablets and desktops Advanced in-app guide, FAQ & help function in English and German Instruments Gridsynth - A generative, visual synthesizer for drones and melodies incl. sequencer & arpeggiator Rhythm sequencer for sample- and synth-based basses and drums Spatial & granular soundscape sampler incl. mic input, sample library and file integration Key interface for cross-instrument tonality incl. progression sequencer Interactive LivePad and keyboard for Gridsynth, Bass & Sampler Automation & Connectivity Advanced controller automation incl. multi-touch editor, body tracking interface MIDI input and output Master FX and Ableton Link Normal mouse and keyboard support Audiobus & Inter-App Audio (experimental support) The Pro version represents all capabilities of our yearlong development in terms of a creative progress. The Pattern Mode is the essential feature in the context of musical and performative application. Therefore you have a simple, editable list of Patterns on the main screen. The Pattern Mode enables to build scenes with several instruments and samplers, each with different main settings like tempo, pitch, main EQ, sequence length as well as motion tracking connections. The additional Visual Interface gives you the possibility to design a whole new look for each scene. The visual corresponds to the sound as well as the motion interaction and main FX. In relation to your device it supports up to 3 display outputs with separate content. Soniface Pro combines a modular concept with spatial audio abilities. This offers new approaches to audiovisual performances and interactive installations. The desktop version supports surround sound output up to 7.1 speakers. The objects on the display become positioned within the XY field of the surround room. Soniface Pro does not refer to pro audio but allows you to use all facets of the software. As reference, you will find videos and music of our works (Ectoplastic) which were completely made with it, like multichannel audiovisual performances as will as our musical releases. There are a lot of pro features on our list and we are looking forward for the next update. Don't hesitate to write us your questions and feedback which we will answer personally. Information We do our best to avoid bugs, often enough they drive us crazy or were disappointed when a moment was lost. But it has to come out sometime and after the update before the update. So feel free to write us bugs and problems, definitely also if you made a song or video. Soniface needs access to the camera for motion tracking, the microphone for audio recording, the local files to save projects and recordings, and the network for Ableton Link. Much more content, terms of use, credits and FAQ are in the app's guide and can be found in the app's start-up menu. About Mazetools Empowering creativity, democratizing musical expression and making it inclusive - how does that work? These are the questions that keep us busy. Soniface is a first step in the process and provides important points of contact through the multitouch-based principle & motion tracking input. But we want to go further - with you and the community. We wish you a great time with Soniface Pro, Stephan & Jakob
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mazetools Soniface Pro at 77% against Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox's 25%. Mazetools Soniface Pro also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 22 months). Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $12.99). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox costs $4.99 and Mazetools Soniface Pro $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Mazetools Soniface Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mazetools Soniface Pro has 26 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox's written reviews are positive against 77% of Mazetools Soniface Pro's.
Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox ships an update every 22 months, Mazetools Soniface Pro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox | Mazetools Soniface Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 4.7 (26 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | 77.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 26 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 435 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Eskin | Ectoplastic |
Customer experience
Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox
Mazetools Soniface Pro
In-app purchases
Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox
No in-app purchases
Mazetools Soniface Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox free?
Is Mazetools Soniface Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox or Mazetools Soniface Pro?
Do Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox or Mazetools Soniface Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hohner MIDI SqueezeBox or Mazetools Soniface Pro?
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