MIDIWriter vs MES Arpeggiator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDIWriter
This app transforms keyboard input into musical notes and sounds. Type characters to instantly generate MIDI messages, or input phrases to create musical sequences with adjustable tempo and looping. It includes a built-in sound engine and supports external MIDI devices and apps.
- Text to MIDI conversion
- Built-in General MIDI sound engine
- Phrase playback with tempo control
- Drum mode with multiple kits
- External MIDI output
- Hardware keyboard support
- Wi-Fi MIDI networking
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[[ A STRANGE MUSIC TOOL FOR MANIAC MUSIC LOVERS! ]] MIDIWriter is a unique app that converts keyboard input into MIDI note messages. Each character you type instantly produces sound. You can also enter a phrase and play it back as a sequence with adjustable tempo and loop options. KEY FEATURES: Built-in Sound Engine: No external app required! MIDIWriter includes a built-in General MIDI sound engine with 128 instruments and 9 drum kits. Just type and hear the sound immediately. Phrase Playback: Enter any text and play it as a musical sequence. Adjust the tempo (1-480 BPM), enable loop mode, and let your words become music. Space characters can be used as rests. Drum Mode: Switch to drum mode to play percussion sounds. Choose from 9 GM drum kits including Standard, Room, Power, Electronic, 808/909, Jazz, Brush, and Orchestral. MIDI Output: Send MIDI to other apps or external devices. Configure MIDI channel (1-16), program change (0-127), and destination. Works with Virtual MIDI and MIDI Network Session. Can be used simultaneously with the built-in sound engine. Keyboard Support: Use the on-screen software keyboard, or connect a Bluetooth/USB hardware keyboard for a real typing experience. Supports Japanese input with proper IME handling. MIDI Network Session: Connect to Mac or other iOS devices over Wi-Fi to control CoreMIDI-compatible sound generators remotely. Dark Mode & Rotation: Full support for light and dark modes. Works in portrait and landscape orientations on both iPhone and iPad. Note: Playback stops when the app goes to background. Using the Built-in Sound: Simply launch MIDIWriter and start typing. Each key produces a unique sound based on its character code. Enable drum mode in Settings for percussion sounds. Using with External MIDI Apps (Virtual MIDI): 1. Open a CoreMIDI sound generator app. 2. In MIDIWriter Settings, turn on "MIDI Output" and select the destination. 3. Type any key to hear sound from the external app. Using with Mac (MIDI Network Session): 1. Connect iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network. 2. Open MIDIWriter on iPhone. 3. On Mac, open "Audio MIDI Setup" and configure Network MIDI. 4. Connect your iPhone to the session. 5. Open a CoreMIDI app on Mac and select the network session as MIDI input. 6. Type on MIDIWriter to play sounds on Mac. Credits: Built-in sound engine uses "GeneralUser GS" SoundFont by S. Christian Collins. https://schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php
MES Arpeggiator
Generate evolving MIDI patterns from chords and rhythms. This app offers real-time control over note timing, gate, and swing, with a built-in FM synth for standalone use. It functions as an AUv3 MIDI plugin for hosts like AUM or as a standalone tool for sketching musical ideas.
- MIDI Arpeggiator (AUv3 plugin)
- Standalone app mode
- Built-in FM synthesizer
- Skippable steps & Euclidean rhythms
- Chord Board for harmony generation
- Real-time performance controls
- Visual step grid feedback
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MES Arpeggiator is a creative MIDI arpeggiator for iPhone and iPad, available as both a standalone app and an AUv3 MIDI plugin. Use it in plugin hosts (for example AUM and other AUv3 hosts) to drive your favourite synths, or run it standalone to sketch ideas quickly. At its core, MES Arpeggiator is about fast inspiration with musical results: choose a chord, set the feel, and generate evolving patterns that instantly fit your track. Shape the output with range, speed, gate and swing, then refine the pattern with hands-on performance controls. Built for real iOS workflows AUv3 MIDI plugin: load inside AUv3 hosts and route MIDI to instruments for instant musical results Standalone app: great for writing, sketching and experimenting away from a full session Built-in FM synthesizer (standalone): audition arpeggios immediately with punchy, musical FM sounds—perfect for previewing patterns before routing MIDI to other instruments Powerful pattern generation & control Skippable steps: choose which steps are active or muted in real-time to reshape the groove on the fly Euclidean rhythms: generate perfectly distributed pulses across your sequence—from simple grooves to complex polyrhythms with a single control Deep pattern control: adjust octave range and direction, then shift/translate patterns horizontally or vertically for evolving movement Loop controls: focus on a subsection with loop start/end/length—great for fills, variations and evolving sequences Advanced note timing: choose durations from 1/1 to 1/64, including dotted and triplet subdivisions for tight rhythmic control Gate & swing: sculpt note length and groove in real time without interrupting playback Randomization & presets: generate new patterns instantly, then save and recall favourites for fast workflow Visual feedback: the step grid shows active steps and play position so you always know exactly what the arpeggiator is doing Chord Board for instant harmony Open the Chord Board to pick chords quickly, change the root note and scale, and trigger harmonies that feed straight into the arpeggiator—an easy way to go from “blank page” to musical progression. Note: MES Arpeggiator generates MIDI patterns. When used as a plugin, it controls other instruments (it does not output audio as a synth inside the AUv3 MIDI effect).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MIDIWriter at $0.99 against MES Arpeggiator's $14.99. MES Arpeggiator's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 1.5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 35 months). On ratings volume, 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
MIDIWriter costs $0.99 and MES Arpeggiator $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MES Arpeggiator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
MIDIWriter ships an update every 35 months, MES Arpeggiator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIWriter | MES Arpeggiator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 1.5 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Masayuki Akamatsu | Make Electronic Sound OU |
In-app purchases
MIDIWriter
No in-app purchases
MES Arpeggiator
No in-app purchases









