MIDIWriter vs Gritopia
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
Gritopia
This audio effect processor adds texture, weight, and attitude to sounds by layering harmonic coloration, instability, and controlled degradation. It creates rich, expressive character for instruments and vocals, from subtle warmth to aggressive digital grit.
- Layered saturation and harmonic coloration
- Digital erosion and evolving texture
- Dynamic instability and motion
- Subtle enhancement to aggressive destruction
- Controls for texture, tone, fuzz, erode, drift, jitter, glue, and mix
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Gritopia is a character processor built for adding texture, weight, and attitude to any sound. Rather than simply clipping or saturating, Gritopia layers harmonic coloration, evolving instability, and controlled degradation to create rich, expressive character. From subtle warmth to heavily damaged digital grit, every control interacts to produce movement rather than static distortion. The result is an effect that feels alive, constantly shifting as it reshapes your sound. Perfect for drums, bass, synths, guitars, vocals, and creative sound design. Features • Layered saturation and harmonic coloration • Digital erosion and evolving texture • Dynamic instability and motion • Designed for both subtle enhancement and aggressive destruction Controls Grit – Controls the overall amount of texture and saturation. Tone – Shapes the tonal balance of the processed signal. Fuzz – Adds thick harmonic fuzz and aggressive character. Erode – Introduces digital wear, degradation, and broken texture. Drift – Creates slow, evolving movement. Jitter – Adds fast instability and unpredictable variation. Glue – Blends the processed layers into a cohesive sound. Mix – Balances processed and dry signals.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Gritopia at 5.0 against MIDIWriter's 1.5. Gritopia also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). MIDIWriter's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $2.99). 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 Gritopia $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Gritopia holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDIWriter | Gritopia |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $2.99 |
| 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 | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Masayuki Akamatsu | Jeremy Phillips |
Customer experience
MIDIWriter
Gritopia
In-app purchases
MIDIWriter
No in-app purchases
Gritopia
No in-app purchases









