Comparison

harpSampler vs midiOS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

harpSampler

Transform your device into a multi-touch harp by importing your own sounds or using the built-in sampler. Create unique musical instruments and special effects with adjustable octaves, scales, and chords.

Highlights
  • Import custom sounds for instrument generation
  • Automatic 8-octave harp creation
  • Multi-touch interface for live performance
  • Adjustable scales and chords
  • Real-time sound bending and start position control
  • Record live performances
Features
Read full description

"harpSampler" transforms your device into a professional multi-touch harp with sound sampler. Simply create your own sound sample (an "A" or "LA" note for musical instrument sound or any note for special sounds or special effects): - using the "REC" button of harpSampler (uses the internal microphone of the device to record the sound sample for the harp) - importing the sound sample that you have created with a wave editor for MAC or PC in your device through iTunes synchronization - using copy / paste for the audio file you have created using the technology "iTunes File Sharing" Once imported the sound sample, harpSampler tool will automatically create the complete "Harp" (with 8 octaves). At which point you can play your harp (with the sound created by you or using the default "HARP" sound included in the application bundle), or entertain your friends with a scale of special effects (harp style). The software is able to read all files / audio samples that are compatible with your portable device (.wav, .mp3, .m4a, .caf, etc ...), you can then create your sound (you only need one audio file) using standard wave editor for Mac or PC, add reverb, chorus, special effects (you can manipulate the sound as you wish), save it in the file format that you prefer and use harpSampler to automatically create the complete musical instrument, to be played like an harp. Using the "SAMPLE START POSITION" control you can choose the exact play start position of the sound sample ("wave cut"). Using the "REC" button you can record your live performance or record a new sound sample to be assigned to the musical instrument. Using the different scales (You can choose the scale You want from the "SCALE" menu), you do not need necessarily to be an expert musician to play some beautiful scales with your harp. Also, using the "chords" control (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) you can choose the chord for your harp or scale ("chords" work together with the "scale") . With harpSampler You can create the harp of your dreams or, in general, you can create any kind of musical instrument, or special effects generator and play it like an harp! Features: - Import any sound, and automatic generation of the musical instrument (8 octaves) - Storing infinite sounds using the archive of sound samples "Samples Archive" of harpSampler - Harp multi-touch for live music performances - Check for increase / decrease the eighth harp used in real time - "Bending" control to change the sound of the device in real time - "Sample Start Position" control:     you can remove the initial part of a sample (eg. silence), specifying the play start time of the sample ("wave cut" feature) - "STOP" button to immediately stop the harp sound - Harp with multiple voices (up to 96 voices) - Default "HARP" sound provided with the app - Ability to "record" musical patterns during the live performance:     start the recording (pressing the "REC" button), harpSampler will record an audio file of the music you are playing with the harp musical instrument (press a cable of the harp to play the recorded audio of Your live performance) - "CHORDS" control - Multiple scales selectable from the "SCALE" menu - Virtual keyboard, pressing the "V. KEYB.": disable the automatic scale and enable the virtual keyboard on the cables of the harp *** PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE: If You want to play the "Golden Gate Bridge" like a giant harp, using the sound samples of the Golden Gate Bridge itself, You can download the app "Play The Golden Gate Bridge". The sound samples of the "Golden Gate Bridge" provided with the "Play The Golden Gate Bridge" app were sampled by the "San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble" company. Amazing sounds… Try it !!! ***

About

midiOS

Features
Read full description

Before installing, visit midios.app/setup for setup instructions. midiOS is a new kind of instrument. Transform your iPhone into an expressive MIDI instrument with advanced harmony, multidimensional performance control, and deep DAW integration. Play notes, chords, scales, arpeggios, modulation, and complete live performances from the device you already carry. With Offline Play, midiOS becomes a self-contained instrument. Choose from built-in sounds, create an instrument rack, record or import personal samples, and capture performances in Offline LiveGrid—without a Mac, DAW, account, or network connection. Designed for musicians, midiOS opens ready to perform. Tap pads to play notes, chords, and scales. Change keys, modes, voicings, and tonal centers without interrupting your flow. Swipe across pads to explore inversions, chord qualities, suspensions, secondary dominants, chromatic movement, and harmonic variations. Every gesture can become musical. Shape your performance with multi-touch, directional gestures, device motion, aftertouch, pitch movement, XY pads, sliders, knobs, and macros. Optional facial controls let head and expression movements influence harmony, modulation, register, and other performance destinations in real time. Performance Modes transform these inputs into coordinated musical systems. Intelligent voice leading keeps chords connected, expressive harmony controls create fluid transitions, and synchronized arpeggiation follows your DAW’s tempo and phase without restarting the pattern. Built-in modes provide focused setups for piano performance, harmony exploration, musical learning, generative flow, and Ableton control, while Custom Mode lets you create your own instrument. Save complete instruments and performance setups in the Layout Library, then switch between them quickly. Discover and install compatible instruments through the midiOS Marketplace, or transfer your own layouts securely between midiOS and the midiOS Bridge. Using the free midiOS Bridge for Mac, connect over USB or Wi-Fi for a fast, authenticated MIDI connection to your computer. midiOS works with MIDI-compatible software and offers deep Ableton Live integration, including clip and scene launching, transport, session navigation, mixer controls, macros, and real-time visual feedback on your iPhone. Rotate your device to enter LiveGrid and transform your iPhone into a live performance controller. Launch clips and scenes, navigate your session, control transport, and manage your performance from across the stage or studio. Built for live performance, midiOS combines responsive MIDI, intelligent harmony, stable note ownership, fast layout switching, haptic feedback, visual feedback, and automatic reconnection in a workflow designed to keep you focused on making music. Most MIDI apps give you buttons. midiOS gives you an instrument that responds to how you play. Learn more at midios.app.

Screenshots

harpSampler4 screens
midiOS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: harpSampler at $0.99 against midiOS's $24.99. harpSampler also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). midiOS's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 37 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

harpSampler costs $0.99 and midiOS $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

harpSampler ships an update every 37 months, midiOS every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
harpSampler versus midiOS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterharpSamplermidiOS
Price$0.99 — better$24.99
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 37 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB341 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGianluca Natalinijason merrill

In-app purchases

None

harpSampler

No in-app purchases

None

midiOS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is harpSampler free?
harpSampler costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is midiOS free?
midiOS costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do harpSampler or midiOS have ads?
Neither harpSampler nor midiOS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, harpSampler or midiOS?
harpSampler ships an update every 37 months, and midiOS every 3 days. Most recently, harpSampler was updated on October 3, 2026 and midiOS on October 9, 2026.

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