Comparison

MIDI SolFa Mode vs PitchSetCalc

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

Head to head
About

MIDI SolFa Mode

Explore music theory with an interactive instrument. Learn scales, modes, and solmization, or connect to MIDI devices. Play melodies, chords, and discover improvisational techniques.

Highlights
  • Interactive spiral and piano keyboards
  • Study scales, modes, and circle of fifths
  • Learn Movable-Do and Fixed-Do solmization
  • MIDI input/output and file playback
  • Improvise polyphonic canons
  • Load custom sounds and MIDI files
Features
Read full description

A unique musical instrument. An interactive music theory medium. An amazing solmization machine. A universal MIDI tool. All in one: "MIDI SolFa Mode-Go-Round" unites and extends the possibilities of the apps "Musk MIDI Keyboard", "Musk MIDI Player", "Musk Diatonic Modes" and the "SolFa Mode-Go-Round". Therefore there are many creative and didactic use cases. Play and grasp music! Use cases: ========== * Play on the diatonic or chromatic keyboard. * Study or teach scales, church modes, and the circle of fifths. * Discover improvising polyphonic canons. * Learn Movable-Do and Fixed-Do solmization. * Connect to your MIDI apps and devices or play with connected "SolFa Mode-Go-Rounds". * Load sounds and polyphonic pieces. * Tune into your part. Hear its solmization. Touch instruments: ================== * The app features a diatonically oriented spiral shaped keyboard with 7 keys per octave. (Tone circle) * With it you can easily play well sounding melodies and chords in major, minor or other church modes. + Besides it, there is a chromatic piano keyboard. (iPhone: Landscape orientation, iPad: double tap piano-button) Sounds: ======= * Instrumental sounds: a General-MIDI sound font is pre-installed. (See also "Musk MIDI Keyboard" for more options.) * To study church modes and solmization, the syllables "do re mi fa so la ti" where recorded in 3 octaves. + Freely mix instrument and solmization sounds. Listen to the solmization of the tenor, hear the bass as piano and the soprano as flute notes. + Choose a small choir ("Erlebnisland") with warm sounds or synthetic Bruno, who really sings to the point. Music theory: ============= * The generalised touch circle of fifth gives access to 12 tonics und 7 modes. * The touch instruments change according to the selected tonic and mode. * There are 5 mathematical-musical base modulations. * Interactive tutorials introduce you to the operation. * Get a fine feeling for the character differences between the diatonic scales Major (Ionian), natural Minor (Aeolean) and the church modes Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian and Locrian. * Understand how they are interrelated. + Improvise up to five-part counterpoint canons "note-by-note": You play the melody and the canon assistent shows how to proceed. * You can also invent normal canons. Just play in half notes. + You can change labels on the tone circle, e.g. to test your or your students knowledge. Solmization: ============ * The syllables depend on the pitch, the chosen tonic/mode configuration and the solmization method. * They are shown on the tone circle and can be heared. * Solmization methods: absolute solmization (Fixed-Do), relative solmization (Movable-Do) and scale degree solmization. MIDI features: ============== * With this app, you can send and receive MIDI notes and play back MIDI files. * All features of "Musk MIDI Keyboard" and "Musk MIDI Player" are available. (See "Related Apps" in the App Store) + Record tracks and export midi files. + During recording of notes, the related solmization syllables can be attached to the track as lyrics. These can be shown by any MIDI-Karaoke player. + This app sends and receives configuration change commands. You can keep all connected "MIDI SolFa Mode-Go-Rounds" in sync. + You can also add bass notes with an external notation app. These will trigger tonic/mode changes. Synchronization: ================= + Notes and configuration changes are transmitted via MIDI to connected devices and apps. + Using SharePlay you can play with friends over the Internet and play back midi files synchronously. + Nearby devices, e.g. in the classroom, can synchronize their settings via OSC and OSC-Query. See also: ========= * "SolFa Mode-Go-Round", "Tonkreisel", "Musk MIDI Player", "Musk MIDI Keyboard". * Features marked with "*" are available in other apps. * Features marked with "+" are only available in this app. Have fun and let the mode go round! We love to hear feedback.

About

PitchSetCalc

This music theory tool aids students and theorists in analyzing music using Set Theory. It calculates normal order, prime form, Forte number, and interval class vectors from user-inputted pitch class sets. The app also offers audio playback of entered sets as scales or simultaneities.

Highlights
  • Pitch class set entry via pitch wheel
  • Calculates normal order
  • Calculates prime form
  • Calculates Forte number
  • Calculates interval class vector
  • Audio playback of pitch sets
Features
Read full description

PitchSetCalc is a tool for music student and theorists that will help with the analysis of music using Set Theory. This app has a simple interface and works on both iPhone and iPad with iOS 10.0 and up. To enter in a new pitch class set, the user simply touches the pitches on the pitch wheel. As the pitches are entered, the app will calculate normal order, prime form, Forte number, and the interval class vector. The pitch wheel will display the pitches using sharps or flats. When the pitches are entered, each one will sound to give the user an idea of how the pitch class set sounds. There is also a playback function which will play the set as either a scale or simultaneity.

Screenshots

MIDI SolFa Mode4 screens
PitchSetCalc2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MIDI SolFa Mode at 4.5 against PitchSetCalc's 3.5. MIDI SolFa Mode also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 19 months) and review sentiment (60% vs 50%). PitchSetCalc's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $3.99). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MIDI SolFa Mode costs $3.99 and PitchSetCalc $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MIDI SolFa Mode holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of MIDI SolFa Mode's written reviews are positive against 50% of PitchSetCalc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI SolFa Mode ships an update every 3 months, PitchSetCalc every 19 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MIDI SolFa Mode versus PitchSetCalc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI SolFa ModePitchSetCalc
Price$3.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 19 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDr. Garbers SoftwareentwicklungJess Hendricks

Customer experience

MIDI SolFa Mode

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

PitchSetCalc

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

MIDI SolFa Mode

No in-app purchases

None

PitchSetCalc

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI SolFa Mode free?
MIDI SolFa Mode costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PitchSetCalc free?
PitchSetCalc costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MIDI SolFa Mode or PitchSetCalc?
MIDI SolFa Mode is rated higher. MIDI SolFa Mode averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PitchSetCalc averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do MIDI SolFa Mode or PitchSetCalc have ads?
Neither MIDI SolFa Mode nor PitchSetCalc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI SolFa Mode or PitchSetCalc?
MIDI SolFa Mode ships an update every 3 months, and PitchSetCalc every 19 months. Most recently, MIDI SolFa Mode was updated on November 1, 2026 and PitchSetCalc on November 1, 2026.

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