Comparison

MusicSoft Manager vs FM Essential

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

Head to head
About

MusicSoft Manager

Connect your Yamaha digital instrument to your iOS device to transfer content via Wi-Fi. Easily back up and restore instrument data, manage files, and share data with your computer and cloud storage.

Highlights
  • Wi-Fi instrument connection
  • Content transfer to instrument
  • Instrument data backup
  • Instrument data restore
  • File name management
  • Cloud storage integration
Features
Read full description

You can use this app to connect your Yamaha digital instrument with an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Compatible instrument users can transfer the content to the instrument using a Wi-Fi connection. You can also back up your instrument data or restore data to your instrument. **Use the iOS/iPadOS "Files" app or iTunes file sharing feature to transfer data from your computer or various cloud storage services to your instrument.** [Functions] - Backup data on your instrument to the app, or restore data to your instrument from the app. Compatible Yamaha instruments with Wi-Fi capability can connect to an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad via Wi-Fi connection and transfer content. You can also connect your instrument to an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and backup your song data to the MusicSoft Manager. You can then transfer the song data stored in the app back to your instrument. - Data management Changing file names and other functions that are more time consuming to perform on the instrument can be done directly and easily from the app itself. - Seamlessly share data with your computer and cloud storage using the "Files" app and iTunes file sharing. The "Files" app integration allows you to transfer data from your preferred storage services (such as iCloud Drive, etc.) or your computer to MusicSoft Manager. Data stored in MusicSoft Manager can also be backed up to your preferred locations.

About

FM Essential

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

Highlights
  • FM tone generator
  • Real-time synth performance
  • Voice editing
  • Arpeggiator and chord pads
  • Effects and EQ edit
  • Ball controller for sound modulation
  • Step sequencer
Read full description

Featuring an FM tone generator, FM Essential is a synthesizer app for the iPhone and iPad that provides for real-time synth performances and also lets you edit voices. [Spec] -FM sound ・Tone Generator: FM ・Part: 1 ・Polyphony: 16 ・Preset Voice: 271 ・Arpeggiator patterns: 64 ・Chord pads: 20 ・Scales: 25 -Drum Part Tone Generator: Audio Part: 1 Drum Pad: 16 Drum Pad Set: 3 Functions Plug into MX! -You can play full 271 voices and voice store function if you connect your iOS with Yamaha music synthesizer MX BK/BU series. Effects/EQ edit -You can adjust parameters to edit effects and equalization. Ball controller -Touch and drag in ball controller to modulate the sound by simultaneously changing multiple parameters based on the ball position. Step sequencer -We can store the ball position in the currently selected scene box. Arpeggiator and chord pads -You can play Arpeggiator and Chord pads in addition to keyboard with various scales. What's MX BK/BU/WH series? Find more here: http://jp.yamaha.com/products/music-production/synthesizers/mx_bk_bu/?mode=series [Support] -Compatible with Audio Unit Extentions -Compatible devices: iPhone 5S, 6/6 plus, 6s/6s plus and SE, iPod touch 6th Generation or later, iPad Air 1st Generation or later, iPad mini 2nd Generation or later,iPad Pro

Screenshots

MusicSoft Manager4 screens
FM Essential4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FM Essential at none against MusicSoft Manager's 10. FM Essential also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (40% vs 14%). MusicSoft Manager's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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

Both are free to download. MusicSoft Manager sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. FM Essential asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FM Essential holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of MusicSoft Manager's written reviews are positive against 40% of FM Essential's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MusicSoft Manager ships an update every 8 months, FM Essential every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MusicSoft Manager versus FM Essential: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusicSoft ManagerFM Essential
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (18 ratings)3.0 (70 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1870 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 15 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB88 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYamaha CorporationYamaha Corporation of America

Customer experience

MusicSoft Manager

All ratings18 ratings
Positive38.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative55.6%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral10.7%
Negative75.0%

FM Essential

All ratings65 ratings
Positive43.1%
Neutral12.3%
Negative44.6%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative47.5%

Bugs and requests

MusicSoft Manager

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

FM Essential

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Does not unlock with USB-C adapter
  • App crashes when loading combinations
  • Preset menus crash the app
  • Combined Sounds no longer read from keyboard after iPad update
  • Instruments stop working if effect filters are turned off
Show 1 more
  • Incompatible USB Device on MX displays

Requested features

9 requests
  • Unlock without hardware purchase
  • Allow in-app purchase to unlock
  • Bring back Tenori On apps
  • Fix LFO delay parameter
  • Add separate volume control for drums
Show 4 more
  • Allow app to be used as a plugin
  • Fix AU host preset recall
  • Make app compatible with more devices
  • Fix instruments disabling when effects are off

In-app purchases

10 purchases

MusicSoft Manager

One-time10
  • The Entertainer$0.99
  • Piano Man$2.99
  • Star Wars$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Hallelujah$3.99
  • You Raise Me Up$3.99
  • Someone Like You$3.99
  • Desperado$3.99
  • Happy$3.99
  • Imagine$3.99
  • Let It Go (from Frozen)$3.99
None

FM Essential

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MusicSoft Manager free?
MusicSoft Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FM Essential free?
FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential?
FM Essential is rated higher. MusicSoft Manager averages 2.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while FM Essential averages 3.0 from 70 ratings.
Do MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential have ads?
Neither MusicSoft Manager nor FM Essential shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MusicSoft Manager or FM Essential?
MusicSoft Manager ships an update every 8 months, and FM Essential every 15 months. Most recently, MusicSoft Manager was updated on November 1, 2026 and FM Essential on November 2, 2026.

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