Comparison

VR vs KeyStage

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

Head to head
About

VR

This app offers graphical control over the parameters of specific Roland keyboard models, allowing for wireless adjustments to organ and synth tones via an iPad. A compatible Roland keyboard and optional wireless adapter are required for full functionality.

Highlights
  • Graphical parameter control
  • Organ Tone adjustment
  • Synth Tone adjustment
  • Wireless control via iPad
  • Large display interface
Read full description

VR-09 Editor provides graphical control of VR-09, VR-09-B or VR-730's parameters, such as Organ Tones and Synth Tones. * Sound generator is not included. * Any of Roland VR-09, VR-09-B or VR-730 is required to use this app. ● You can use the large display of iPad to control the parameters of Organ and Synth Tone. ● Roland Wireless Connect allows you to control the VR-09, VR-09-B or VR-730 wirelessly by your iPad. * In order to use the wireless connection, you'll need Roland WNA1100-RL, ONKYO UWF-1 or an equivalent wireless USB adaptor, and a wireless LAN access point (e.g., wireless LAN router) that supports WPS.

About

KeyStage

This app acts as a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer for keyboard players. It allows simultaneous control of multiple hardware and software instruments via MIDI, with advanced mapping, scripting, and audio mixing capabilities.

Highlights
  • Connect multiple MIDI controllers to instruments
  • Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI processors
  • Create complex keyboard splits and layers
  • Advanced MIDI mapping and scripting
  • Audio mixer with volume and pan control
  • Play and automate audio files
  • View PDF and JPG files
Read full description

TRY THE FREE LITE VERSION: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keystage-lite/id1437899019 KeyStage is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer app designed mainly for keyboard players. With KeyStage, you can simultaneously control any number of hardware and software instruments using any number of MIDI controllers in an organized way. Each project consists of sections (which corresponds to sections of a song). In each section you can change sounds and sound parameters of connected instruments, create complex splits and layers of your keyboard(s), change the functionalities of sliders/knobs/pedals of your MIDI controllers by creating advanced MIDI mappings, write your own scripts, view PDF and JPG files (e.g. sheet music) and lyrics, and much more. LIST OF FEATURES • Connect any number of MIDI controller to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks. • Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors. • Assign any region of your keyboard(s) to any connected instrument. • Change velocity curve and velocity limits, and create velocity splits and layers. • Transpose notes and restrict notes to any key using pitch shifter. • Create mixer units to combine audio signals, turning KeyStage into an audio mixer. • With the player units, you can play wav, mp3, and m4a files, add marker points, automate actions (like play, stop, move to a marker etc.) using custom translators, or trigger certain events (like changing sections) when the player reaches a certain marker. • Input units allows you to use the microphone input, or the hardware inputs of a connected audio interface. • The Main Mixer view allows you to control volume levels and pans of all tracks, connect effect units, and connect units to mixer units. • Create instrument presets to easily change sounds of instruments by choosing patch names from patch lists. • KeyStage can also import Cubase Patch Scripts to automatically create instrument presets for your MIDI instruments. • KeyStage automatically detects new MIDI connections and recommends matching instrument presets from a database. • Simulate auto-sustain on any connected instrument. • KeyStage has a multi-track recorder, which lets you record any number of tracks simultaneously. • Change or filter any MIDI signal using custom translators. Use “Relative Control” switch to smoothly change the parameters of your instruments without any jumps. • Use XY control unit to send control change and pitch bend messages to any connected MIDI instrument. • Create setlists, quick access all the songs in a setlist from a setlist bar, move to previous/next songs from live console or using external MIDI. • Create virtual MIDI inputs/outputs for KeyStage. • Use virtual MIDI piano controller to play connected instruments. • View PDF and JPG files. Link any page or region of any file to any section. • Backup and restore your songs and global properties to Dropbox. • Map special actions (like changing octaves, switching sections, changing pages of a PDF file) to notes and controllers using custom translators. • You can write your own scripts in custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Use MPE routing to control any MIDI instrument using MPE controllers like Seaboard. Use custom translators to change the functionalities of each MPE dimension. • KeyStage supports smooth transitions between sections. Pressed notes will continue to sound when you switch sections. You can access demo videos and video tutorials on my Youtube channel.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VR at Free against KeyStage's $29.99. VR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). KeyStage's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.0) and review sentiment (91% vs 54%). On 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

VR is free to download; KeyStage costs $29.99 up front. KeyStage sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. VR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KeyStage holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KeyStage has 37 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of VR's written reviews are positive against 91% of KeyStage's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VR ships an update every 29 months, KeyStage every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
VR versus KeyStage: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVRKeyStage
PriceFree — better$29.99
Rating2.0 (4 ratings)4.7 (37 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews91.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings437 — better
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoland CorporationAli Gokturk

Customer experience

VR

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral15.4%
Negative30.8%

KeyStage

All ratings37 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive91.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.0%

In-app purchases

None

VR

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

KeyStage

One-time7
  • Instrument UnitsFree
  • Effect UnitsFree
  • Player, Input, and Mixer UnitsFree
Show 4 more
  • MIDI UnitsFree
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$3.99
  • Large Tip$9.99

Questions

Is VR free?
VR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is KeyStage free?
KeyStage costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VR or KeyStage?
KeyStage is rated higher. VR averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while KeyStage averages 4.7 from 37 ratings.
Do VR or KeyStage have ads?
Neither VR nor KeyStage shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VR or KeyStage?
VR ships an update every 29 months, and KeyStage every 3 months. Most recently, VR was updated on October 5, 2026 and KeyStage on September 18, 2026.

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