Comparison

iMIDIPatchbay vs NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

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

Head to head
About

iMIDIPatchbay

Organize your entire MIDI setup from a central point. Easily create split and layer configurations, send program changes, and filter controller data for external sound devices. Store and recall configurations as songs, and manage setlists for performances.

Highlights
  • Create split and layer configurations
  • Send Program Changes and control changes
  • Transpose sounds and rig
  • Filter controller data
  • Store and recall configurations as songs
  • Create setlists for performances
  • Link PDF documents to songs
Features
Read full description

iMIDIPatchbay lets you organize your whole MIDI setup from one central point. Do you often divide your keyboards into zones to assign different sounds which might come from external sound expanders? Do you need to send Program Changes to your MIDI equipment? Do you want to integrate your music making apps into your live gear? Well, then iMIDIPatchbay is definitely the right tool for you! LIST OF FEATURES - Create split and layer configurations very easily - Support for up to 4 master keyboards (In-App Purchase) - Send volume and other control changes (reverb, chorus, pan) to your sound devices - Send Program Changes to your sound devices - Transpose sounds in octave steps - Transpose the hole rig in half-tone steps - Filter controller data (sustain, pitch-bend, modulation, expression, aftertouch) - Store configurations as songs for later recall - Switch song of iMIDIPatchbay from another app or MIDI device via Program Changes - Switch songs while holding down keys or holding e.g. the sustain pedal without getting stuck notes - Play all your sounds even if you don't have all your master keyboards with you: "master switches" allow you to make another master act as a substitute for it (advanced feature!) - Create setlists to arrange songs for your performances (In-App Purchase) - Link multiple PDF documents (e.g. sheet music or notes) from Dropbox to each song (In-App Purchase) - Backup settings to Dropbox - UI which is optimized for live usage WHAT EXACTLY CAN I DO WITH iMIDIPatchbay? As a keyboard player, you most probably know about splitting and layering sounds. While this can be done relatively easy on professional keyboards, it becomes more complex if your gear consists of multiple keyboards and sound expanders. iMIDIPatchbay makes building such configurations a lot easier than it has ever been before. After connecting your keyboards and other MIDI devices to the iPad, you can easily create split zones and assign sounds of your MIDI devices to them. It's also possible to route the MIDI data to other apps if they have a virtual MIDI port. Furthermore, you can filter out controllers which is great if you want e.g. pitch bend or sustain to affect only a subset of the active sounds. WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED? You need a CoreMIDI interface to connect your keyboards and sound expanders to the iPad. WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? Go to iMIDIPatchbay's website in order to find a more detailed description of the app. If you encounter problems, please let me help you (you find the mail address on the website and on the info screen within the app). Please note that there is no way to respond to you if you post a review on the App Store instead. Always email me first! If you like the app, let others know by submitting a good review on the App Store. And feel free to send me suggestions for further releases.

About

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

This virtual analog synthesizer offers a powerful and intuitive sound design experience, inspired by classic hardware. Explore over 40 classic waveforms, a versatile arpeggiator, step sequencer, and lush effects to craft unique electronic music.

Highlights
  • Virtual Analog Synthesizer
  • 40+ Classic Waveforms
  • Arpeggiator
  • Step Sequencer
  • Lush Effects Suite
  • Four-voice Unison
  • AUv3 Plugin Support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Inspired by the classic sounds of the Nord Lead A1** This is not a Rompler. This is a SYNTH.  "I’m impressed. The sounds are FAT, the effects are LUSH, and the interface is a JOY to use."  – Audio News Room "This is not a clone, this is BEYOND the hardware, it's a completely new, fantastic beast" – Jade Starr, How to App "An excellent release...app captures the soul of the Nord Lead A1 Synthesizer"  – Synth Anatomy "An iOS-based homage to a virtual analogue classic!" – Music Radar / Keyboard Magazine Not imitation, it's Innovation! https://audiokitpro.com/redsynth With Nerd Synth, you’ll have access to all 40+ of the classic lead A1 waveforms! Plus, we gave it some RAW MODERN POWER. FULLY LOADED w/ 550+ presets by Analog Matthew, Electronisounds, DMT Cymatics, Moby Pixel, Red Sky Lullaby, and more NOTE: This is a synth, and contains no hardware preset samples. All presets are completely original. One low price includes Lifetime License and all Features Easy to use. Easy to get great tone! NERD SYNTH A2X: • 64-voice, Retro VA-Synth • Include all 40+ of the Nord A1 waveforms • Arpeggiator! Classic Hardware-style Arp, with extra features • Vintage-style Step Sequencer that can be routed to specific layers • A proper filter envelope ADSR! • NEW: 2x Oversampled Oscillators • 3 LFOs. Fun Routings. LFOs can modify other LFOs • Microtonality, World Scales and Western Scales! • TouchPads! 2 fun assignable pads, -= Create NORD-style SUPER SAWS =- ++ Four-voice Unison with the tap of a button ++ 3 different algorithms: Regular, HYPER, and BEAST! "Astoundingly great sounding and intuitive synth app!" – The GarageBand Guide Modeled sound: It's like a time-capsule. Imagine if there were iPads in 2003? Complete with that "cold" VA sound that ruled the dance floors and stages ADDITIONAL FEATURES: • FX: Glorious Reverb, Analog Tape Delay, Distortion, Flanger, Chorus, Crush, and more. • On board "Record" button, no external hardware required • Works with a MIDI Keyboard EXCLUSIVE TO THIS APP: • "SUPER FM" wild pitch drop controls! Modeled after digital VA-Synths, complete with vintage digital aliasing for old-school vibe! • Crazy aggressive RING MODULATION distortion – It's like robots talking, or fighting? You decide! COOL: • iPad version has "stacked" views for maximum onscreen control! Tap the current Nav Button at the top to change the bottom view • This is a Premium App: No iAP, No Ads, No subscriptions! Use as a plug-in in DAWs like GarageBand & Logic for iPad, Cubasis, AUM, and more! NOTE: This is not a hardware clone, it's a completely new synth. If you're looking for a ROMpler like the "Stage" series, this app may not be for you. This is a SYNTH, not a rompler. All the presets here are new and original. Giving you fresh new sounds that are completely tweak-able This is not a 1:1 clone and will not load hardware presets. Please note that this app's sound is closer to the A1, which is a different sound from the NL1/NL2X. ** This app has no affiliation or endorsement by Clavia DMI AB. This app is not a clone of any their synths, including the Nord Lead and Nord Lead A1. While we were inspired by their wonderful and iconic work, this app is not trying to copy those synths. We created something completely new. It's a synth for synth nerds :) LEGAL STUFF: All product names and images, trademarks and artists names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with the creators of this app, including AudioKit, AudioKit Pro, LLC, and the other contributors. Any use of these names and images does not imply any cooperation or endorsement by Clavia Digital Musical Instruments. Nord Lead, Nord Lead 2X, Nord, and Nord Lead A1 are Clavia trademarks and properties. We appreciate their amazing work in creating such classic and inspiring instruments.

Screenshots

iMIDIPatchbay4 screens
NERD Synth A2x + AUv34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 at 4.9 against iMIDIPatchbay's 4.2. NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 also leads on price ($5.99 vs $14.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). iMIDIPatchbay's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.4). 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

iMIDIPatchbay costs $14.99 and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 $5.99 up front. iMIDIPatchbay sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 has 1.3K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of iMIDIPatchbay's written reviews are positive against 90% of NERD Synth A2x + AUv3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iMIDIPatchbay ships an update every 2 months, NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
iMIDIPatchbay versus NERD Synth A2x + AUv3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMIDIPatchbayNERD Synth A2x + AUv3
Price$14.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.2 (18 ratings)4.9 (1.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.2% of reviews90.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings181.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#102 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.4
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB242 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohannes DoerrAudioKit Pro

Customer experience

iMIDIPatchbay

All ratings18 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive67.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative23.9%

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

All ratings1,342 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.6%
Negative0.3%
Written reviews146 reviews
Positive90.4%
Neutral6.8%
Negative2.7%

Bugs and requests

iMIDIPatchbay

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Doesn't fit properly in Logic Pro for iPad
  • Keyboard keys get stuck when using a controller

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Improved Logic Pro integration
  • Ability to change color scheme

In-app purchases

2 purchases

iMIDIPatchbay

One-time2
  • Multiple masters$9.99
  • Setlists$9.99
None

NERD Synth A2x + AUv3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iMIDIPatchbay free?
iMIDIPatchbay costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 free?
NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iMIDIPatchbay or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3?
NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 is rated higher. iMIDIPatchbay averages 4.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 averages 4.9 from 1.3K ratings.
Do iMIDIPatchbay or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 have ads?
Neither iMIDIPatchbay nor NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iMIDIPatchbay or NERD Synth A2x + AUv3?
iMIDIPatchbay ships an update every 2 months, and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 fortnightly. Most recently, iMIDIPatchbay was updated on September 19, 2026 and NERD Synth A2x + AUv3 on September 26, 2026.

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