Elastic Melody vs BrainBud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Elastic Melody
Create melodies with a fast and intuitive analog-style step sequencer. Features 3 synth channels, 4 master effects, and extensive automation capabilities for dynamic sound design. Supports AUv3 and Ableton Link.
- 3-channel analog synth sequencer
- Parameter automation
- 4 master effects (EQ, Chorus, Delay, Reverb)
- Song mode for arranging patterns
- AUv3 plugin support
- Ableton Link integration
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Elastic Melody is a standalone iOS application and AUv3 plugin with 3 channels of synthetic sounds, an analog style step sequencer and 4 master effects. Almost all parameters can be automated and thus changed in an „elastic way“. The focus of Elastic Melody is on a fast and intuitive creation of melodies with a basic analog sound. Elastic Melody comes with a bunch of presets from well-known sound designers of the iOS scene, like "Sound of Izrael", "Red Sky Lullaby", "Nu-Trix", "JaKob Haq", "Another Machines" and others. Features: SYNTHESIZER / SEQUENCER – 3 channels, each with an analog synthesizer that is connected to an associated sequencer – Each sequencer channel has its own start/end and timing parameters for notes and automation – 14 parameters per synth engine (waveform, lowpass, highpass, env, etc.) – For each parameter, value changes can be drawn in an automation window – Solo or mute function for the 3 synth channels – Song Mode: Create easily longer sequences with setting pattern repeat and duplicating and altering a pattern MASTER FX – 4 master effects (EQ, Chorus, Delay, Reverb) – Automation for most parameters of the effects – Each FX effect has its own start/end and timing parameters for automation SONG MODE - Arrange several Pattern to a longer sequence ... a Song - Repeat count for Song Elements/Pattern - Duplicate/Rename/Delete function for Pattern and Song Elements FUNCTIONS – Undo/Redo – Various randomise functions – option to share and import presets – AUv3 support – Ableton Link support
BrainBud
This app acts as a central controller for other music creation applications, allowing you to manage keys and scales simultaneously. It integrates with a variety of Bud apps via MIDI, enabling synchronized changes and broadcasting of musical parameters. Experiment with randomization and automate settings through its AUv3 plugin.
- Centralized key and scale control
- MIDI out to multiple Bud apps
- Budcast for parameter broadcasting
- Randomize musical parameters
- AUv3 plugin for automation
- Requires other Bud apps to function
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BrainBud controls the keys and scales of the Bud apps all at once. Connect BrainBud’s MIDI out to MIDI inputs of: - SnakeBud - PolyBud - MelodyBud - ShiftBud - ScaleBud 2 - In Theory - Textquencer - Binarhythmic - Auto Bass - BounceBud - MuseBud - Kebarp - FuncBud - Note to Be You can also broadcast the current key/scale to the newly connected apps with Budcast button. If you’d like to experiment, you can try the randomise button. With the AUv3 plugin, you can change the BrainBud's parameters or even automate them with AU parameters. For using the AUv3 plugin make sure you have an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix. BrainBud is a MIDI based app and requires other Bud apps present in order to work right. If you don't have any other Bud apps mentioned above, you can't make a use of BrainBud. BrainBud doesn't produce any kind of sound on its own.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BrainBud at none against Elastic Melody's 1. BrainBud also leads on price ($2.99 vs $8.99) and review sentiment (100% vs 77%). Elastic Melody's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (10 vs 2). On ads, monetization model 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
Elastic Melody costs $8.99 and BrainBud $2.99 up front. Elastic Melody sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BrainBud asks for nothing beyond the download.
BrainBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elastic Melody has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Elastic Melody's written reviews are positive against 100% of BrainBud's.
Elastic Melody ships an update every 8 days, BrainBud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Elastic Melody | BrainBud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oliver Greschke (DE) | Cem Olcay |
Customer experience
Elastic Melody
BrainBud
In-app purchases
Elastic Melody
- Elastic Melody - Extra Modes IAP$4.99
BrainBud
No in-app purchases









