Comparison

Elastic Melody vs BrainBud

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Elastic Melody4 screens
BrainBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Elastic Melody versus BrainBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElastic MelodyBrainBud
Price$8.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.7 (10 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver Greschke (DE)Cem Olcay

Customer experience

Elastic Melody

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral23.1%
Negative0.0%

BrainBud

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Elastic Melody

One-time1
  • Elastic Melody - Extra Modes IAP$4.99
None

BrainBud

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Elastic Melody free?
Elastic Melody costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is BrainBud free?
BrainBud costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Elastic Melody or BrainBud?
BrainBud is rated higher. Elastic Melody averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while BrainBud averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Elastic Melody or BrainBud have ads?
Neither Elastic Melody nor BrainBud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Elastic Melody or BrainBud?
Elastic Melody ships an update every 8 days, and BrainBud every 2 months. Most recently, Elastic Melody was updated on September 18, 2026 and BrainBud on September 21, 2026.

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