TIO vs Note to Be
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TIO
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TIO Music integrates numerous tools (tuner, metronome, media player, piano, image notes and text notes) in one app and enables the combined use of the individual tools. By creating projects, it is possible to save different configurations and thus make practicing and making music easier. The tools can also be used individually, for quick tuning of instruments or for recording samples. TIO Music was developed by musicians for musicians of all levels of experience, for amateurs and professionals. The app is and will remain completely free of charge and ad-free. FEATURES: PROJECTS: You can create projects and save the required settings (settings for instrument tuning, metronome settings, etc.), so you can access them whenever you want. TUNER: You can tune your instruments to any concert pitch, play reference tones, save your individual configuration and combine the tuner with the metronome and the media player. METRONOME: The metronome allows you to save and recall your individual configurations (tempo, time signature, polyrhythms, random mute, sounds). You can also combine the metronome with the tuner and the media player. MEDIA PLAYER You can record, load and edit audio files and save configurations . In doing so, you can set your preferred volume, range (length and segment), playing speed and pitch. You can forward your projects to others using external messenger services. PIANO: You can use the built-in piano, select different sound modes, create recordings and save your individual configurations. IMAGE: You can take or upload pictures or note sheets to the app using the camera on your device. TEXT: You can use your device to create text notes, e.g. for playing instructions, background information, song lyrics etc. Curious to find out more? Download the app directly to your smartphone or tablet and use it for practicing or making music. We aim to continuously improve the app for you - so we look forward to your feedback! This app was developed as part of the RE|LEVEL-project at Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg. RE|LEVEL is funded by Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre. DATA PROTECTION: We do not collect any of your data. Please note that your projects are only saved locally on your device, i.e. they are not saved in the app or in any cloud service or similar. If you decide to share individual content from within the app, this is possible via third-party services such as messenger etc. In such cases, only the data protection regulations of the third-party services used apply. You yourself are responsible for complying with applicable data protection or copyright regulations.
Note to Be
This app offers advanced MIDI quantization for iOS musicians. It allows precise control over note selection, octave flexibility, and MIDI CC integration for crafting harmonious compositions and dynamic live performances. Supports microtonal scales and multi-synth setups.
- Customizable note and octave selection
- MIDI CC to note conversion
- Multi-synth channel assignment
- Live performance toggles
- Microtonal scale support (Scala Library)
- MPE polyphonic playback
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Take full control of your MIDI experience with Note to Be—the powerful iOS app designed to transform how you interact with your music. Whether you're working with a MIDI keyboard, sequencer, or MIDI CC input, Note to Be ensures your notes are perfectly quantized to the nearest selected note, allowing you to craft precise, harmonious compositions with ease. Key Features: - Customizable Note Selection: Choose individual notes from any octave, or apply your selection across the full -1 to +8 octave range. - Octave Flexibility: Work within the entire octave spectrum, selecting and unselecting notes with a simple tap. - MIDI CC Integration: Use MIDI CC from hardware controllers or apps like ShiftBud to convert control changes into quantized notes. Easily create chord voicings and dynamic live performances. - Multi-Synth Support: Assign different MIDI channels to multiple synths, allowing each to respond to the quantized MIDI output independently. - Live Performance Enhancement: Engage the 'all notes' toggle to instantly apply note selections across all octaves or quickly select notes in a specific key and scale. - Microtonality: Select a microtonal scale from the Scala Library with +5000 microtonal scales, or import your own to the iCloud folder. Play the MPE supported synths polyphonically. With Note to Be, your music becomes a canvas, and every note is a brushstroke. Unlock new creative possibilities and refine your sound with the precision of MIDI quantization, right from your iOS device. Note to Be is a MIDI app and does not produce any sound on its own. You need a MIDI input source and an audio output destination in order to work with Note to Be. The AUv3 plugin requires an AUv3 host app such as AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Audiobus etc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TIO at Free against Note to Be's $4.99. Note to Be's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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
TIO is free to download; Note to Be costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TIO ships an update monthly, Note to Be weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TIO | Note to Be |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | — | 4.9 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg | Cem Olcay |
In-app purchases
TIO
No in-app purchases
Note to Be
No in-app purchases









