Comparison

Scissor Hands (Legacy) vs Note to Be

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

Head to head
About

Scissor Hands (Legacy)

This app offers advanced audio filtering with dual high-pass and low-pass modules, featuring internal drive and flexible modulation options. It allows for complex sound sculpting through envelopes, LFOs, sequencers, and self-FM, with morphing capabilities for dynamic transitions.

Highlights
  • Dual high-pass and low-pass filters
  • Internal drive up to +36 dB
  • Envelope, LFO, sequencer, and self-FM modulation
  • Morph settings for parameter transitions
  • AUv3 effect plug-in
  • User presets synced across devices
  • High quality oversampling mode
Features
Read full description

***This is now a legacy product. It will receive only maintenance updates. If you purchased Scissor Hands using version 1.5 or earlier, you are eligible for a free upgrade to Scissor Hands v2. You can claim your upgrade code inside the plug-in's settings menu.*** ***Please note purchases made as of version 1.6 are NOT eligible for a free upgrade to a v2 license.*** Scissor Hands is a dual filter put into overdrive. Includes two DSP modules plus three modulation sources: - High-pass and low-pass filters with internal drive - Modulate with envelope, LFO, sequence, or self FM (spicy!) Details: - Dual filters: high-pass and low-pass - Big cutoff knob - Resonance (Q) - Selectable order - Optionally drive internal saturators up to +36 dB! - Flexible modulation - Envelope follower with internal or sidechain source - Syncable LFO with five shapes plus stereo and warp parameters - Syncable, eight-step sequencer - Self FM (filter audio output modulates cutoff, spicy!) - Morph Settings lets you transition the plug-in between two settings. Useful for performance, modulation, automation, and more! Features: - Two-week free trial included, one-time purchase for full unlock - AUv3 effect plug-in runs in a compatible DAW - Standalone links to user manual and video tutorials - Universal purchase on Apple platforms - User presets synced across your devices - Clickless global bypass - Internal undo/redo - A/B settings comparison - High quality mode enables oversampling - Output trim with perceived loudness matching - Global dry/wet - All parameters automatable - Mac version includes CLAP and VST3 plug-in formats Check out our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sketchaudio Read the manuals: https://sketchaudio.com/manuals/ Preview audio credit: Freesound user mentengkoba

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Scissor Hands (Legacy)3 screens
Note to Be4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Scissor Hands (Legacy) at Free against Note to Be's $4.99. Note to Be's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (4.9 vs 4.4). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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

Scissor Hands (Legacy) is free to download; Note to Be costs $4.99 up front. Scissor Hands (Legacy) sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Note to Be asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Note to Be holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scissor Hands (Legacy) ships an update every 3 months, Note to Be weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Scissor Hands (Legacy) versus Note to Be: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScissor Hands (Legacy)Note to Be
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.4 (7 ratings)4.9 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings77
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSketch Audio, LLCCem Olcay

Customer experience

Scissor Hands (Legacy)

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Note to Be

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Scissor Hands (Legacy)

One-time2
  • Two-Week TrialFree
  • Full Unlock$19.99
None

Note to Be

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scissor Hands (Legacy) free?
Scissor Hands (Legacy) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Note to Be free?
Note to Be costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Scissor Hands (Legacy) or Note to Be?
Note to Be is rated higher. Scissor Hands (Legacy) averages 4.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Note to Be averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Scissor Hands (Legacy) or Note to Be have ads?
Neither Scissor Hands (Legacy) nor Note to Be shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scissor Hands (Legacy) or Note to Be?
Scissor Hands (Legacy) ships an update every 3 months, and Note to Be weekly. Most recently, Scissor Hands (Legacy) was updated on October 27, 2026 and Note to Be on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons