Comparison

FAC Smash vs MidiStep

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

Head to head
About

FAC Smash

This app offers powerful sound shaping with extreme compression and unique features to refine audio. It provides multi-band processing, a creative noise gate, and parallel compression with a visual waveform display for effortless adjustments.

Highlights
  • Extreme compression with analog nuances
  • Unique 'flatten' feature for dynamics
  • Multi-band processing with steep filter slopes
  • Creative noise gate
  • Parallel compression and brickwall limiter
  • Waveform display
  • Portrait and landscape views
Features
Read full description

• Loud, Aggressive, and Powerful Sound Shaping • Extreme compression, capturing vintage analog nuances and colors • Unique 'flatten' feature to preserve character while restoring dynamics • Fast sound refining with impact and sustain controls • Single or multi-band, with filter slopes ranging from 6dB to an impressive 192dB • Creative noise gate: smoothly blend from single to multi-band • Parallel compression and optional master Brickwall limiter • Intuitive workflow for effortless adjustments • Low latency, waveform display of the pre and post signal • Advanced Responsive Design, portrait and landscape views | Light/Dark Theme • Universal Purchase: AUv3 for iOS (iPad/iPhone), macOS and Vision Pro FAC Smash is all about generating explosive energy for your beats and instruments! Squash, squeeze... SMASH your sound, or simply get that magical gentle touch when you seek refinement and finesse. Behind its unconventional and flashy appearance lies a series of boosted upward compressors meticulously designed to include the specific nuances and colors of vintage analog devices. The plugin can operate on either one or three frequency bands and provides a couple of filter slopes ranging from a subtle and transparent 6dB to an impressive 192dB! The workflow is optimized for simplicity and intuitiveness, enabling effortless transitions between subtle adjustments and complete alterations with its up to 120dB of upwards compression. Yes!, FAC Smash can push the sound to its extreme limits, potentially creating a "sausage-like" signal. But fear not — the 'flatten' feature steps in to restore dynamics while preserving the aggressive character, giving you the best of both worlds. The built-in noise gate circuit at the input adds yet another layer of sonic sculpting possibilities. Whether acting on the entire signal or individual frequency bands, this circuit can transform your sound, expanding your creative possibilities. But the magic doesn't stop there; FAC Smash offers parallel compression, an optional master Brickwall limiter, and a waveform view of both the pre and post signal! You'll have a clear visual representation of your audio as you sculpt it to perfection. The documentation is available at fredantoncorvest.com/FAC_Smash.html

About

MidiStep

Create complex rhythms and generative music with a powerful step sequencer. Control randomization for notes, chords, velocity, and more to generate unique, ever-changing musical patterns. Automate synth parameters with independent modulation lanes.

Highlights
  • User-controlled randomization for musical parameters
  • Polyphonic chord playback per step
  • Variable step sequence lengths
  • Multiple linked patterns
  • 8 independent modulation lanes
  • Real-time modification of randomization
Features
Read full description

MidiStep is a powerful and inspirational polyphonic step sequencer, and a dream for lovers of complex rhythms and generative music creation tools. The program uses sophisticated, user-controlled randomization to generate notes with a variety of parameters, including note values, note length, chords, patterns, velocity, gate, dividers, repeats, swing, and many more. You have complete control over what, when, and how much is randomized on a step-by-step basis. You can easily create patterns that have little to no variation, patterns that maintain a recognizable pattern but have some degree of variations to the notes, velocity, etc., all the way to patterns with extreme randomness with every pass – the degree of randomization is completely under your control for every parameter and for every step of a pattern. Features include per-step polyphonic chord playback, variable step sequence lengths for all parameters such as pitch, octave, velocity, note duration, beat divisions etc, and the capability to create multiple patterns which can be linked together in various ways. MidiStep also features 8 additional modulation lanes with independent play speeds. These can be used to automate parameters within your favourite synths. MidiStep uses sophisticated randomization settings for note values, note lengths, velocity, gate, dividers, repeats, swing, pitch bend and modulation. In addition, by setting different cycle lengths, step skips, step repeats, jumps, rewinds, cursor positions, pattern jumps, octave shifts, and many other parameters, you can create an infinite number of non-repeating sequences. The degree and types of randomizations for each of these parameters is up to you! Aleatoric music, also known as chance music, allows you to create patterns and entire compositions with user-controlled randomisation. The word 'aleatory' is derived from the Latin word 'alea' meaning dice. MidiStep allows you to turn on/off randomisation on a stepwise basis for almost all parameters, set the percent probability that the randomisation will occur, set min/max values, set exactly which parameters will be randomized, etc. The exact realization of the music will vary with each pass of the sequence, resulting in unique and captivating aleatoric renditions. All randomization controls can be modified in real-time. Features include: •Each of the 16 sequences can have unlimited types and degrees of randomness that you control. •8 independent sequencer lanes: Notes, Chords, Octaves, Velocity, Gate, Divider, Repeat, Delay. •8 independent Modulation sequencer lanes. •16 Patterns and 4 types of pattern switching, independent for each pattern. •Up to 16 steps per pattern, 16 patterns, and 16 cycles per pattern for a maximum sequence length of 4096 notes. •Independent sequencer length (1–16 steps) for each of the 16 lanes. •A Master step cursor independent of all other lanes. •Independent randomization parameters for each of the 16 lanes, with probability, min/max values, default values, skips, repeats, etc. •Unlimited variety of sequences, from slight variation to wildly different sequences on every pass. •126 scales and 126 chords – in every key, along with a scale and chord editor for you to create your own. •Chord complexity for 2–8 note chords, with notes specified or randomly generated. •Chord Articulation options – Block chords, Strum up/down, Arp up/down – with accent, length, speed, and random note order parameters. •Master lane and Chord lane previews. •Pattern Creator - automatic melody, chord, bass and drum backing. •Auto-scroll chord lane. •7-octave range for notes and chords (from C1–C8), with static and random octave offsets. •11 note lengths – from 1/32 note to 4 full measures, plus ties across notes, rests, repeated notes, and delays. •Two types of Swing with adjustable offset. •Humanize settings for note velocity and note timing. •Transposition of sequences using a keyboard – mono for single notes, and poly for chords.

Screenshots

FAC Smash3 screens
MidiStep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MidiStep at 4.8 against FAC Smash's 4.3. MidiStep also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). FAC Smash's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $14.99). On review sentiment, 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

FAC Smash costs $9.99 and MidiStep $14.99 up front. FAC Smash sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. MidiStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MidiStep holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of FAC Smash's written reviews are positive against 81% of MidiStep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FAC Smash ships an update every 7 months, MidiStep every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FAC Smash versus MidiStep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFAC SmashMidiStep
Price$9.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.3 (6 ratings)4.8 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews81.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings626 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFrederic Corvest4Pockets.com

Customer experience

FAC Smash

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

MidiStep

All ratings25 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.8%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

FAC Smash

One-time3
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$14.99
None

MidiStep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FAC Smash free?
FAC Smash costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is MidiStep free?
MidiStep costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FAC Smash or MidiStep?
MidiStep is rated higher. FAC Smash averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while MidiStep averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.
Do FAC Smash or MidiStep have ads?
Neither FAC Smash nor MidiStep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FAC Smash or MidiStep?
FAC Smash ships an update every 7 months, and MidiStep every 2 weeks. Most recently, FAC Smash was updated on October 14, 2026 and MidiStep on October 20, 2026.

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