Comparison

KQ Tixie vs MBR

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

Head to head
About

KQ Tixie

This app is a 4-operator FM synthesizer for iOS devices, recreating the iconic sounds of 1980s hardware. It offers a modern interface with MPE support and AUv3 compatibility, allowing for deep sound editing and layering up to eight sounds.

Highlights
  • 4-operator FM synthesis recreation
  • MPE and AUv3 support
  • Import SysEx data
  • Thousands of patches included
  • Layer up to 8 sounds
  • Real-time performance controls
  • Built-in effects
Features
Read full description

KQ Tixie is a 4-operator FM synthesizer for iPhone and iPad that faithfully recreates the sound and behavior of classic FM instruments from the 1980s. Experience the iconic character of vintage FM synthesis with a modern touch interface, MPE support, and AUv3 compatibility. FM synthesis generates sound mathematically rather than playing back recorded samples. 4-operator FM is not simply a smaller version of 6-operator FM. With fewer operators, sound design becomes more immediate and intuitive, making it easier to reach the sound you want without unnecessary complexity. Despite its streamlined architecture, 4-operator FM is capable of producing powerful basses, sparkling bells, rich electric pianos, cutting leads, and many of the iconic sounds that defined an era. KQ Tixie faithfully recreates the character and workflow that make 4-operator FM unique. It's not about having fewer operators—it's about a more refined design. 4-operator FM is another evolution of FM synthesis. Features - Faithful recreation of classic 4-operator FM synthesizers from the 1980s - Import SysEx data from supported hardware synthesizers and reproduce their sounds accurately - Includes thousands of patches - User-friendly sound editor designed for efficient patch creation and editing - Layer up to 8 sounds simultaneously - Supports MPE (Pitch-bend, Aftertouch, and MIDI CC#74) - Real-time performance controls for expressive sound shaping - Built-in effects inspired by the Yamaha V50 and Korg DS-8 - AUv3 Instrument support - iCloud support - Patches edited in KQ Tixie can be transferred to compatible DX-series synthesizers (excluding the DX7 and DX9), earlier EOS-series synthesizers, FB-01, Reface DX, and SEQTRAK. * - Users can download a VST3 Wrapper for supported Macs. *The Reface DX and SEQTRAK engines cannot reproduce the operator waveforms or feedback behavior. Choose KQ Tixie if you want: - The sound of Yamaha DX100, TX81Z, V50, FB-01. - 4-operator FM synthesis with all eight operator waveforms. - Built-in effects inspired by the Yamaha V50 and Korg DS-8. - Compatibility with SysEx data from supported hardware synthesizers. Compatible synthesizers include - Yamaha FB-01 - Yamaha DX21 / DX27 / DX100 / DX11 / V50 / TX81Z / WT11 - Yamaha EOS YS200 / YS100 / B200 / DS55 / TQ5 - Korg DS-8 / 707 Names of hardware synthesizers and manufacturers mentioned in this description are trademarks of their respective owners. The developer of this app is independent of those companies. This app and its accompanying description include AI-generated text.

About

MBR

Features
Read full description

MBR-01 is an expressive polyphonic synthesizer you play by touch. No keys, no menus to get lost in — just a living surface that responds to where and how you press. Slide across the XY pad to bend pitch and open the filter at once. The instrument is locked to the scale you choose, so every note lands in key: explore freely without ever playing a wrong note. SIX VOICES, ONE EXPRESSIVE SURFACE • 6-voice polyphony with glide • Morphing oscillator (sine → triangle → saw → square) plus a sub • Resonant ladder filter with its own range control • Full ADSR envelope ARPEGGIATOR • Up, Down, Up/Down and Random modes • Tempo with tap, adjustable divisions and octave range • Hold to let chords ring LIVE FX RACK • Drive, bitcrusher, ring modulator, pitch shifter, phaser and chorus • Delay, reverb and glide for space and movement • Toggle and tweak everything while you play 31 SCALES From major and minor to whole tone, diminished and blues — through Hirajoshi, Iwato, Kumoi, Pelog, Bhairav, Marwa and more. Set the root and octave range and the whole surface re-tunes. PRESETS A curated library across Bass, Leads, Plucks, Pads and FX — plus save your own. Each preset carries its own reactive visual style. REACTIVE VISUALS A Metal-powered visualizer reacts to your playing in real time, with external display output for performance and visuals. MIDI OUT Send what you play to hardware synths or other apps over Core MIDI, with channel selection. BILINGUAL Full English and Spanish, switchable inside the app at any time. Built for iPad and iPhone. No account, no data collection — just sound.

Screenshots

KQ Tixie3 screens
MBR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MBR at $4.99 against KQ Tixie's $8.99. KQ Tixie's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 1). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

KQ Tixie costs $8.99 and MBR $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for KQ Tixie against 5.0 for MBR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KQ Tixie has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
KQ Tixie versus MBR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKQ TixieMBR
Price$8.99$4.99 — better
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyouta KiraCristopher Alejandro Yescas Arreola

In-app purchases

None

KQ Tixie

No in-app purchases

None

MBR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KQ Tixie free?
KQ Tixie costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MBR free?
MBR costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KQ Tixie or MBR?
KQ Tixie and MBR are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do KQ Tixie or MBR have ads?
Neither KQ Tixie nor MBR shows ads.

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