Comparison

PolyPipe vs Motion Controller

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

Head to head
About

PolyPipe

This app is a multi-lane polyphonic sequencer plugin for creating evolving musical patterns. It allows for independent control of rhythm, pitch, and modulation across multiple lanes, generating complex and unique sequences in real-time. Ideal for generative music and experimental pattern creation.

Highlights
  • Multi-lane sequencer with 4 independent lanes
  • Pattern-based structure with multiple patterns per lane
  • Advanced step parameters (pitch, velocity, gate, probability)
  • Chord-aware steps and chord strumming
  • Multiple step modes (random, chord, bass, hybrid)
  • Polyrhythmic playback with differing lane/pattern lengths
  • Probabilistic sequencing with per-step chance
Features
Read full description

PolyPipe is a multi-lane, polyphonic AUv3 sequencer plugin designed for creating evolving musical patterns rather than fixed, repetitive loops. Instead of thinking in terms of a single step sequence, PolyPipe lets you build multiple independent lanes, each with its own rhythm, pitch logic, octave behavior, probability, and modulation data — all running together as a coherent musical system. It comprises elements of some of my favourite sequencers of all time, all rolled into a single interface. At its core, PolyPipe takes incoming MIDI notes (or internally generated notes) and uses them as a musical “seed.” These notes are then processed through patterns, scales, transposition rules, and step logic to generate new musical phrases in real time. This makes it especially suited for generative music, complex arpeggiation, bass-and-chord splitting, and long-form evolving sequences. Each lane in PolyPipe is its own sequencer voice. A lane contains one or more patterns, and each pattern is made up of steps. Steps don’t just define when a note plays — they can also define how it plays. A step can include pitch offsets, velocity, gate length, strumming, probability, repeats (ratchets), ties for legato behavior, and even chord information. Patterns can be enabled or disabled independently, shifted by octaves, and combined with global transposition. Because lanes can have different lengths, directions, and step modes, the resulting sequences naturally phase against each other, creating variation without manual intervention. PolyPipe applies musical logic at the MIDI output stage rather than hard-coding notes upfront. Pitch values can be forced into a chosen scale and key, allowing even highly experimental patterns to stay musically coherent. Different step modes (such as forward, backward, ping-pong, random, chord, bass, or hybrid note/chord modes) let each lane behave differently, from traditional arpeggios to controlled chaos. PolyPipe Sequencer is built for musicians who want to explore ideas quickly, create unique patterns, and discover results they wouldn’t think to program manually. It rewards experimentation: small changes to probability, repeats, or step logic can dramatically alter the musical output while staying rhythmically locked and musically usable. PolyPipe Features ○ Multi-Lane Sequencer: with 4 independent lanes. ○ Pattern-Based Structure: where each lane contains multiple patterns. ○ Advanced Step Parameters: including pitch offset, velocity, gate length, auto-roll, repeats (ratchets), and legato ties. ○ Chord-Aware Steps: allowing steps to trigger chords, rotated voicing, or individual notes depending on lane mode. ○ Multiple Step Modes such as Up, Down, Ping-Pong, Random, Drunk, Chord, Bass, and hybrid note/chord modes. ○ Chord Strumming: allowing guitar like strumming patterns. ○ Polyrhythmic Playback: through lanes and patterns of differing lengths and directions. ○ Probabilistic Sequencing: with per-step chance and variable repeat behavior for evolving patterns. ○ Octave Transposition Control: per pattern and globally for rapid harmonic variation. ○ MIDI CC Sequencing: allowing lanes to output modulation data. ○ Real-Time MIDI Interaction: where incoming notes influence pitch selection, chords, and playback behavior. ○ Live-Safe Parameter Editing: with immediate feedback and no need to stop playback. ○ Generative-Focused Design: optimized for long-form evolving sequences rather than static loops. ○ Long Patterns: up to 32 steps in length, chain-able up to 128 steps. ○ 4 MIDI Output Ports: allowing each of the 4 phase-locked arpeggiators to be routed to a different instrument. ○ Global Swing: allowing 8th- and 16th-note swing across all 4 arpeggiators. ○ Rhythm Generator: creates rhythmic patterns that are none chord/scale specific.

About

Motion Controller

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Motion Controller for OneShot2 turns your iPhone into a MIDI-device. It is designed for use with the drum sampler plugin OneShot2 for Mac, and specifically it’s new motion engine. Use your device to simulate a natural sounding percussion instrument. Motion Controller is a companion app for OneShot2 for Mac that generates a stream of MIDI signals to emulate shaking gestures - it turns your device to a highly realistic shaker / percussion instrument by using the accelerometer. Features: Supports a stable low latency MIDI connection via IDAM (cord), and is also compatible with Bluetooth MIDI. Looseness/Tightness calibration Pre-configured for OneShot2 presets Note: This app does not produce actual sound, it only transmits MIDI signals to a MIDI destination (for example a virtual software instrument). It is made for OneShot2, but can be used with any MIDI compatible instrument.

Screenshots

PolyPipe4 screens
Motion Controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Motion Controller at Free against PolyPipe's $14.99. PolyPipe's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Motion Controller is free to download; PolyPipe costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PolyPipe ships an update every 2 weeks, Motion Controller every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PolyPipe versus Motion Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolyPipeMotion Controller
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13 — better13.6
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comKlevgränd produkter AB

In-app purchases

None

PolyPipe

No in-app purchases

None

Motion Controller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PolyPipe free?
PolyPipe costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Motion Controller free?
Motion Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PolyPipe or Motion Controller have ads?
Neither PolyPipe nor Motion Controller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PolyPipe or Motion Controller?
PolyPipe ships an update every 2 weeks, and Motion Controller every 7 months. Most recently, PolyPipe was updated on October 25, 2026 and Motion Controller on October 24, 2026.

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