Comparison

PanSphere vs MIDI MACHINE

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

Head to head
About

PanSphere

Features
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Play a digital handpan anywhere—no setup or music theory required. PanSphere is a musical instrument first. Touch the center and surrounding tone fields to hear responsive notes immediately. Its tuned layouts make it easy to improvise and stay in the flow. PLAY WITH FEELING • Responsive multi-touch performance surface • Touch-sensitive dynamics and haptic feedback • Nine tuned scales with clear center and outer notes • Quick scale and ambience controls that keep you close to the instrument SHAPE YOUR SPACE Add rain, wind, or thunder around your playing, or choose Silence when you want only the instrument. Wind Down and Unwind provide calmer starting points without turning PanSphere into passive audio. FREE AND PRO The free experience includes four complete scales and four ambience presets. PanSphere Pro adds five scales and the full ambience mixer with one optional lifetime purchase. Apple's current localized price is shown before purchase. Pay once—there is no subscription or auto-renewal. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account required • No advertising or third-party tracking SDKs • Practice history and preferences stay on your device • No automatic CloudKit or iCloud sync • Core playing works offline PanSphere is intended for music, creativity, and relaxation. It is not a medical or therapeutic service. Support: https://pansphere.borealbit.com/support Privacy: https://pansphere.borealbit.com/privacy Terms: https://pansphere.borealbit.com/terms

About

MIDI MACHINE

Features
Read full description

MIDI MACHINE is a fast, playful performance tool built for generating MIDI melodies on the fly. At the heart of MIDI MACHINE are two creative states: SPARK and STRUCTURE. SPARK mode is all about discovery—rapidly generating fresh melodic ideas and happy accidents. 17 randomized melodic rows drawn from an vast internal library, everything is locked to your chosen key. Each melody is sliced into 10 playable parts, letting you remix and reshape ideas in real time without ever hitting a creative wall. STRUCTURE mode lets you compose and perform with intention and move seamlessly between key pairs to trigger chords. Additionally, genre-based chord-progression suggestions form a real progression from a selected genre, so you can play a coherent sequence. This mode is designed to serve users with and without knowledge of music theory. "Super inspiring tool for sketching melodies quickly, whether you’re in the studio or on the move with a minimal setup. You just start playing around and happy accidents happen."
— early user feedback Core Features * 17 MIDI melody rows per set, automatically harmonized to your chosen key * Each melody split into 10 playable tiles for real-time triggering of your favorite sounds * SPARK mode for instant idea generation and exploration * STRUCTURE mode for fixed chords mapped across key pairs, built in arpeggiator and chord group suggestions * Keep randomizing to generate endless new melodic combinations while keeping your settings * SAVE and recall full sets, including patterns, tempo, and performance modes (SPARK) * Note mode: trigger melodic sequences step-by-step * Chord mode: play full harmonies instantly * Loop ON / OFF: continuously cycle note sequences * Hold OFF: slide across tiles for fluid, continuous runs * Hold ON: trigger full sequences with a single tap * Repeat ON / OFF: retrigger tiles rhythmically (1/4 to 1/64) for pattern creation * Fixed velocity option for consistent dynamics * Edit individual tile MIDI sequences * Reverse entire rows * Octave shift up or down * Double or halve playback speed (Note mode) (STRUCTURE) * Group: Genre-based chord-progression suggestions. Highlights/labels tiles on the grid that form a real progression from the selected genre. * Arp: Turns a held chord into a rolling sequence of individual notes. • Style – 16 note-order patterns (Up, Down, Converge, Pinky Up, Random, etc.). • Rate – Speed of each note: 1/4 to 1/64, relative to BPM. • Groove – Straight (default) or Swing 8/16/32 for a more human rhythmic feel. * Hold OFF: slide across tiles for fluid, continuous runs * Hold ON: trigger full sequences with a single tap * Add automatic Bass Note to each chord * Repeat ON / OFF: retrigger tiles rhythmically (1/4 to 1/64) for pattern creation * Fixed velocity option for consistent dynamics Performance Controls * Global pitch shift in semitones for instant transposition of the entire set * Adjustable BPM with tap tempo and fine control * Flexible visible row count (5–17) for compact or expanded layouts * Scrollable row view with FIRST ROW selection MIDI MACHINE is built for musicians who want a different approach to creating ideas—fast, intuitive, and a little unpredictable. Whether you're sketching melodies or experimenting with generative patterns, it keeps everything playful, unique, and fun."

Screenshots

PanSphere3 screens
MIDI MACHINE4 screens

Verdict

The call

PanSphere and MIDI MACHINE are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Both are free to download. PanSphere sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and MIDI MACHINE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PanSphere versus MIDI MACHINE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPanSphereMIDI MACHINE
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Weekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBorealbit Technology LimitedNiklas Koellner

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PanSphere

One-time1
  • PanSphere Pro LifetimeFree
1 purchases

MIDI MACHINE

One-time1
  • MIDI MACHINE Pro$4.99

Questions

Is PanSphere free?
PanSphere is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MIDI MACHINE free?
MIDI MACHINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PanSphere or MIDI MACHINE have ads?
Neither PanSphere nor MIDI MACHINE shows ads.

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