Comparison

MIDI MACHINE vs cratedigger.fm

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

Head to head
About

MIDI MACHINE

Features
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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 discoveryβ€”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. β€’ Style – 16 note-order patterns (Up, Down, Converge, Pinky Up, Random, etc.). β€’ Rate – Speed of each note: 1/4 to 1/64, relative to BPM. β€’ 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 ideasβ€”fast, intuitive, and a little unpredictable. Whether you're sketching melodies or experimenting with generative patterns, it keeps everything playful, unique, and fun."

About

cratedigger.fm

Features
Read full description

cratedigger.fm is a music discovery app for people who'd rather dig for gems than be fed by an algorithm. Hit play and lean back while a continuous, radio-style stream surfaces independent artists, curated labels, and deep cuts β€” all sourced from Bandcamp, where artists keep the majority of what you spend. DISCOVER, DON'T SCROLL Pick a genre or tag, press play, and let the crates roll. cratedigger.fm builds a never-ending feed of releases you won't find on the front page of the big streaming services. WAYS TO LISTEN β€’ Discovery β€” a continuous feed of hand-picked releases across genres β€’ Curated Labels β€” stream straight from independent labels worth knowing β€’ My Radio β€” build a personal station from the labels and artists you love β€’ Favorites β€” star tracks and grow your own collection β€’ Playlists β€” save and organize the tracks you keep coming back to YOUR BANDCAMP, IN SYNC Connect your Bandcamp profile to sync your wishlist and library β€” so the music you already want and own travels with you, right inside the player. PLAYS LIKE A REAL MUSIC APP β€’ Background playback β€” keep listening with the screen off or while using other apps β€’ Lock-screen and Control Center controls β€” play, pause, and skip without unlocking β€’ Automatic track-to-track advancement across full listening sessions SUPPORT ARTISTS DIRECTLY Found something you love? One tap takes you to Bandcamp to buy it β€” so your money goes to the people who made the music, not a middle-meddling-person. BUILT FOR THE HEADS β€’ Clean, distraction-free player β€’ Dark mode, easy on the eyes β€’ No ads and no third-party trackers beyond anonymous usage analytics cratedigger.fm is an independent app for discovering music on Bandcamp. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bandcamp. Made for the heads, not the algorithms.

Screenshots

MIDI MACHINE4 screens
cratedigger.fm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: cratedigger.fm at none against MIDI MACHINE's 1. cratedigger.fm also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. MIDI MACHINE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. cratedigger.fm asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, cratedigger.fm every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
MIDI MACHINE versus cratedigger.fm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI MACHINEcratedigger.fm
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly β€” betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS18.615.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size52 MB12 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperNiklas KoellnerRasmus Kjærbo

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MIDI MACHINE

One-time1
  • MIDI MACHINE Pro$4.99
None

cratedigger.fm

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI MACHINE free?
MIDI MACHINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is cratedigger.fm free?
cratedigger.fm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MIDI MACHINE or cratedigger.fm have ads?
Neither MIDI MACHINE nor cratedigger.fm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI MACHINE or cratedigger.fm?
MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, and cratedigger.fm every 10 days. Most recently, MIDI MACHINE was updated on October 6, 2026 and cratedigger.fm on September 27, 2026.

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