Comparison

MIDI MACHINE vs BeatGlow

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — 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 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."

About

BeatGlow

Create unique music with a generative drum machine. Shape synthesized sounds, build songs from patterns, and share your creations as audio or video. Get started with AI-generated patterns or build from scratch with no ads or subscriptions.

Highlights
  • 7-track, 32-step generative drum sequencer
  • Synthesized, editable drum sounds
  • AI-generated pattern starting points
  • Song arrangement and pattern chaining
  • WAV audio and video export
  • Cross-device pattern sharing
Features
Read full description

BeatGlow is a drum machine that glows in the dark. Tap out a beat on a 7-track, 32-step grid and hear it instantly. Every kick, snare, hi-hat, clap and FX hit is synthesized on the fly — there are no samples to download, and nothing is baked in. That means you can reach into any drum and reshape it: raise the pitch, stretch or choke the decay, brighten or darken the tone. The waveform changes, not a filter on top of it. MAKE A BEAT • 7 tracks x 32 steps — kick, snare, hi-hat, clap, plus three FX voices • Tap a pad to place a hit; long-press to accent it for real dynamics • Tempo from 60 to 180 BPM, with tap tempo if you'd rather feel it out • MPC-style swing, from dead straight to a heavy triplet shuffle • Per-track volume and mute in the mixer SHAPE THE SOUND • Pitch, decay and tone dials for every track, with instant preview • Because the sounds are generated, not sampled, edits are unlimited • One tap returns any drum to its original voice BUILD A SONG • Chain patterns into an arrangement, each section repeating as you like • Reorder sections by dragging; playback runs the whole song gaplessly • Keep as many patterns as you want, named and organized SHARE IT • Export a pattern or your complete song as a WAV file • Export a pattern or complete song as a vertical video, ready for social • Send a single pattern or your entire library to another BeatGlow user — they open the file and it imports NEED A STARTING POINT? Describe a style — "laid-back boom bap", "minimal techno", "halftime trap" — and BeatGlow will generate a pattern for you to take apart and rebuild. No account, no API key, no setup. NO NONSENSE No accounts. No sign-in. No ads. No tracking. No subscription. Your beats are saved on your device as you work, and they stay there. MAKE IT YOURS Choose from five visual themes, including Velvet Bloom. Every theme, song mode, sound design, AI generation, WAV export and branded video export remains free. The optional BeatGlow Pro one-time purchase removes the BeatGlow title and footer from pattern and full-song video exports. No subscription. Restore Purchases is available from the question-mark menu > BeatGlow Pro & Purchases.

Screenshots

MIDI MACHINE4 screens
BeatGlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BeatGlow at none against MIDI MACHINE's 1. MIDI MACHINE's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, BeatGlow every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
MIDI MACHINE versus BeatGlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDI MACHINEBeatGlow
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNiklas KoellnerSub Rosa Industries

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MIDI MACHINE

One-time1
  • MIDI MACHINE Pro$4.99
None

BeatGlow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MIDI MACHINE free?
MIDI MACHINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BeatGlow free?
BeatGlow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MIDI MACHINE or BeatGlow have ads?
Neither MIDI MACHINE nor BeatGlow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDI MACHINE or BeatGlow?
MIDI MACHINE ships an update weekly, and BeatGlow every 3 weeks. Most recently, MIDI MACHINE was updated on October 6, 2026 and BeatGlow on October 8, 2026.

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