Comparison

PlayStems vs NotePulse

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

Head to head
About

PlayStems

This app allows musicians to isolate and manipulate individual instrument tracks from stereo songs or multi-track stems. Practice complex sections, learn by ear, or create backing tracks with on-device AI processing for complete privacy.

Highlights
  • On-device AI stem splitting
  • Multi-track mixer
  • Variable tempo and pitch control
  • Loopable practice markers
  • Offline audio processing
  • Per-stem volume and pan adjustment
Features
Read full description

PlayStems is an on-device multi-track stem player and AI audio splitter for musicians, vocalists, and bands to practice, rehearse, and perform with complete mix control. Import multi-track stems or split any stereo song directly on your device into independent vocal, drum, bass, and instrument tracks. Rehearse complex sections, isolate parts to learn by ear, or create backing tracks for live performance—all with zero audio uploaded to the cloud. MULTI-TRACK MIXER & REHEARSAL TOOLS • Synchronized multi-track playback with rock-solid transport stability • Per-stem mixer: adjust volume, solo individual parts, mute tracks, and tweak stereo pan • Variable tempo & pitch: slow down fast passages without changing pitch, or transpose keys • Precise waveform scrubbing and loopable marker ranges for repetitive practice • Master level control and clean library organization by title and artist ON-DEVICE AI STEM SPLITTING • Separate stereo tracks into vocals, bass, drums, and other instruments • 100% private: audio processing runs locally using your device's Neural Engine • No cloud servers, no account required, and no internet connection needed to split • Requires Apple Silicon or recent hardware: iPhone 13 or newer, iPad Pro (2018+), iPad Air (2022+), or Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) INCLUDED IN THE FREE VERSION Start practicing immediately with full core playback capabilities: • Full mixer, tempo adjustment, pitch shifting, markers, and range looping • 1 song in your library (up to 5 songs if you choose to enable anonymous usage analytics) • Up to 10 successful lifetime on-device stem splits • Standard stem-splitting quality models FULL VERSION (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) A single one-time unlock removes all library and processing caps with no subscriptions: • Unlimited song library capacity • Unlimited lifetime on-device stem splits • Access to downloadable High-Quality (HQ) neural stem-splitting models • Supports Family Sharing across your Apple devices Restore Purchases is available at any time in Help & Settings. Purchases are tied permanently to your Apple ID.

About

NotePulse

Features
Read full description

NotePulse transforms MIDI files into an interactive visual learning experience, helping you connect the music you hear with piano keys and traditional musical notation. Watch notes approach a full 88-key piano keyboard in the synchronized Notes view, or switch to the Live Grand Staff to follow the performance as written music. Keyboard and Score modes help you understand where each note belongs on both the staff and the instrument. Features include: • Synchronized MIDI playback, animated notes, piano keyboard, and grand staff • Live Grand Staff with Keyboard and Score viewing modes • Multi-track playback using SoundFont instruments • General MIDI instrument playback and per-track instrument selection • Adjustable playback speed for focused practice • A–B looping for repeating difficult sections • Track controls for mute, solo, volume, pan, transpose, color, and instrument selection • Left- and right-hand guidance • Score quantization and adjustable staff presentation • Support for user-selected MIDI and compatible SoundFont files • Online MIDI catalog with downloadable songs for offline use • Downloadable NotePulse Sound Library • Session import and export • Adaptive layouts for iPhone and iPad • Built-in starter music for getting started immediately NotePulse is designed for musicians, students, educators, and anyone interested in exploring how MIDI performances translate into piano movement and traditional musical notation. Import your own MIDI files through the Files app, explore downloadable music from the NotePulse catalog, or use the included starter collection. NotePulse remembers your practice settings, track configuration, visualization preferences, instrument selections, loops, and playback position for individual MIDI files. Your imported MIDI, SoundFont, and session files are processed locally on your device. Online catalog content and the NotePulse Sound Library are downloaded only when needed. No account is required. See the Music. Feel the Pulse.

Screenshots

PlayStems4 screens
NotePulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PlayStems at Free against NotePulse's $0.99. NotePulse's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, 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

PlayStems is free to download; NotePulse costs $0.99 up front. PlayStems sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NotePulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlayStems ships an update every 3 weeks, NotePulse every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PlayStems versus NotePulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayStemsNotePulse
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias SanterNoorcon Inc.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PlayStems

One-time1
  • Full version$4.99
None

NotePulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlayStems free?
PlayStems is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NotePulse free?
NotePulse costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do PlayStems or NotePulse have ads?
Neither PlayStems nor NotePulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayStems or NotePulse?
PlayStems ships an update every 3 weeks, and NotePulse every 10 days. Most recently, PlayStems was updated on October 31, 2026 and NotePulse on October 31, 2026.

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