Comparison

Chordana Viewer vs sumFX

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

Head to head
About

Chordana Viewer

This application analyzes audio files to automatically generate chord charts for your favorite songs. It displays chords in real-time as the music plays and allows for manual editing and instrument pad playback.

Highlights
  • Automatic chord chart generation
  • Real-time chord display
  • Chord editing and manual input
  • Instrument pad playback
  • Tempo, key, and vocal balance customization
  • Email sharing and AirPrint compatibility
Read full description

[Compatible devices] iPhone6 or later(Except for the iPhone SE), iPad Pro, iPad(5th generation or later), iPad Air or later, iPad mini(4th generation or later) [System requirements] iOS 11.0 or later required. *Important* ・To use iTunes in the Cloud songs (songs purchased or played through the iTunes Match service), first download the songs to a terminal. ・The names of iTunes in the Cloud songs that have not been downloaded to a terminal are shown on the song list, regardless of terminal settings. ・Songs protected by DRM cannot be used even if downloaded. =Support for writing the chord chart for your favorite songs= ○ Product Features ○ An application that analyzes the tones played in an audio file and helps you write the chord chart. Audio files in your iPad or iPhone are analyzed by the original Casio Chordana technology, and the sounds played in each song are displayed on the screen as chord chart. At the same time, the chord positions for the instrument are displayed as the song plays. You can also play the results of the chord analysis on the instrument pad to check the outcomes. You can then edit the chords yourself as you listen to the actual sounds and write even more accurate chord chart. This is so much quicker and easier than trying to figure out the chords just by listening to them. As well as being able to save analyzed or edited chords, you can also exchange them via email with other Chordana Viewer users or print them out on an AirPrint-compatible printer. * The analyzed chords will be a close match to the mood of the song, but may not necessarily be the same chords as those used in the original. <Displaying chords matched to the song[Chord display pane]> As well as showing the analyzed chords, the app has a guide bar that moves along with song playback, allowing you to check the chords being played in real time. The app also supports full-screen display so that you can just check the chord chart. 『Chord Guide』 By touching a chord in the chord display pane, you can check the chord position for the instrument selected in the Performance pane. 『Editing Chords』 You can modify the chord chart by choosing a chord from up to three candidate chords that are closest in sound to the analyzed chord. You can also specify the chord manually. You can also adjust barline position. <Tapping a performance by watching the chord positions[Performance pane]> Navigate in the screen using the piano or guitar finger positions to match the chord display. Of course, you can also use the chord list to check the position display for chords that are not shown. To play the chords, select the piano pad or guitar pad. To play individual notes, select them on piano keyboard. You can also use the recording function to record your performances. * You can also purchase additional instruments and types of tones as add-ons. <Customize your own tempo, key and vocal balance> By using the app to import an audio file into your iPad or iPhone, you can modify the tempo or key of the song. You can also adjust the balance between vocals and accompaniment, which is useful for transcription. If you change the key, the chords in the chord display pane are also converted automatically, so transposition is simple. <The Technology Behind Chordana> The Chordana series apps use original Casio technology to analyze audio files. The apps achieve unprecedented success in extracting natural chords from the time changes and the distribution of frequency components included in audio waveforms, while also taking into account the characteristics of the harmonies, melodies and rhythm instruments included in the song.

About

sumFX

This app is a versatile audio effects processor for musicians. It offers a modular design with multiple high-quality FX modules and customizable slots, allowing for quick creation of unique sounds. Focus on your music with intuitive controls and visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Modular multi-FX processor
  • 8 high-quality FX modules
  • 8 FX slots with Wet/Dry control
  • 2 LFOs per slot
  • 50+ cross-platform presets
  • Pre/post waveform view
Features
Read full description

sumFX is a modular multi-FX processor for Mac/PC and iOS. Designed with simplicity in mind, to help keep you focused on the music and the sum of your efforts. Packed with 8 high quality FX modules and an available 8 slots, each loaded with Wet/Dry control, Global Wet/Dry, and 2 LFOs per slot, creating new unique sounds is quick and easy. 50+ cross-platform slot & chain presets are included to get you to any sound you need quickly and we’ve packed in an easy to use pre/post waveform view to help keep you focused on the result of your FX. Modules: -syncDynamics - Multimode dynamic FX with BPM sync attack/release (Noise Gate, Expander, Compressor, Limiter) -stereoFilter - Stereo filter with link or individual channel controls (LPF12, HPF12, BPF12, LPF24, HPF24, BPF24, Notch, & Formant options). -variMod - Multimode modulation FX with stereo offset (Chorus, Flanger,  Vibrato, Phaser, Tremolo,  & Auto Pan) -EQuator - Full high quality EQ module (3 Parametric Bands, High/Low Shelf, & HPF/LPF). -frostReverb - Multi-Mode (Original, Plate, Spring, Room) Stereo Reverb.  -bucketDelay - Stereo Analog Style Delay with individual channel control. -variPitch - Stereo Pitch Shifter with 3X Modes (Doubler, Harmonizer, & Full Control) -powerPhase - Multimode Saturation, Utility Gain In/Out, Mono Maker, Channel msDelay, & Phase inverter.

Screenshots

Chordana Viewer4 screens
sumFX3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: sumFX at 4.4 against Chordana Viewer's 1.3. sumFX also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (55% vs 25%). Chordana Viewer's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On ads, monetization model, 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

Chordana Viewer costs $3.99 and sumFX $9.99 up front. Chordana Viewer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. sumFX asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

sumFX holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Chordana Viewer's written reviews are positive against 55% of sumFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chordana Viewer ships an update every 2 months, sumFX every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Chordana Viewer versus sumFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChordana ViewersumFX
Price$3.99 — better$9.99
Rating1.3 (3 ratings)4.4 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings312 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size461 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.OSC Audio

Customer experience

Chordana Viewer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative70.0%

sumFX

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Chordana Viewer

One-time10
  • CLEAN GUITAR$0.99
  • VA Synth 1$0.99
  • ROTARY DRAWBAR 1$0.99
Show 7 more
  • XYLOPHONE$0.99
  • VIBRAPHONE$0.99
  • SYNTH STRINGS$0.99
  • SYNTH BRASS$0.99
  • PIANO PAD$0.99
  • STRINGS PIANO$0.99
  • STRINGS$0.99
None

sumFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chordana Viewer free?
Chordana Viewer costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is sumFX free?
sumFX costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chordana Viewer or sumFX?
sumFX is rated higher. Chordana Viewer averages 1.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while sumFX averages 4.4 from 12 ratings.
Do Chordana Viewer or sumFX have ads?
Neither Chordana Viewer nor sumFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chordana Viewer or sumFX?
Chordana Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and sumFX every 6 months. Most recently, Chordana Viewer was updated on October 25, 2026 and sumFX on October 24, 2026.

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