Comparison

Musk MIDI Player vs VB3

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

Head to head
About

Musk MIDI Player

Play MIDI files with customizable sounds and playback speeds. This app allows you to transpose, mute tracks, and follow notes on a virtual keyboard. It also supports lyrics display and spoken announcements for bars and beats.

Highlights
  • Load MIDI files and sound libraries
  • Adjust playback speed and transpose
  • Visualize notes on a keyboard
  • Display and speak lyrics
  • Mute or solo tracks
  • Integrated web search for MIDI files
  • Support for various audio formats
Features
Read full description

Musk MIDI Player: Your instant MIDI player - just add sounds and MIDI files! * Load any MIDI file and sound library (a small General MIDI sound font is included) * You can search the web for MIDI files and download. * Play MIDI files up to 8 times slower or faster * Transpose MIDI files. * Follow the MIDI notes on the keyboard and distinguish different MIDI channels * Read along the lyrics * Let the app speak the lyrics during playback * Let the app announce the bar and beat numbers. So you can easier follow the notes in a printed score. * Mute or solo tracks or use them to navigate * Use automatic sound switching or customize the sound associated with each MIDI channel. * Mix with the original sound. (Deactivated on iOS14, reactivated on iOS15) Integrated web search: * Use the built-in web browser to search for MIDI files on the web. * The browser highlights MIDI (.mid, .midi) and Karaoke (.kar) links. * Downloaded files play back immediately. Navigation: * Jump to a specific position using a slider * To jump back to that position using the repeat button * Jump to the position of certain meta-events (lyrics, markers, time signature, key signature and tempo changes) Supported file formats and extensions: * MIDI (mid, midi) * MIDI karaoke (kar) * Sound fonts (sf2) * Downloadable Sounds (dls) * Logic Pro EXS-24 instrument files (exs) * Audio Unit Presets (aupreset) * Zip files (zip) Importing files via: * ITunes: transmission via Mac or PC * ICloud: synchronizes the data on all your Apple devices. (Network connection required) * Other Apps from the manufacturer this app: All of his apps access to the same iCloud directory. (No network connection required) * Safari: search for a website that offers SoundFonts. Click on the file. Wait until it is downloaded. Then select this app in the "Open In" dialog. * Mail: Select the attachment and select this app in the "Open In" dialog. * Other apps: use the "Open In" dialog. (Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive) Inter-App-Audio, Audiobus and Core-MIDI support: You can use the audio output of this app in other apps: * Record the mixed-down audio output in Garageband, AudioShare or other apps. * Add sound effects in GarageBand, VoiceSynth or other apps. * Use this App as a MIDI-Generator in Audiobus or in apps that can receive Core-MIDI notes. Limitations: * Speech output can not be sent to other apps. * Which app combinations are possible depends on Your hardware and Your sound fonts. * Playing MIDI files with many notes per second can push older devices to their limits. When you hear a scraping noise, try lowering the playback rate. Have fun!

About

VB3

This app emulates a classic tonewheel organ, offering advanced sound modeling and effects. It includes a session recorder, audio player for backing tracks, and extensive MIDI control for live performance and production.

Highlights
  • Tonewheel engine and rotary simulator
  • Ring Modulator and Delay effects
  • Session Recorder (MIDI & WAV)
  • Built-in Audio Player
  • Extensive MIDI control and mapping
  • Touch-friendly interface with drawbar views
Read full description

Released in 2023, this is the second version of GSi's most famous product: VB3-II Tonewheel Organ emulator. This marks 20 years of research and development of this instrument. New VB3-II 2023 edition features: - Added both the tonewheel engine and the rotary simulator from VB3 v.1.4 - The V1 rotary simulator features 3 variations, for a total of 4 different amplifiers - Added 1 new tonewheel generator - Added Ring Modulator and Delay effects (pre) - Added FET Limiter (post) - Sub-Presets for Rotary effect and Digital reverb sections - Session Recorder: silently records everything is played and imports/exports standard Midi Files and renders to WAV files - Built-in Audio Player plays the most common audio formats to add a backing track to your music - Octave transposers for upper and lower separately - New Program browser shows full list with move, swap, delete functions along with import/export of banks and single Programs - Built-in function to import/export from/to VB3-II 2018 (and Crumar Mojo Desktop) Program and Bank formats - New Midi Map with reverse, latch and lock functions for each parameter - Quick Midi Learn for main screen/performance controls, normal Midi Learn for all other parameters - New advanced Midi Javascript processor for custom event transformations (supports SysEx and RPN/NRPN) - Multiple outputs (Main + Organ Only) - Separate plugin for remote Audio and Midi input - includes the exclusive VoMidiCoder - New bigger touch-friendly interface - Four different drawbar view styles - On-screen keyboards with two different viewing styles - Random program generator - Added rotary effect speed control from Channel Aftertouch - Supports Midi Output, can send whole "snapshots" when loading and when changing Programs - Supports different curves for the Swell Pedal - Built-in Midi Monitor for monitoring incoming Midi messages - Free Cloud service for sharing Programs, Midi Maps and Midi Processor Scripts with other users Features already present in the 2018 edition: - Full polyphony (61 upper + 61 lower + 25 pedals = 147 notes) - 91 modeled tonewheels with accurate phase synchronization - Adjustable leakage noise and cross modulation between tonewheels - A total of 22 different tonewheel generators to choose from - Generator shaping for a total of 154 generator combinations - Adjustable global tuning from 430 to 450 Hz - Foldback on 16" deactivatable - Complex wheels - Resistor wiring with multiple options - Realistic "run" motor wow and flutter - Busbars and 9 key contact simulation - Two separate sets of drawbars per manual - Full "inverted octave" presets - String Bass with adjustable release time - Loudness "robbing" effect - Single triggered percussion with natural capacitor discharge/recharge - Adjustable Percussion Level and Decay - Vibrato/Chorus virtual scanner - Adjustable Vibrato Scanner depth and mix - Separated Upper and Lower V/C tablets with smooth switching - Dynamic tube overdrive simulation - Spring Reverb (pre) and Digital stereo reverb (post) - Rotary speaker simulation with virtual microphone positioning, tube overdrive, tube feedback - Rotors "Front Stop" brake position with adjustable preferred position - Very low CPU consumption - Advanced MIDI Learn function with import/export of custom mappings - Upper and Lower manuals SPLIT with adjustable split point - Supports pedal sustain - Custom programmer with import/export of Programs and Banks Available for iPad as standalone App with IAA support or AUv3 plugin, compatible with all plugin hosts.

Screenshots

Musk MIDI Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VB3 at Free against Musk MIDI Player's $1.99. VB3 also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Musk MIDI Player's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment and ratings volume 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

VB3 is free to download; Musk MIDI Player costs $1.99 up front. VB3 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Musk MIDI Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Musk MIDI Player holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Musk MIDI Player's written reviews are positive against 50% of VB3's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Musk MIDI Player versus VB3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusk MIDI PlayerVB3
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better3.7 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews56.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings817 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — better—
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB23 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDr. Garbers SoftwareentwicklungGenuine Soundware

Customer experience

Musk MIDI Player

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive56.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative37.5%

VB3

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Musk MIDI Player

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

VB3

One-time2
  • Log-in to your GSi account$0.99
  • Unlock All Pro Features$99.99

Questions

Is Musk MIDI Player free?
Musk MIDI Player costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VB3 free?
VB3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Musk MIDI Player or VB3?
Musk MIDI Player is rated higher. Musk MIDI Player averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while VB3 averages 3.7 from 17 ratings.

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