Comparison

dot Melody vs Xequence 2

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

Head to head
About

dot Melody

Create intricate melodies, bass lines, and drum beats by manipulating dots on a multidimensional grid. This app offers a powerful sequencer, chord and pattern manipulation, and built-in effects for dynamic music creation.

Highlights
  • Graphic arpeggiator and sequencer
  • Create melodies, bass lines, and drum beats
  • On-the-fly chord and pattern switching
  • Delay and reverb effects
  • MIDI Out and Audiobus support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI Clock Sync
Features
Read full description

dot Melody is a multidimensional graphic arpeggiator, sequencer, and drum machine from the creator of the critically acclaimed music apps Patterning & Chordion. Move dots around to create intertwining melodies, bass lines, and drum beats. Switch chords and patterns on the fly. Process your instruments through delay and reverb effects. Featured on the App Store “Best New Apps” list. Best with headphones or over AirPlay. • iOS 8 and Above • •• Sequencer •• Tap or drag anywhere to create new dots. Move dots horizontally to change pitch within the current chord. Move dots vertically to change duration/rhythm. Tap a dot to make it a rest. Double tap to delete it. •• Chords •• Switch chords/scales on the fly to change the notes in your pattern. Unlimited number of chords Choose from suggested chords or create your own. •• Patterns •• Unlimited number of patterns, each with 3 instrument layers. Copy, reverse, clear, randomize, and generate functions. Easily re-order patterns. •• Instruments •• 3 instrument at a time : lead, bass, and drums. 23 mod-wheel enabled sounds to choose from. Independent volume controls with the mixer. Independent delay effect sends. •• Effects •• Tempo-synced delay with feedback and low pass filter. Reverb with mix and decay controls. •• Tempo & Time Signature •• Tap Tempo function Choose from a range of time signatures for pattern syncing. Use x/x time signature to enter “free mode” and let your instruments create phase patterns. •• MIDI Out •• Each instrument layer can use independent MIDI ports and channels. Mod Wheel support included. Advanced MIDI timing implementation using MIDI timestamps. •• File Management •• Create new files from templates in any key Easily duplicate or re-name files •• Audiobus •• Use dot Melody as an Audiobus source! See http://audiob.us for more information. •• Sync •• Ableton Link, MIDI Clock Sync, and Inter-App Audio Sync.

About

Xequence 2

A powerful MIDI sequencer, editor, and controller for digital music production on iPhone and iPad. It offers a desktop-class editing experience, robust import/export, and advanced features like MPE support and Ableton Link.

Highlights
  • MIDI sequencer, editor, arranger, and controller
  • Desktop-class editing experience
  • Robust MIDI file import/export
  • MPE support with per-note editing
  • Scale support in editors and keyboard
  • Ableton Link and Audiobus 3 integration
  • Advanced clip-based arranger
Features
Read full description

This app is targeted at digital music production enthusiasts & professionals. Xequence is a comprehensive, fast & reliable MIDI sequencer, editor, arranger & controller for iPhone & iPad. Providing a desktop-class editing experience, it is the perfect centerpiece for a hardware studio, or for apps like AUM & Audiobus 3 to create a modular mobile music production environment. HIGHLIGHTS: - Efficient & fast User Interface for an amazing editing workflow - Robust MIDI File Import & Export (notes, controllers, program changes, etc.) - Extensive support for MPE (In-App Purchase) with per-note expression data editing - Support for scales everywhere (keyboard, pianoroll, etc.) - Over 70 included scales in 10 categories - MIDI Time Stretching in all editors - Best-in-class MIDI timing and clock output - Full Ableton Link 3 support - Full Audiobus 3 support - MIDI In & Thru with re-channelization & re-routing - MIDI Sync Master (Clock/Start/Stop/Continue/SPP) to sync other DAWs & sequencers to Xequence, e.g. to use audio tracks, or external drum machines. Several options for compatibility ARRANGER: - Unlimited Clips - Unlimited Tracks - Unlimited Sub Tracks per Track - 64 Undo/Redo steps - Flexible grid - Per-track non-destructive Swing & MIDI Delay - Linked Clips / Clones (editing the original changes all copies) - Powerful clip-based, per-track independent looping - Program changes - Selection tools: Marquee/Rectangle, Same Track, Same Instrument, Linked Clips, Invert, etc. - Editing tools: Create Copy, Create Linked Copy, Unlink, Split, Join, Convert loops to clips, etc. - Global clipboard, even between projects - Movement/Trimming Handles at screen edges for efficient editing PIANOROLL EDITOR: - 256 Undo/Redo steps - Scale-awareness ("folding") - Relative or absolute grid (move by grid increments or snap to nearest grid lines) - Live MIDI previews of all edits - Selection tools: Box, Same Note, Same Key, Same Beat Position, Invert, etc. - Editing tools: Copy, Legato, Quantize, Quantize Ends, Octave +/-, Flip H/V (mirror), Fill clip with selection, etc. - Smart Draw mode: Touch to create, touch again to delete, drag up/down to transpose, drag left/right to change length - Global clipboard, even between projects - Configurable "ghost" overlays - Note velocities quickly adjustable via a handle, or editable like controllers, see below: CONTROLLER EDITOR: - 256 Undo/Redo steps - Selection tools: Box, Same Beat Position, Invert - Selection modes: Add & Replace - Editing tools: Copy, Reduce, Quantize, Compress/Expand, Flip H/V (mirror), Ramp (various curves), Fill clip with selection - Smart Draw mode - Note Velocities can be shown as controllers and edited with the same tools - Configurable vertical grid & value entry KEYBOARD / CONTROLLER: - Scale-aware, very playable single or dual keyboards - Glide support - Adjustable key width - Velocity emulation (via vertical position) - Drum maps and pads, fully editable, 40+ factory maps - Touch ribbons for live control - Controllers can be moved by sliding (ribbon), device rotation (up to three axes at once), like a button (sustain pedal, "trance gates"), or by touching the keys at different vertical positions. All highly configurable. INSTRUMENTS: - Unlimited Instruments (MIDI configurations for devices / apps) - Up to 150controller slots per Instrument - Optional support for (N)RPNs (In-App Purchase) - Loading & Saving of instruments for re-use in other projects, 40+ factory presets included (In-App Purchase) - Compatible with virtually ALL apps and class-compliant MIDI interfaces VARIOUS: - Audio or MIDI Metronome - Note chasing (notes play even when playback starts in the middle) - Controller chasing - Perfect song looping, no dropouts/jitter at loop points - Supports any time signature/BPM (fixed per song) - Includes PolyHymnia, an advanced Generative Music module - Light and Dark themes Please report any issues via our website, we provide quick and comprehensive support!

Screenshots

dot Melody4 screens
Xequence 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: dot Melody at $3.99 against Xequence 2's $19.99. dot Melody also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.2). Xequence 2's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

dot Melody costs $3.99 and Xequence 2 $19.99 up front. Xequence 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. dot Melody asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for dot Melody against 4.6 for Xequence 2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 65 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of dot Melody's written reviews are positive against 78% of Xequence 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

dot Melody ships an update every 4 months, Xequence 2 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
dot Melody versus Xequence 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterdot MelodyXequence 2
Price$3.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.7 (43 ratings) — better4.6 (65 ratings)
Positive reviews84.7% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4365 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.2
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOlympia Noise Co.Alexander Ewering

Customer experience

dot Melody

All ratings43 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative10.2%

Xequence 2

All ratings65 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative17.8%

Bugs and requests

dot Melody

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Xequence 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • No sound for some users
  • Auto-save failed, lost work
  • Exported MIDI out of sync
  • Controller values not resetting properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • AUV3 support
  • Tempo and time signature changes mid-song
  • MIDI control for transport (start/stop)
  • SysEx support
  • Always visible Metronome button

In-app purchases

None

dot Melody

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Xequence 2

One-time1
  • Enhanced Pack$4.99

Questions

Is dot Melody free?
dot Melody costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Xequence 2 free?
Xequence 2 costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, dot Melody or Xequence 2?
dot Melody is rated higher. dot Melody averages 4.7 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Xequence 2 averages 4.6 from 65 ratings.
Do dot Melody or Xequence 2 have ads?
Neither dot Melody nor Xequence 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, dot Melody or Xequence 2?
dot Melody ships an update every 4 months, and Xequence 2 every 2 weeks. Most recently, dot Melody was updated on October 14, 2026 and Xequence 2 on October 15, 2026.

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