DTXM12 Touch vs Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DTXM12 Touch
This iPad app enhances the on-stage experience for drummers and percussionists using the DTX-MULTI12. It allows for visual display and easy editing of pad assignments, including custom audio files, and streamlines kit management for live performances.
- Visual pad assignment display with images
- Assign custom audio files (WAV, AIFF, MP3)
- Edit and manage kit lists for live sets
- Smooth kit switching with App Pad function
- Import audio from Dropbox and iPad library
Read full descriptionHide full description
DTXM12 Touch is a dedicated iPad app that provides powerful support to drummers and percussionists who use the DTX-MULTI12 on-stage. Working hand-in-hand with a DTX-MULTI12, it offers the following functionality. ・ Display of pad assignments for the currently selected kit Rather than being limited to text alone, DTXM12 Touch can also display assignments using pictures. Furthermore, the display can be used to confirm the way in which voice layers and function assignments are configured. ・ Changing pad assignments for the currently selected kit In addition to the DTX-MULTI12’s built-in voices and functions, DTXM12 Touch lets you assign audio data (.wav, .aiff, .mp3, etc.) imported from Dropbox as well as content from your iPad’s music library. ・ Displaying and editing the kit list Using DTXM12 Touch, you can arrange kits to match your set list so that the kit data to be used on-stage can be managed much more conveniently. Within the kit list, you can rename, rearrange, and delete kits. Meanwhile, the App Pad function (App Kit inc/dec) makes it possible to switch kits on-stage much more smoothly. ・ Required Connection USB Connection: Core MIDI compatible interface (e.g. Yamaha i-UX1) Audio Connection: Stereo cable (mini stereo to standard stereo) from the headphone jack on iPad to the AUX IN jack on DTX-MULTI12
Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer
This virtual instrument app allows users to play a chromatic hammered dulcimer on their iPad. It features realistic sound and playability, with adjustable hammer types, drag roll effects, and note display options.
- Realistic hammered dulcimer sound
- Adjustable hammer tones (bright/piano)
- Drag roll effect for repeated notes
- Toggleable note name display
- Full instrument or bridge-only view
- Adjustable drag roll sensitivity
- Optimized sound for speakers/headphones
Read full descriptionHide full description
Experience playing the full, lush tones of a Dusty Strings D550 chromatic hammered dulcimer right on your iPad. This virtual dulcimer sounds and plays like the real thing! The D550 is one of the popular Chromatic Series models made by Dusty Strings, builders of hammered dulcimers in Seattle, WA since 1979. This model features standard fifth-interval hammered dulcimer tuning, plus an extended bass range (down to G2) and some additional chromatic notes to enable playing in any key. The overall range is 3.75 octaves, with a fully chromatic range of 3.5 octaves. To play, just touch the strings next to the black and white bridge markers. The Treble bridge (in the middle) has playable notes on either side, which are a fifth interval apart. The Bass bridge (on the right) can be played to the left of the markers, and the Superbass bridge (on the left) has the lowest notes, playable to the right of the markers. Toggle between a bright, clear ringing tone using hard hammers and a gentler, more piano tone using soft hammers by touching the image of the hammer in the upper left corner. To get repeated note "drag roll" effects, drag quickly horizontally across the strings. The drag roll sensitivity can be set on the settings screen. The higher the sensitivity, the shorter distance you need to move your finger to get the effect. Touch the ABC button on the upper left area to toggle the note names on/off. Touch the iPad icon on the playing area controls to toggle between "Full" and "Treble/Bass Bridge Only" style instruments. "Full" provides the full D550 instrument including the Superbass bridge. "Treble/Bass Bridge Only" focuses on the treble and bass bridges and provides the maximum string spacing for easier play on smaller screens like the iPad Mini. Touch the mixer icon on the upper left area to show the controls screen where you can adjust the balance and pan for the bass and treble bridges, enable or disable the drag rolls, as well as set the sensitivity for how far you need to drag to get the roll effect. The "Hammer Touches" setting chooses between no visible touches, visible touches, and visible touches + note label highlighting. On the controls screen you may use the "Soft Hammer Filter" control to choose between equalization of the soft hammer sounds for best sound through the iPad speaker or through headphones. The "iPad" setting optimizes the soft hammer equalization for playback through the iPad speaker. The "Headphones" setting optimizes the soft hammer sound equalization for headphones or for use when connected to an amplifier through the headphone jack. The "Headphones" setting allows the full fidelity of the lowest sound to pass through for best quality. On the iPad Pro, with its amazing stero speakers, set the "Soft Hammer Filter" to "Headphones" for best quality sound when playing with the soft hammers. From the controls screen you can also visit the Dusty Strings website to learn more about their amazing hand-crafted instruments. Touch the "Shhh" icon on the upper right corner to quiet all the strings. The app may be used as a MIDI sound module for use with CoreMIDI-enabled MIDI file player apps or controlled from an external MIDI keyboard using a hardware MIDI interface. Select the MIDI channel on the controls page. When used via MIDI, the app responds to MIDI note-on (with velocity), note-off, and volume change messages on the selected MIDI channel. The treble bridge volume and panning is used for all MIDI sounds and will respond to MIDI volume messages. The app is also a Audiobus compatible source module. To truly experience the full stereo spread of the instrument, plug in a set of headphones or amplified speakers. If plugged in, switch the "Soft Hammer Filter" setting to "Headphones" for the fullest possibly sound when playing with the soft hammers.
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer at 92% against DTXM12 Touch's 24%. Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.7) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 14 months). DTXM12 Touch's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
DTXM12 Touch is free to download; Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of DTXM12 Touch's written reviews are positive against 92% of Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer's.
DTXM12 Touch ships an update every 14 months, Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DTXM12 Touch | Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 2.7 (23 ratings) | 4.8 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.8% of reviews | 92.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 153 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yamaha Corporation of America | Michael Eskin |
Customer experience
DTXM12 Touch
Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer
In-app purchases
DTXM12 Touch
No in-app purchases
Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer
No in-app purchases


