Comparison

modstep vs CV Mod

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

Head to head
About

modstep

Create music with a powerful MIDI sequencer for iPad. Control external hardware, IAA apps, and Audio Units. Features unlimited tracks, real-time editing, and integrated synths/samplers for on-the-go or studio production.

Highlights
  • Session-style MIDI sequencer
  • Unlimited tracks and scenes
  • Real-time editing and modulation
  • Integrated synth and sampler
  • IAA and Audio Unit integration
  • Ableton Link sync
  • MIDI and Audio export
Features
Read full description

Modstep Introducing Modstep, Modulation Monster and the first full-blown MIDI sequencer for the iPad. Modstep allows you to create music and jam with your iPad and your favorite IAA Apps, Audio Units, Mac and PC software and MIDI hardware as well as the internal drum sampler and synth. Use it as the centerpiece of your setup to create and perform music on the go, in the studio and on stage. "If you´re looking for a versatile, adaptable MIDI sequencer for iOS, Modstep comes highly recommended" Sound On Sound “Modstep could change how an iPad fits into your music making” CDM “If you’ve ever dreamed of a touchscreen brain for your studio, this is it.” FACTMag "Modstep is a great step forward for step sequencing.” Audionewsroom FEATURES: -Session-style MIDI sequencer with unlimited tracks & scenes. -Play individual clips or whole scenes, or use the included arrangement features to manage more sophisticated song-structures. -Clips are pattern based which allows quick edits on the fly. Set a variable speed per pattern. -Edit clips with either the Step Sequencer or the Piano Roll -Step Sequencer with active steps and step-shifting. -Piano Roll with variable quantization including triplets, access to modulations, velocities and scales. -Everything can be edited, arranged, modulated or changed in real-time. -Note Repeat from 1-48th to 1/4th. -Global Swing -Unlimited MIDI & Audio tracks - only restricted by the power of your iPad. -Tempo range from 20 to 999bpm. -Sync via Ableton Link. -Stable and low-latency MIDI Clock In & Out with latency adjustment. -Trigger out -integrated global keyboard with scales & drum-pads allow quick recording of individual tracks with a single surface. -Use an external controller or keyboard to control, record or play any given track. -Midi mappable via external MIDI controllers -Internal additive synth with up to 64 harmonics per voice, 3-band eq, delay, reverb, lfo and detune. -Internal sampler with pitch, volume, reverse, fx per slot, 3 band-eq, delay and reverb. -Integrate any IAA compatible app or Audio Unit as an instrument or effect. -unlimited number of effects per track. -Audiobus support. -convenient plugin management via drag and drop. -Integrated mixer with Arm, Mute, Solo per track -Any loaded instrument or external MIDI hardware is completely modulatable via CCs. -Up to 128 CC modulations per track. -Audio and MIDI streaming directly via charger cable to Mac and PC using studiomux technology -Export sample perfect loops of audio per track. Choose which channels to record. The internal quantization will make sure they are sample-perfect and ready for any DAW. -Import / Export of MIDI files. -Import / Export of Audio & MIDI files via AudioShare. -A sophisticated template system allows quick setup of tracks to control external MIDI hardware, apps or plugins. -Includes many preconfigured templates for popular external hardware. -Template editor to create your own templates for IAA Apps, desktop Apps and external MIDI devices -Supports all MIDI interfaces for the iPad -Works on all iPads (iPad 1 restricted to MIDI only) Requirements: iOS 8 or later for audio and MIDI streaming to a Mac or PC, the studiomux server software is required: get the latest for free at studiomux.net Manual: You can find the manual here: http://www.modstep.net/manual

About

CV Mod

This app provides two LFO/VCO oscillators for modular and semi-modular synthesizers. Connect your device's headphone output to your hardware to add modulation and sound sources. Create custom waveforms and control parameters via MIDI.

Highlights
  • 2 LFO/VCO oscillators
  • Custom drawable waveforms
  • MIDI CC control
  • Tempo sync
  • Envelope generators
  • XY pad control
Features
Read full description

CV Mod is a 2 LFO/VCO Oscillator Module meant to be used with modular or semi-modular synth hardware. Simply connect the headphone output of your iPhone or iPad to one or more CV or audio inputs on your hardware. To get the most out of this module, use a stereo breakout cable to separate the left and right audio channels. Just like that, you now have 2 additional LFOs or full range oscillators added to your rig! CV Mod can also send out signals via a connected DC-coupled audio interface. With Audiobus 3 and Inter-app audio support, you'll have an easier time routing CV Mod's outputs to wherever you need them to go. In the spirit of modular synthesis, you have complete control over each oscillator’s parameters via external MIDI. You can also modulate one oscillator’s frequency and phase with the other oscillator’s rate and depth controls. With two drawable wave table editors, you can create whatever crazy wave forms you like, unleashing a vast sea of possibilities. Instant grit! Intuitive controls via the main faders, XY pad, or MIDI CC make this an incredibly easy way to add more modulation and sound sources to your gear. Download now and have some good old-yet-new-fashioned creative fun! Key Features: 2 Oscillators that function as LFOs or sound sources with 5 frequency ranges: 1 Hz, 4 Hz, 40 Hz, 120 Hz, and VCO mode (full range). This wide set of ranges allows for ultra slow ambient filter sweeps and rip roaring ring-mod madness Choose from 8 different waveforms: Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Reverse Sawtooth, Square, Random, and two user defined shapes Wave Table grid editor allows you to draw 2 custom waveforms Each oscillator has its own envelope generator, which can be synchronized to subdivisions of the current tempo or the rate of one of the oscillators Multi-touch control of each oscillator’s rate, depth, and phase with easy to use faders Fine tuning control of each oscillator, + or - one octave Separate glide controls for each oscillator, with a configurable maximum glide time of 120 seconds! MIDI Keyboard control of an oscillator’s frequency allows you to play notes and use this app as an additional sound source in VCO mode Duophonic mode allows you to play two notes at once when both oscillators are controlled by MIDI keyboard in VCO mode XY Pad allows you to control up to 3 parameters, with the Z-axis mapped to touch pressure (if your device supports it) Tempo Sync feature that constrains each oscillator’s rate to subdivisions of the current tempo, when operating in one of the LFO modes Rich MIDI implementation allows you to control all oscillator settings via MIDI CC with MIDI learn. In addition, you can control each oscillator’s rate and the overall depth via pitch wheel, mod wheel, velocity, aftertouch, and note values (key tracking) Cross modulation capabilities allow you to modulate one oscillator’s phase and frequency with the rate and depth of the other oscillator Turn either oscillator into a trigger pulse, which can be synchronized to subdivisions of the current tempo or the rate of the other oscillator Ability to save presets and wave tables Other settings include: Tempo override from external MIDI clock or via Ableton Link Ableton Link integration Pitch bender range control (maximum of 2 octaves) Background audio mode Oscillator pan controls: each oscillator can be panned to the left channel, right channel, or center Aftertouch sensitivity control (allows you to take it easy on those older keybeds) Bit depth resolution reduction controls for each oscillator, which opens up even more possibilities

Screenshots

CV Mod1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CV Mod at 4.0 against modstep's 2.8. CV Mod also leads on price ($1.99 vs $9.99) and review sentiment (80% vs 46%). modstep's advantage is ratings volume (39 vs 8) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 11.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

modstep costs $9.99 and CV Mod $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CV Mod holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of modstep's written reviews are positive against 80% of CV Mod's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
modstep versus CV Mod: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermodstepCV Mod
Price$9.99$1.99 — better
Rating2.8 (39 ratings)4.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian BlomertSteven Connelly

Customer experience

modstep

All ratings39 ratings
Positive41.0%
Neutral5.1%
Negative53.8%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral14.2%
Negative40.0%

CV Mod

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

modstep

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • App crashes when loading external IAA/AU instruments
  • Constant clicking sound with metronome off
  • Projects fail to load or require multiple restart attempts
  • MIDI input routing ignores channel settings
  • Track names change when using 'save as' function
Show 13 more
  • App crashes when adding second synth to project
  • Black screen on startup
  • Crashes when editing notes in pattern editor
  • MIDI note hanging and stuck notes
  • Random crashes during playback or editing
  • Instruments deleted after app crash
  • Inter-app audio broken on newer iOS versions
  • App crashes when deleting tracks
  • Editing while playing causes crashes
  • Clip deletion causes crashes
  • IAA apps lock in slots
  • Screen goes blank during operation
  • Skipped notes and misfired triggers

Requested features

18 requests
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • MIDI import capability
  • Pre-roll for recording
  • Dedicated mixer with send/returns
  • Audio loop recording and playback
Show 13 more
  • State saving for synth presets
  • Bank MSB/LSB support for program changes
  • Precise CC automation entry
  • Song mode for arrangement
  • MIDI CC scene launching
  • Metronome volume and pan control
  • Note selection tool in piano roll
  • Groove templates
  • Better transposition tools
  • Pan control for instruments
  • Reset function for faders and values
  • AU MIDI plugin support
  • Sample upload over IP

CV Mod

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

modstep

No in-app purchases

None

CV Mod

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is modstep free?
modstep costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CV Mod free?
CV Mod costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, modstep or CV Mod?
CV Mod is rated higher. modstep averages 2.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while CV Mod averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.
Do modstep or CV Mod have ads?
Neither modstep nor CV Mod shows ads.
Which is updated more often, modstep or CV Mod?
modstep ships an update every 3 weeks, and CV Mod every 3 weeks. Most recently, modstep was updated on June 10, 2026 and CV Mod on September 8, 2026.

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