Comparison

modstep vs PolyPhase

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

PolyPhase

Create complex, interwoven melodies and rhythms with a generative sequencer. Control note generation, randomize sequences, and integrate with external MIDI hardware or the included wavetable synthesizer. Save and recall your creations with presets and snapshots.

Highlights
  • Generative melody creation with phase offsets
  • 8 independent sequencers with customizable properties
  • Draw own notes or use intelligent randomization
  • Wavetable synthesizer with FX
  • MIDI output and input support
  • Global Key/Scale filtering and Chord Masks
  • Save/Load presets and Snapshots
Read full description

PolyPhase is a generative sequencer! Melodies on a Master Track are created on the fly & copied, with phase offsets, to Follower Tracks. This structure, along with the interplay of various probabilities, leads to interwoven melodies and rhythms. You can disable the generation of notes & draw your own, or select some of the randomization functions Send MIDI to external hardware, other iOS instruments, or use the included wavetable synthesizer! - 8 independent Sequencers with their own rate, direction, transposition & other properties - Disable the generation of notes to draw your own, or use some of the intelligent functions provided - Random Euclid & Drum Sequences - The Wavetable Synth + FX lets you use PolyPhase even if you don't own any external Instruments - Filter notes to a Global Key / Scale and toggle Chord Masks - Save / Load Presets - Snapshots for install recall of your Sequences - Intelligently Randomize and Morph your Sequences & Synth sounds - Accepts external MIDI clock & can provide clock to other devices - Audiobus (Audio / State) & Inter-App Audio support - Link Support

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: modstep at $9.99 against PolyPhase's $19.99. modstep also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 10.0). PolyPhase's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and review sentiment (76% vs 46%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 PolyPhase $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PolyPhase holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of modstep's written reviews are positive against 76% of PolyPhase's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
modstep versus PolyPhase: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermodstepPolyPhase
Price$9.99 — better$19.99
Rating2.8 (39 ratings)4.6 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews76.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better26
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristian BlomertMarcos Kohler

Customer experience

modstep

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

PolyPhase

All ratings26 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral14.3%
Negative9.5%

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

PolyPhase

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

modstep

No in-app purchases

None

PolyPhase

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is modstep free?
modstep costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PolyPhase free?
PolyPhase costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, modstep or PolyPhase?
PolyPhase is rated higher. modstep averages 2.8 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while PolyPhase averages 4.6 from 26 ratings.
Do modstep or PolyPhase have ads?
Neither modstep nor PolyPhase shows ads.
Which is updated more often, modstep or PolyPhase?
modstep ships an update every 3 weeks, and PolyPhase every 3 weeks. Most recently, modstep was updated on June 10, 2026 and PolyPhase on June 8, 2026.

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