modstep vs CC PAL
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
CC PAL
This app allows users to create and control up to 16 customizable MIDI CC sliders. Record and loop slider movements or manually adjust CC values. It's designed to send MIDI messages to external hardware or software synthesizers.
- Create up to 16 customizable CC sliders
- Record and loop slider movements
- Customize MIDI channel, CC number, color, and name per slider
- Store configurations/presets
- Visualize recorded movements with a chart
- Connect via Bluetooth MIDI
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CC PAL is a MIDI CC controller which allows you to create up to 16 CC sliders. You can record movements for each slider and replay this in a loop. You can also just change the CC value by moving the slider. Each slider can be customized with a MIDI channel, CC number, color and name. You can create unlimited numbers of configurations. The CC pal comes with couple of predefined configurations for some hardware devices like the KORG Volca FM, KORG Volca Beats, KORG minilogue XD, DSI Prophet Rev2. >> FEATURES - Create up to 16 customizable CC sliders - Store your sliders in configurations/presets/programs -- you name it - Set the MIDI channel and the CC number per slider - A little chart shows your recorded movements so you can easily see what kinds of movements are stored in a slider >> WHAT CAN I DO AND WHAT NOT - You can send CC messages in a smart way to a MIDI devices - For example you can control the resonance of a KORG Volca device with a unique recorded movement - You can control a MIDI able iOS app like a software synthesizer - You cannot generate sound directly from this app. It just generates MIDI messages - Connect via Bluetooth MIDI to your DAW (e.g. Ableton) and map the sliders to specific parameters in devices
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CC PAL at 4.9 against modstep's 2.8. CC PAL also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 46%) and price ($1.99 vs $9.99). modstep's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (39 vs 11). On 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
modstep costs $9.99 and CC PAL $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CC PAL holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of modstep's written reviews are positive against 83% of CC PAL's.
modstep ships an update every 3 weeks, CC PAL every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | modstep | CC PAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 2.8 (39 ratings) | 4.9 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 39 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 9.3 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 99 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Blomert | DANIEL BRUEGGE |
Customer experience
modstep
CC PAL
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
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- 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
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- 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
CC PAL
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
modstep
No in-app purchases
CC PAL
No in-app purchases









