Comparison

CalmusNotation vs Cantoria

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

Head to head
About

CalmusNotation

Create and visualize musical compositions using AI-powered graphical notation. This app leverages advanced AI, inspired by NASA's Lisp programming, to generate original music based on user input and can display music from other compatible apps for live performance.

Highlights
  • AI-powered music composition
  • Graphical notation display
  • Real-time performance visualization
  • Lisp-based AI engine
  • User input-driven music creation
  • Integration with CalmusComposer and CalmusPlay
Read full description

Graphical Notation is an app for music creation and graphical notation using Artificial Intelligence. The coreof Graphical Notation is the CalmusAI brain where the modern composing methods are programmed into the brain using Lisp programming language. NASA has historically used Lisp for artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, most notably in the 1990s Remote Agent project, the first AI system to control a spacecraft. CalmusNotation does not collect or use any musical material from the internet but creates new music based on the input from the user. In addition - CalmusNotation can also receive composed music from CalmusComposer and CalmusPlay - and present the music as graphical notation for live performance - in real-time. CalmusComposer composes music with Artificial Intelligence and can send the musical result to GraphicalNotations to be presented for life performance. CalmusComposer is connected to GraphicalNotation through WiFi local network - by selecting CalmusNotation in Settings. GraphicalNotation is connected to CalmusComposer, through WiFi local network - by selecting the MacOS device in the settings of GraphicalNotation. CalmusNotation needs Internet connection.

About

Cantoria

This app is a virtual pipe organ that uses physical modeling and additive synthesis to emulate a Baroque-style instrument. It offers a dynamic sound range, expression pedal control, and built-in effects, functioning as both a standalone application and an audio plugin.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling engine (no samples)
  • Full polyphony (61 notes, 776 pipes)
  • 9 organ stops
  • 3 couplers
  • Tremulant motor
  • Swell pedal
  • Built-in stereo reverb
Features
Read full description

GSi Cantoria is a physical modeling emulation of a Baroque-style Pipe Organ. INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND A pipe organ is not something you see every day, there are thousands of different pipe organs that differ by the number of stops, the number of manuals, the number and the type of pipes, their size, their position, etc. Cantoria is a Baroque-style organ based on a single manual and 9 stops plus 3 couplers and the classic "tremulant" effect. This type of organ has "only" 776 pipes, which Cantoria simulates one by one. It doesn't sound "massive" like bigger organs, but is very dynamic and can vary from a soft delicate flute sound to a loud and majestic. vibrant full organ. This synth engine works as an hybrid synthesizer, uses additive synthesis and physical modeling together, there are no samples involved. The expression pedal responds naturally and varies the amount of air that passes through the pipes. About the name: the name we chose for this plugin "CANTORIA" is the italian name of the place, inside a Church, where the organ and the choir are located. Main features: - Physical Modeling engine (no samples) - Full Polyphony (61 notes, 776 pipes) - 9 Organ Stops - 3 Couplers - Tremulant Motor - Swell Pedal - Built-in Stereo Reverb effect - Built-in programmer with unlimited Programs - Embedded user's manual - Available as Stand-alone application and audio plugin - Very low CPU and RAM usage Works as AUv3 plugin.

Screenshots

CalmusNotation4 screens
Cantoria1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cantoria at 94% against CalmusNotation's 0%. Cantoria also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cantoria holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 23 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of CalmusNotation's written reviews are positive against 94% of Cantoria's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, Cantoria every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CalmusNotation versus Cantoria: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalmusNotationCantoria
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (5 ratings)4.8 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews93.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings523 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.611 — better
Further details — not scored
Size294 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErki-tonlist sfGenuine Soundware

Customer experience

CalmusNotation

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Cantoria

All ratings23 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%

In-app purchases

None

CalmusNotation

No in-app purchases

None

Cantoria

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CalmusNotation free?
CalmusNotation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cantoria free?
Cantoria is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Cantoria?
Cantoria is rated higher. CalmusNotation averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Cantoria averages 4.8 from 23 ratings.
Do CalmusNotation or Cantoria have ads?
Neither CalmusNotation nor Cantoria shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Cantoria?
CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, and Cantoria every 4 days. Most recently, CalmusNotation was updated on October 8, 2026 and Cantoria on October 10, 2026.

Other comparisons