CalmusNotation vs Kalimba Keys
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Kalimba Keys
This app offers a realistic and expressive Kalimba instrument experience with studio-quality sound. It features detailed sampling, a variety of built-in effects, and cross-platform preset management for seamless creativity.
- Individually-sampled Kalimba notes
- Multiple Kalimba sound variations
- Modulation and Space & Time FX
- Adjustable effects order
- 35 included presets
- Cross-platform preset sharing
- Standalone app and AUv3 compatibility
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Kalimba Keys is your gateway to expressive Kalimba sounds. Experience the richness of Kalimba Keys, the go-to Kalimba instrument app that brings studio-quality sound to your fingertips. Immerse yourself in authenticity with round robin and per-key sampling, allowing for genuine and nuanced playback. Elevate your compositions with essential effects, including tape-style delay, powerful stereo reverb, and versatile modulation FX (Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Tremolo, Auto Pan). Unlock the simplicity of creativity as you save and load configurations with cross-platform presets, ensuring seamless compatibility across sessions. Enjoy the freedom of full automation control, sculpting your ideal sound effortlessly. AUv3 compatible for use with your favorite host apps like Cubasis, GarageBand, AUM, & more! Explore the world of expressive Kalimba Keys – where simplicity meets precision. Features - Individually-sampled Kalimba notes - 4X Kalimba Sounds (Original, Classic, Large, & Small) - Modulation Multi-FX: Multiple FX section with 6 modes including Chorus, Flanger, Phase, Vibrato, Tremolo, Auto Pan - Space & Time FX: Further customize your sounds with natural reverb and tape-style delay effects - Effects Pre/Post Mode: Space & Time and Modulation effects orders can be swapped. - 35 Presets include for instant playability and inspiration - Cross-platform support: presets can be shared between iOS and macOS & Windows - Preset Manager included for saving, editing, and loading different presets - Standalone app and AUv3 included
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kalimba Keys at 100% against CalmusNotation's 0%. Kalimba Keys also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). CalmusNotation's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99). 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
CalmusNotation is free to download; Kalimba Keys costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Kalimba Keys holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of CalmusNotation's written reviews are positive against 100% of Kalimba Keys's.
CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, Kalimba Keys every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CalmusNotation | Kalimba Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 294 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Erki-tonlist sf | OSC Audio |
Customer experience
CalmusNotation
Kalimba Keys
In-app purchases
CalmusNotation
No in-app purchases
Kalimba Keys
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CalmusNotation free?
Is Kalimba Keys free?
Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys?
Do CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys have ads?
Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys?
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