Comparison

CalmusNotation vs Kalimba Keys

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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

CalmusNotation4 screens
Kalimba Keys3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CalmusNotation versus Kalimba Keys: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalmusNotationKalimba Keys
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.4 (5 ratings)5.0 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings514 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size294 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErki-tonlist sfOSC Audio

Customer experience

CalmusNotation

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

Kalimba Keys

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CalmusNotation

No in-app purchases

None

Kalimba Keys

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CalmusNotation free?
CalmusNotation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kalimba Keys free?
Kalimba Keys costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys?
Kalimba Keys is rated higher. CalmusNotation averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Kalimba Keys averages 5.0 from 14 ratings.
Do CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys have ads?
Neither CalmusNotation nor Kalimba Keys shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Kalimba Keys?
CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, and Kalimba Keys every 6 months. Most recently, CalmusNotation was updated on October 8, 2026 and Kalimba Keys on October 9, 2026.

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