Comparison

CalmusNotation vs Pianola

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

Pianola

This app turns your MIDI-capable piano into an interactive music player. Connect wirelessly or via USB to play your MIDI files, control tempo and pitch, and organize your music library. It's designed for an intuitive and effortless musical experience.

Highlights
  • Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection
  • USB MIDI support
  • Library and playlist management
  • Adjustable tempo and pitch
  • Background playback
  • Includes a starter MIDI library
Read full description

Pianola transforms your MIDI-capable piano into an effortless musical experience. Whether you have a digital piano or an acoustic piano outfitted with a PianoDisc, QRS PNOmation, or Yamaha Disklavier system, Pianola makes playing your favorite songs as easy as do-re-mi. Connect iPhone or iPad to your piano wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a USB MIDI adapter, browse your MIDI file collection, and let the music play! Key Features • Wireless Bluetooth MIDI — Connect to any BLE-MIDI compatible device with a single tap. • USB MIDI Support — Connect using a USB to MIDI adapter or a USB OTG cable on supported devices. • Simple Library Management — Browse MIDI files from your device, iCloud, or network storage. Create playlists to organize your music. • Tempo Control — Speed up or slow down playback. • Velocity Curves — Fine-tune the dynamics to suit your piano and room acoustics. • Pitch Adjustment — Transpose playback in real-time. Great for vocalists who want to sing along. • Background Playback — Music keeps playing while you use other apps. • Ready to Play — Includes a MIDI library to get the party started. Designed for Everyone Pianola offers an interface that feels familiar and intuitive. Large, clear controls. No hidden menus. No overwhelming options. Just the features you need, right where you expect them. Transform your piano into the jukebox it was meant to be!

Screenshots

CalmusNotation4 screens
Pianola4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pianola at 100% against CalmusNotation's 0%. Pianola also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). CalmusNotation's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On 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; Pianola costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CalmusNotation holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CalmusNotation has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of CalmusNotation's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pianola's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, Pianola fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
CalmusNotation versus Pianola: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalmusNotationPianola
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.4 (5 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size294 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErki-tonlist sfDarrel Farris

Customer experience

CalmusNotation

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

Pianola

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CalmusNotation

No in-app purchases

None

Pianola

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CalmusNotation free?
CalmusNotation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pianola free?
Pianola costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CalmusNotation or Pianola?
CalmusNotation is rated higher. CalmusNotation averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Pianola averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do CalmusNotation or Pianola have ads?
Neither CalmusNotation nor Pianola shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CalmusNotation or Pianola?
CalmusNotation ships an update every 4 months, and Pianola fortnightly. Most recently, CalmusNotation was updated on November 1, 2026 and Pianola on November 5, 2026.

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