# Different Drummer — user reviews > 54 indexed App Store user reviews of Different Drummer by Techné Media, rated 4.50/5 from 31 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/different-drummer/id525272276/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/different-drummer/id525272276.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (14 of 54) ### 4/5 — Update: bugs *2019-03-15, version 5.0.2* Ableton link and midi don't seem to work. Random automation is fun to mess with but needs to be brought into the iphone version as well for a more portable way to experiment. Update: Good job on the fixes! ### 4/5 — Brilliantly inspiring and Gorgeous to look at. *2018-11-04, version 4.7.1* I can’t think of a nicer GUI. Tough learning curve. I like the learning so it’s brilliant for me. ### 4/5 — Messy interface, but fantastic app *2018-10-28, version 4.7.1* This is one of the most unique apps I have, and it is proving to be one that prompts lots of creative ideas. The concept of using waves to manipulate pitch, timing, panning, volume, etc. tends to pull my music in many unexpected (but good) directions. I would love to give this five stars, but feel that it does have a weakness in that the interface is cluttered, over-engineered, dated, and not particularly intuitive. It doesn’t lend itself to live performance, and uses some very non-standard graphics not seen in most apps. A good example would be the graphic used in place of the standard X that other apps use to close windows; considering the cluttered interface, it would be more user friendly to just use the smaller and more recognizable X. Really great app by the developers, but badly in need of some UI and UX design updates. ### 4/5 — The Newest Member of My One-Man Band *2017-11-03, version 4.6.1* Different Drummer is now a magic bullet in my music composition arsenal. I have been looking for an app that will put out algorithmic but very controllable and interesting MIDI material to record into my sequencer. I enjoy “collaborating” with algorithmic sources, and because of the depth of features, I can already tell that Different Drummer will produce satisfying MIDI material for me to manipulate for a long time to come. The internal sound engine is decent as well, and I have recorded some great stuff using Inter-App Audio. There is one issue (v4.6.1) that I hope will be resolved soon: Ableton Link integration is not functioning properly. ### 5/5 — Brilliant *2016-11-06, version 4.5.1* Useful for more than just drums. Using DD for manipulating melodic loops is very interesting. Not an immediate application, but definitely worth making an effort. Don't hesitate buying, it's worth more than price. Thank you to the developer for creating the universal version. Useful on phone and iPad. ### 5/5 — remarkably innovative app *2016-11-03, version 4.5.0* 'consistently polishes this app beyond expectations and pushes the limits of "alt perspectives" that actually boosts accessibility & functionality. This extremely intuitive ui/interior design & concept that should set an example for ALL future app developers in some fashion. Different drummer is doing something else and thats exactly what this seemingly "transparent digital era" needs more of ### 5/5 — Must have *2016-11-03, version 4.5.0* Different Drummer is a must have app for anyone interested in music. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but that's to be expected given the breadth of the app. Still, it's not too difficult to learn the fundamentals in a short period, and there are videos, the community, the manual, and a very responsive dev. The biggest plus though is that you can generate very unique pieces with the app. Randomization and automation are well implemented, and that's enough to get you started. With the addition of a port to the iPhone, you can now be Different anywhere! ### 5/5 — Wow. THIS amazing thing is what finally made ios music happen for me… *2016-08-17, version 4.4.4* 8-17-16 Update: This fantastic MIDI sequencer/pattern-and-phrase-generator keeps on getting better with regular updates; my fav new addition is that you can now create an endless number of instant-launch buttons for any saved state, in a slide-aroundable panel on the Zen interface, for live performance modulate-anything-now power; really great, thanks!! OK, DD is THE MIDI device I've waited decades to find. And along with MusicIO to attach it to Logic and my AUs, this is the app that finally brought the iPad into my actual musical world, even though I've bought literally hundreds of other apps since getting the Pro last Xmas. They all seemed interesting enough, but none particularly inspired me to figure out the ios>Logic thing NOW…until I spent a few minutes with DD. I use it as a sort of auto strummer or mechanical player, tirelessly churning out interesting streams of MIDI notes and patterns to drive whatever synths and samplers I'm currently jazzed about, or have been ignoring, like suddenly having a live-in player in the studio just waiting to be told what to dash off, in any style, level of complexity, scale, progressions, on and on, and quite easy to direct after ajust a little fiddling and reading through the excellent manual a few times (it's DEEP; I'm still dropping in on that). Bottom line: I'm suddenly cranking out tracks that really reflect what I've been imagining but hadn't the skills to play at a furious pace, thanks to DD, and quick help whenever needed from the very accessible dev. Fabulous, but, you know, you probably won't like it…these cookies are no good, just move along and leave 'em to me…:) THANK YOU, DD! ### 5/5 — Smart music tool *2016-02-22, version 4.4.2* This app has full of instruments and scales and very interesting creative tool. ### 5/5 — One of the best *2016-02-10, version 4.4.1* This is now one of the best drum apps I have and I have lots. Yes it has IAPs, but they are worth the money. This is IMHO one of those must have apps and well worth the time to learn how to get the best out of it. Would just like to add that the Developer of this app really cares and puts a lot of effort into its continued excellence. Please support. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2016-02-05, version 4.4.0* This is one of the most unique music apps that you will find anywhere. You can create rhythms that can't be done with any other app. Don't be afraid of the interface just buy it, watch a few Youtube videos and you'll be glad you did. ### 5/5 — Surprisingly deep *2016-01-06, version 4.3.0* I am amazed by what you can do with this app. A learning curve, but so worth it. ### 5/5 — Still beating its own path *2015-12-15, version 4.2.0* This just keeps on getting better. Just when you think the developer can't add further refinements and features, another update appears and you get totally amazed again. Cannot recommend this highly enough. ### 5/5 — Great value and rewarding *2015-12-15, version 4.2.0* Wonderful app. Definitely different but my favorite. Bought the iap and bought the 2nd one instantly. Love it and use this app the most ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Frustrating and time wasting *2023-08-12, version 5.3.1* I so much wanted to like this app but it is the most unintuitive and frustrating piece of software that I have ever seen. The user interface is like some alien technology. the hours wasted trying to get something musical out of this would be better spent actually making music. I hope someone somewhere does make this work because the developer must have spent ages making it. If you like puzzles try this. I thought that I might try bending some midi files to send midi to synths but can’t even load midi files without audio share. I wish I had spent the money on some treats for my cat instead. ### 1/5 — Useless for me, especially with IAP *2016-02-22, version 4.4.2* I was looking for something that had the circular interface, and this app seemed to fit the bill. Great reviews as well, I thought I'm all set. Zenterface comes at a price(IAP's). Aggravated I try to move on, but the user interface is crap, and so is the manual. Online help? Only for what I can guess are older versions. It's not intuitive at all, and according to some reviewers I'll have to invest more than a few weeks to learn it?! Sadly I will do without. ### 1/5 — Steep learning curve *2015-06-07, version 3.3.2* After an hour of reading the manual, watching video tutorials, and trying to make sense of their clunky user interface, I didn't have one single useful beat to show for. Huge frustration. Don't think I'm a newbie, I know how to play drums, I have used Maschine and Reason extensively, and DD user interface gave me a headache. Maybe someone can post a useful tutorial for the rest of us, until then, DD gets deleted. Sorry. ### 1/5 — Bugs galore *2015-06-04, version 3.3.1* Could be a great app, but let down by bugs and terrible design. Requested a refund but Apple ignoring all support requests, and no fixes from the developer - a waste of nine quid. ### 2/5 — Still doesnt handle midi well after all these years of development *2019-09-26, version 5.1.3* Strange that there’s been a ton of updates over the years, but still no fix for hanging midi notes when using automation. I want to love this app and it has so much potential. Glad to see its still being serviced, but sad the midi is useless for me. ### 3/5 — Really cool (stand-alone) *2025-11-09, version 5.3.4* EDIT: Still crashes with IAA/Audiobus, still no sync :/ Sadly doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link start/stop, crashes a lot. Very cool though! ### 3/5 — Really cool (stand-alone) *2024-10-28* Sadly doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly, crashes a lot. Very cool though! **Developer response:** It used to...will look into it...sometimes stuff does go wanky after a few years of changes. Thanks! ### 3/5 — Really cool (stand-alone) *2024-10-23* Sadly seems to use old API’s so doesn’t sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly with newer DAWs (AUM, Audiobus 3, etc.), crashes a lot. ### 3/5 — Chopsticks *2014-06-02, version 2.8.2* This drum machine/groove box feels like eating Dinner with chopsticks, instead of a knife and fork. You know what bit of food you want to eat but picking it up and putting in your mouth isn't easy,it's method of sound creation is so far from the norm,that what you get out of it,is also far from the norm.It is a good app But I would have called it a sound designer app rather than a drummer app and it's price has slowly fallen from ridiculous to almost right. ### 3/5 — Worth a place in your rhythm section *2014-05-08, version 2.8.1* Still toying with this app and have yet to put it to any creative use - but the potential is there. It's a great communicator via core midi for arpeggiating synths, just wish it had midi-in so you could morph and warp patterns from easier to program drum apps. Future update please? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — A very different drummer *2022-12-10, version 5.3.1* Even with the Zenterface control this is still a complex app, and could really do with AU3. It’s an ingenious, highly variable rhythmic sound manipulation tool, that just needs updating to modern connectivity. ### 5/5 — Deliriously Amazing *2021-03-06, version 5.3.0* Kudos to this developer...this app is a major experimental tour de force. I kid you not. This is crazy versatile when you get a grip on what you can achieve with this. The big cornucopia of sounds is awesome, but you can also import your own soundbites! No probs when I brought in the 24/48’s. Access to Audioshare is in there. You can set up a bunch of short soundbites in AS, go into the wave section of DD, click the plus sign and choose/import/choose/import... ad infinitum. Clean sounding, no detected glitch. Variable-pass for each track right up in the front interface is so cool. You can push the sound in each of the tracks through filter and distortion. Randomization! Highly configurable. I haven’t checked on midi configurations yet, but it’s probably going to be a friggin blast. Granted, the interface is slightly difficult to navigate, but there’s so much capability jam-packed in this, that imho there’s no easy way to arrange the visual elements. Read the manual while groking what’s going on, because it will definitely guide you well. Keep experimenting with DD...you’ll be glad you expended a few brain cells getting there. ### 5/5 — AUv3 *2020-01-04, version 5.2.2* Excellent App, please bring AUv3 support. ### 5/5 — Great deep app. *2019-01-06, version 4.8.1* This app really is one of the best values I have encountered. so many features packed in , many of them unique and fresh. It does take some time to explore and master all the possibilities but well worth the effort. I recommend it highly for those interested in poly rhythms and tuned percussion. Also the developer is extremely responsive to inquiries regarding issues or bugs. I thank him for making it! ### 5/5 — Deep and delicious *2018-11-05* This is an amazing app, with the ability to create more human sounding drums. The interface takes a bit of getting used to but the sheer flexibility that;so accessible just by playing with it is worth it. Ace. ### 5/5 — Great app *2018-09-13, version 4.7.1* Its a cool app but takes time to get the hang of it. Its not the app that you open and figure out in minutes. If you are into electronic drumming, this app should make you happy, if you are patient enough to put in the time. Once it clicks in your head, it’s fun fun, and more fun. I get the most fun from apps that are not minimal, that usually take some time to figure out all the features. Its nit because its badly designed, but because it’s complex. I think it’s well worth it. ### 5/5 — Great to shake up your normal creative process *2018-05-31, version 4.6.5* Ive spent alot on various ios music apps thinking I would integrate them into my workflow. So far they have turned out to be mild sources of amusement. Different drummer is well... different. For starters i use it. I use it to generate rhythms and melody lines as a base to create feels i wouldnt come up with on my own. When i layer in my guitars and bass playing i am able to break out of patterns and feels that i get comfortable in and really expand my creativity and playing. Learning curve - yes. Worth it - every second Great and responsive developer. I dont review much but this app deserves it. 10/10 ### 5/5 — Innovative app and developer *2017-03-31, version 4.5.2* This is magic. If you need rhythmic muse, buy this. To dev, Thank you for the great support and keeping the app up to date. The zen interface Is one of the most innovative developments I've seen in electronic rhythms. One request, please revamp sample import, possibly the ability to import zip, have it unpack, then dispose of the zip. One by one import is cumbersome. 5 stars don't come easy from me. You've definitely earned it. ### 5/5 — One of a kind! *2017-02-25, version 4.5.2* I have a few apps in my iPad that I think of as Mind-Stretchers. Though the learning curve is steep, once you get the hang of it, the results are endlessly fascinating. Most apps offer you new ways to get to old places. This feature-packed gem takes you to new sonic and musical worlds very quickly. It helps you to think of music in new ways. It is a labor of love for this developer as he continues to bring refinements to it. This is a true masterpiece for iOS! ### 5/5 — Over my fear! *2016-11-09, version 4.5.1* All the talk of the complexity of this app scared me away forever, but I finally took the plunge. Man, am I glad that I did! Sure, I haven't begun to crack the programming, but so many great sounding presets are provided for tweaking delight. Did I mention that it sounds really good? I am really enjoying this one and running it on both my pad and phone. Running it a lot. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*