# Frobulator > Experimental stereo modulated filter and delay audio effect app. (iPhone/iPad app by Matthew Caldwell.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frobulator/id993500586 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Matthew Caldwell](https://appshunter.io/developer/993500585) - Category: Music - Price: Free - Rating: 4.50/5 from 19 App Store ratings · 16 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 18 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2015-07-14 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frobulator/id993500586/reviews.md ## What is Frobulator? Frobulator is an experimental stereo modulated filter and delay effect. A combination of time and frequency domain processing gives it a different sound to a normal echo box. The special "FAIL" mode adds chaotic variations driven by an iterative map -- perfect for those times when your music is just too harmonious and listenable. Apply Frobulator to live audio input, or connect with other music apps like GarageBand via Inter-App Audio or Audiobus. Frobulator supports Audiobus state saving and has IAA host transport controls. NB: to avoid some nasty feedback, Frobulator is muted by default if you're using the built-in microphone and speakers on your iOS device. If you aren't getting any sound out, try pressing the mute button. (You can now disable the automatic muting entirely from the iOS Settings.) Note that Frobulator does *not* provide an Audio Unit extension. Porting the underlying tech to the AUv3 environment is sadly not practical. I know this is disappointing, but Frobulator and its sibling apps are stuck in their historical moment; when IAA goes away, so will they. Perhaps something else will come along to take their place... ## Key features - Stereo modulated filter - Unique delay processing - Experimental "FAIL" mode - Live audio input - Inter-App Audio integration - Audiobus support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 16) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frobulator/id993500586/reviews.md ### 5/5 — BAD SIGNAL *2024-12-28* AUM is giving this plug in a “bad signal message”, iOS 18.2. It was fun while it lasted! ### 5/5 — Just awesome - still works as IAA in AUM 12-24-22 *2022-12-25* Get them all The 1-star reviewer obviously didn’t RTFM. Any chance of AUv3? ### 1/5 — Umm *2021-01-04* I don’t get the good reviews, it sits on mute, then just feeds back if you turn mute off, with no affect on the app synth at all. Who’s paying for the good reviews. But for the price it’s perfect. Delete it with no regrets. The other 2 right with it ### 5/5 — Frobbing fabulous.... *2020-06-19, version 1.2.2* Subtle, and easy to use but highly effective under the right circumstances. The one thing this really needs, is AU3 compatibility. Nic ### 5/5 — Great little effects apps!!! *2020-02-07, version 1.2.2* Thank you Matthew for updating your 3 great effects apps!! ### 5/5 — Like the other apps - outstanding! *2017-09-08* To the Dev: you may not know it but you're making a lot of musicians' lives better - noticeably - every time they fire up their host DAW and one of your free plugs is there to make their tracks better - noticeably. ### 5/5 — Frobulicious! *2017-08-08, version 1.1.1* Download it now! And while you're at it get the other 2 - Nebulizer and Muckraker. They're free but they really shouldn't be. Come on Matthew, charge us a couple of quid! These are slightly wacky effects devices, like guitar pedals, which will mess up your sound in unusual ways, but the controls are non-standard, with strange names, so you don't actually know what the parameters are. But that's the fun of it. Loads of great sounds to be had here, essential for your iDevice effects arsenal. ### 5/5 — Massive Respect *2017-01-16, version 1.1.1* Matthew Caldwell has put out 3 really awesome effects apps. I've gotten some really wierd and wacky sounds from them. Great fun to mess around with. Download now! ### 5/5 — Unique sounds *2016-04-22* I love Frobulator! Very quirky delay-pan-filter effects that add a whole different depth to your sound. ### 5/5 — Throb- Throb *2016-01-11* "I am Throbulator, I am a creature of pure headache!" Frob - Hobo13 ## Frequently asked questions about Frobulator ### What makes Frobulator's sound different from a normal echo box? Frobulator uses a combination of time and frequency domain processing, which gives it a distinct sound profile compared to standard echo or delay effects. ### How does the "FAIL" mode work in Frobulator? The "FAIL" mode introduces chaotic variations driven by an iterative map, designed to add unpredictable and unconventional elements to your audio. ### Can I use Frobulator with other music applications? Yes, Frobulator supports Inter-App Audio (IAA) and Audiobus, allowing you to connect it with other music apps like GarageBand. ### Does Frobulator have ads? No, Frobulator is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted audio processing experience. ### What devices is Frobulator compatible with? Frobulator is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. ### How often is Frobulator updated? The latest version, 1.2.2, was released on February 7, 2020. Updates are infrequent, reflecting its status as an experimental app. ### What is the age rating for Frobulator? Frobulator has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. ### Does Frobulator offer an Audio Unit extension? No, Frobulator does not provide an Audio Unit extension. The developer has stated that porting the technology to the AUv3 environment is not practical. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.2.2 — 2020-02-07 Updated to work with iOS 12.4 and higher. In particular, this fixes the issue of always connecting to the device microphone when brought to the foreground after being launched from an IAA host such as Audiobus or AUM. Also, the layout is adapted for "notch" devices like iPhone X. ### 1.2.1 — 2017-09-07 Fixed crash when returning to host application via inter-app audio transport controls. ### 1.2 — 2017-09-05 Updated to Audiobus 3, Midibus 1.39 and current Apple toolkits. ### 1.1.1 — 2016-01-10 Fixed Virtual MIDI configuration so that other apps will identify Frobulator as a MIDI target rather than a source. ### 1.1 — 2015-12-08 - MIDI CCs for all the effect parameters - easily change the default CC assignments with MIDI learn - set the MIDI channel and other options in the iOS Settings, with a direct link from the info screen - iOS 9 multitasking is now supported in both split screen and slide-over modes - you can enable background even when it's not connected to Audiobus or IAA - improved automatic muting behaviour, and added option to disable it entirely - improved audio tidying up on termination - updated to Audiobus 2.3.1 ## More apps by Matthew Caldwell - [Nebulizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nebulizer/id1007409385) - [Muckraker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/muckraker/id1018267293) - [Osculatrix](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/osculatrix/id1046389107) - [FrobulatorAU](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frobulatorau/id6760205581) - [MuckrakerAU](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/muckrakerau/id6760476884) All apps by Matthew Caldwell: https://appshunter.io/developer/993500585 --- *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 2026-06-10.*