# Koala Sampler • Beat Maker — user reviews > 579 indexed App Store user reviews of Koala Sampler by Mazbox Limited, rated 4.76/5 from 1,396 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,256 · 4★ 54 · 3★ 28 · 2★ 12 · 1★ 46 ## What do users think of Koala Sampler? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Intuitive and easy to use - 🚀 Smooth workflow and fast performance - 💡 Powerful sampling and sequencing capabilities - 🔥 Excellent value for the price - 🎨 Creative and inspiring sound design - 🤖 Seamless integration with other apps and hardware - 💻 Versatile for both beginners and professionals **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues - 🔇 Limited effects and sound manipulation options - 📁 Difficulty managing and organizing samples/projects - 🎚️ Lack of advanced MIDI mapping and control options - 🔍 Unclear or confusing UI elements in certain areas **Commonly reported bugs** - Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates - Sequencer timing and quantization issues - Crashes when using certain features or with large projects **Most requested features** - Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences - More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools - Improved sample management and organization features - Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration - Customizable color schemes and UI themes ## Newest reviews (18 of 579) ### 4/5 — v2.0 Very Good !! *2026-08-20* User from v1.0 Koala is getting mature and solid. Le problème récurrent de surchauffe et de surconsommation semble avoir été enfin réglé 👍🏻🙏🏻 L’arrivée des AUV3 et toutes les nouveautés montent l’expérience un bon cran au dessus. Workflow et lisibilité, c’est le meilleur pocket sampler et de loin. Il me manque juste : - l’automation (big request) - a transport bar in the sample section (play stop at least) - a song mode (an old fashioned playlist of the sequences will be find) - adjustable volume for previews in the sample selection section Keep going, Koala sampler rocks 🙏🏻 … 55 years old timer, I used maaaany samplers in my life. **Developer response:** Battery should be much better now, also now there is auv3 support. More fun stuff to come thx for your support ### 5/5 — Helped Me Rediscover the Joy of Making Music *2026-07-26* This app has put a huge smile on my face so many times. Lightweight and surprisingly powerful, especially once you add the Samurai and Mixer add-ons. The workflow super intuitive and a lot of fun. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Best music app *2026-07-26* If your not sold on it YouTube will sell you on it hands down everything else is second to Koala Sampler 🖖🏽 ### 4/5 — Buss *2026-07-25, version 2.0.0* One thing PLEASE - could we get the option to route the separate 4 BUSS channels into a audio track inside Ableton so we can record from the BUSS and not have to go to each sample individually to place on each individual “out” audio track. Its do-able now , yet the do-able way the fx from the BUSS’s are not recorded in the “out” option .. Still with that said this is still Ultimately my favorite sampler. The go to no matter what i am cooking or where i am cooking. Koala is there on the ipad and the laptop. ### 5/5 — Wow! *2026-07-24, version 2.0.0* I’ve never felt compelled to write a review of an app before. But this app has elevated my beat making and given me the inspiration to produce like nothing before. It’s so intuitive, it just works. ### 5/5 — The greatest! *2026-07-19, version 2.0.0* Now that there’s AUV3 support, it’s 10/10. My only wants now are: 1. Easier access to transport and keyboard controls from the Sample tab without having to constantly switch back and forth between Sample and Sequence for those functions. Maybe you could offer the choice between a few preconfigured UI layout to suit different workflows the way Lumafusion does to accommodate different workflows and displays. I would personally like to see the all the menu options at the top of the app swap places with all the buttons at the bottom of the screen for quicker to more frequently used buttons/options. I don’t find myself needing to reach for Mute, Solo or any of the pattern banks nearly as often as I do the mode tabs and settings menu. 2. I noticed that synths don’t respond to pressure sensitivity from my Novation Launchpad X like they do when I run them in AUM or Logic Pro on Mac. So, I hope that gets added/fixed. ### 3/5 — More potential *2026-07-16, version 2.0.0* Great app just wish I could use a AKAI APC mini with the app, it connects to it and pads work but no lights, no organization, no mode changing buttons, no slider configuration, and it won’t even let you configure anything, I hope this improves ### 4/5 — v2.0 Very Good !! *2026-07-15* Le problème récurrent de surchauffe et de surconsommation semble avoir été enfin réglé 👍🏻🙏🏻 L’arrivée des AUV3 et toutes les nouveautés montent l’expérience un bon cran au dessus. Meilleur workflow et lisibilité, c’est le meilleur pocket sampler et de loin. Avec la 2.0 je suis de retour dessus full time, il me manque juste l’automation, la possibilité de pouvoir enregistrer un mouvement de filtre ou autre paramètre au choix. Quand ça arrivera je mettrai 5 étoiles. **Developer response:** Battery should be much better now, also now there is auv3 support. More fun stuff to come thx for your support ### 5/5 — 2.0 update is perfect *2026-07-15, version 2.0.0* After using this app for over a year solid now, I can say it’s absolutely incredible. Thank you for consistently working on and improving the app. The battery usage is so much better after the 2.0 update, and the previous update added in external auv3 support. I’m excited to see what else will be added over time! ### 5/5 — Greatness *2026-07-13, version 2.0.0* This is probably the greatest beat making app of all time…… But if this gets audio tracks at least 8 …. It’s a wrap!!!!!!! ### 5/5 — Fast, easy, powerful and keeps getting better *2026-07-12* I’ve been using Koala for 1 year now. it’s extremely intuitive. It’s pretty powerful out of the gate. The add ons make it really powerful. And… the updates continue to add more and more power And importantly, the updates don’t disrupt the intuitive ease that makes Koala a no-brainer tool for iOS music creation. ### 5/5 — The greatest! *2026-07-10, version 2.0.0* Now that there’s AUV3 support, it’s 10/10. My only wants now are easier access to transport and keyboard controls from the Sample tab without having to constantly switch back and forth between Sample and Sequence for those functions. Oh and I noticed that synths don’t respond to pressure sensitivity from my Novation Launchpad X like they do when I run them in AUM or Logic Pro on Mac. So, I hope that gets fixed. ### 5/5 — It works *2026-07-09, version 2.0.0* I used this to program a JP-Mini for my kid, who uses it as a communication device. Other software made the process agonizing or downright impossible. I had all of the banks programmed with audio clips and the JP-mini functioning perfectly within 20 minutes. It’s worth the money. ### 5/5 — Update 2026 *2026-07-04* I just wanted to update my review after spending around 8,000 hours with this app. It has become my favorite way of making music. I am currently well-versed in Ableton, FL Studio, Logic, Reason, GarageBand on both iOS and Mac. Koala is the most fun to use and most conducive to creativity for me. Koala feels and behaves much more like an instrument than your typical DAW. Every action is almost muscle memory to me now. Having something that I can also throw in my pocket and take with me on the go is an absolute game changer, and I don't use that term lightly. MAREK, the lead dev, is one of the most amazing guys because he has chosen to not make this app a subscription as a lot of other developers have. I can't thank him enough for doing this because I know he could make an absolute truckload of money off of us musicians, but he chooses not to. in this day and age, that's a very rare thing. For the price tag, I don't think there is a better way to spend $10 and absolutely recommend all of the possible add-ons, such as the mixer. This app receives continued support and updates even without the continued cash flow a subscription model would bring. Now onto the workflow. There are so many ways to get started creatively in Koala from loading in a synth with the new added AUV3 support, and building chords in the piano roll to Screen recording sample in youtube, importing the video and stem splitting, its just an endlessly creative tool. Koala also comes bundled with a ton of very useful effects Such as clippers, compressors, chorus, filters, auto filter, drive and many more. , which all have extremely intuitive user interfaces. If you love making music, I cannot recommend it enough. I look forward to the things to come for Koala, and I hope Marek eventually puts in a buy-me-a-coffee button, because I'd love to do that. ### 5/5 — Best music making app ever existed *2026-06-23* There is no limits to what you can create with it. Basic use is immediate. For advanced use there is of course a learning curve, but there is a huge community and plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube. ### 2/5 — AUM Compatibility Issues *2026-06-21, version 1.4162* If you use Koala for fun in stand alone, then it’s really great. If you use it in stand alone in a professional situation it’s great. If you use it in a professional situation within AUM and assign different Koala templates with different samples to separate channels then it’s very frustrating. When you map on Koala in one channel it voids the mapping on the previous Koala channel. This happens even if you save both in Koala and AUM after every move on both channels. If you go back and import the song into the correct channel it still deletes the mapping data you spent a lot of time programming. Saving a song and trying to use it within AUM on a gig is fraught with saving / memory issues and you cannot depend on it. This creates a lot of wasted time. ### 3/5 — Koala sample was good, but kind of confusing *2026-06-21, version 1.4162* Because every time I make a new song and I save it and then I load it or I load a different song I have to tap every box in the sequence part cause it doesn’t just play on it’s own like it only plays one box at a time not all the boxes like once it finishes one box it goes to another. It doesn’t do that for me. It’s very confusing and very annoying that that’s why I am rating three stars. ### 5/5 — So good *2026-06-19, version 1.4162* Legitimately the best $ I've ever spent ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — NO UNDO BUTTON *2026-07-29, version 2.0.0* If you happen to brush up against the wrong thing by accident say goodbye to hours of sample editing because you can’t undo. I really wish I had known that before spending the money. ### 1/5 — The struggle *2026-06-24, version 1.4162* This was bad from the start.I want to become a artist and make music,but with this app I had no clue what I was doing no one is my family could help me out ether and you have to pay to get beats and you can’t even upload your music so I would not get this app ### 1/5 — Messed up payment structure *2026-06-07, version 1.4162* Truly bizarre to pay for an app and not have the basic features. Just make the whole app twice the price and/or have the stripped back version be free, its weirdly deceptive and scammy to buy it and then find you cant actually sequence anything without buying the rest of the app ### 1/5 — Muito bom, mas… *2026-06-01* Estou com problemas na hora de gravar meu instrumental. Os minutos ficam diferentes quando gravado. Diminui bastante o tempo que gravou. Arrumem isto!! **Developer response:** Desculpe, você está tendo problemas, mas POR FAVOR, por favor, entre em contato com o suporte se estiver tendo problemas - você pode entrar em contato comigo em koalasampler.com/contact - é impossível fornecer suporte na resposta da revisão ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2026-05-27, version 1.4162* I was trying to remove the drums and there was nothing. If someone can tell me how to do it I’ll be happier ### 1/5 — Smh *2026-03-19, version 1.4155* Now the application is crashed happy I’ve lost two very important songs for clients because the app crashed had the sequences no sounds ### 1/5 — Basics *2026-02-21, version 1.4150* It can’t send songs from phone to a different device correctly or at all so good luck wasting your time trying to connect them ### 1/5 — Money grab *2025-12-19, version 1.4145* Already paid for it then you have to pay more for basic functionality ### 1/5 — Irritating *2025-12-10, version 1.4137* so i buy the damn app to be able to chop samples easily and the autochop feature is apart of another plugin you have to buy. so stupid. every other daw i've used has a sampler and an autochop feature built in and you're telling me i have to buy a whole other plugin just to not have to individually record what i want chopped? thats annoying. for all that i could've just bought a plugin that integrates with an actual daw. im convinced anyone being nice about this app is a bot. ### 1/5 — Needs touch ups. Recommendations for exports *2025-11-23, version 1.4137* The thing is, I mix stems , not two tracks. So, when it comes to using the “perform” section, it should have and NEEDS options to export what i performed, as stems, even with the fx baked into it. The koala sampler is supposed to make things easier , which it does. Add this feature and when I don’t have to deal with mixing a two track with fx baked into it and I can still have my stems to control the mixing aspect. I’ll leave another review after I release a project with the beats I make using the iPhone. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Exceptional App *2026-08-20, version 2.0.2* Ridiculous value. Amazing feature set. Very intuitive and easy to use, yet extremely powerful. Super fun. I enjoy making music through Koala more than any other tool. Even desktop DAWs! ### 5/5 — Best of the best *2026-08-16, version 2.0.2* This app goes from strength to strength with regular updates and over the last couple of years has absolutely excelled beyond anything else for music production! Samples, auv3 sweet little 4 track mixer. Absolutely outstanding bit of kit! ### 5/5 — Tips *2026-08-16, version 2.0.2* I ain’t gonna lie if y’all make it to where you can transpose fast and then add automations and the piano roll area like in the like in a sequence it’ll be over with bro if y’all add automations and transposing is overweight ### 5/5 — I found the pack *2026-08-14, version 2.0.2* Hopefully the app will allow me to change my review. My apologies. I assumed the item/s came wit an update. The funny thang is I wuz on the right track when lookin in the folders. I did go to Get More Samples, but didn’t click on anything. I wuz expectin it to be a download of sum kind. Which it is… but my mind wuz thinkin it wuz an update download. Raised my stars to 5. I wonder if in the future an undo button will be added? ### 5/5 — Seriously good. *2026-08-11, version 2.0.2* Massive props to the developer on this. Amazing app. Ridiculous value for money.. ### 5/5 — Incredible! *2026-08-07* Can’t believe I didn’t grab this sooner! This app is amazing. The UI is super intuitive. Having as much fun as I’ve had on gear that costs 30 times the price even after including the samurai and mixer add ons. Resampling, effects, editing clips, arranging. This app does it all. I will say that the add ons are a must. The export to Ableton is a great feature too! Don’t be like me and waste time waiting to buy this app. Just do it. ### 5/5 — Une petite pépite *2026-08-02* Comme d’autres je ne suis pas du genre à poster des avis mais là je dois dire que c’est différent ! Koala est la pépite qu’il faut avoir dans la poche. Je m’en sert tout le temps, pour choper un son à la volée est en faire un sample, pour créer des beats pour créer des petits blind tests sonores, pour faire des boucles de synthé etc … j’ai du matos hardware à côté mais koala est tellement puissant ! Je regrette juste de ne pas arriver à faire fonctionner mon Digitakt et koala parfaitement, le mappage bug pour moi mais je ne pense pas que ça vienne de l’application . Un grand merci à toute l’équipe qui bosse pour améliorer cette application vraiment top 🙏 ### 5/5 — Groove Box in Your Pocket *2026-07-31, version 2.0.2* It doesn’t have everything, but it has enough to be deadly with your creativity. For most people this app will save hundreds of dollars as compared to buying a real groove box. ### 5/5 — The best music making app *2026-07-31, version 2.0.2* Must have if you love making sample based music. Essential. ### 5/5 — Simply a must have. *2026-07-27, version 2.0.0* I think just about anyone would enjoy this app. Musical or not. It’s just straight up fun. But also incredibly deep if you want to keep going. And you do. If you bought this and drool over something like an MPC, understand that you’re getting 95% of what’s cool about an MOC, and it’s in your pocket. The lack of subscription puts the cherry on top. Happy to pay for upgrades and packs. --- *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 2026-09-04.*