Arturia iSpark vs KORG iWAVESTATION
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Arturia iSpark
Create complete music tracks with a versatile beat-making solution. Explore a vast library of drum kits and instruments, then sculpt your sound with powerful editing tools and a flexible sequencer. Design unique sonic textures and melodic elements for your compositions.
- Real-time pattern playing and tweaking
- 64-step flexible sequencer
- Modular engine with TAE® technology
- Extensive sound customization
- Song mode for chaining patterns
- XY modulation touchpads
- Compatibility with Spark environment
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iSpark is an all-inclusive beat-making solution allowing to create rich tracks from A to Z while experiencing an unequaled workflow. It includes a large variety of drum kits and individual instruments based on the most renowned drum machines and top-notch sound design. It is the result of a simple recipe, care for rhythm, innovation and uncompromising ergonomics combined with the personality of the greatest drum machines. What you can do with iSpark: iSpark allows you to play drum patterns in-real time and to tweak your sound on-the-fly. Its optimized and performance-oriented layout gives you a direct access to an extended range of sonic parameters. It also integrates a powerful and flexible 64-step sequencer enhancing your creative freedom and effectiveness. iSpark unites our multi-rewarded TAE® technology coupled with a modular engine and crystal-clear multi-layered samples. Beyond drum and percussive sounds, iSpark blasts the frontiers of beat-making through a range of singular sonic effects, warm analog synth textures and melodic elements. Details: Main screen The main screen is all about performance. Its layout, inspired by our SparkLE controller, gives you immediate access to a comprehensive set of fundamental controls and parameters. Its lower part allows you to play and record your drum patterns in real-time, step by step, to jump between your patterns and to set their length. Mixer In the mixer, you can adjust the volume and panorama of your instruments, set two individual effects for each of them, and modify the sending levels to the return effects. The VU meters help you to balance effectively your instruments. Studio The Studio is the iSpark laboratory of sound. This is where you will customize your kits and all the instruments that compose it. For each instrument, you can choose the samples that are used and adjust a comprehensive list of parameters. Sequencer In the sequencer screen, all the steps of your different instruments are right in front of you. You can thus create your sequences in a flash. Besides, the automation tool allows you drawing modulation curves with a simple glide of your fingertip. Song The Song mode gives you the possibility to chain your pattern in order to create a whole performance. Organizing your song is as easy as a drag-and-drop. Switch to “Perform” and discover two large XY modulation touchpads that will bring your songs to life. Connectivity: iSpark offers a total and seamless compatibility with the existing Spark environment. Maintain continuously your creative flow by transferring in a heartbeat your projects, patterns, your kits and individual instruments between Spark 2 and iSpark. Connect the dedicated SparkLE controller to iSpark and associate the flexibility of an app-based instrument to the effectiveness and comfort of hardware. The compatibility with AudioBus and Inter-App Audio offers a smooth integration of iSpark in you iPad-based setup. With iSpark, your mobile setup found its beat-making solution. Main features: Pristine quality sound engines including: TAE® analog synthesis, physical modeling, and multi-layered samples provided by our top-tier development partners · 640 Instruments / 40 kits - Classic drum machines - Electronic kits - Acoustic kits · Shuffle and shift modes to humanize grooves · Choke groups to mute instruments naturally · Song mode with 16 segments · Song segment triggering from hardware · Performance master effects: repeat, tape, reverse, strobe, pan, mix, bit crusher, 8-mode filter and Roller · 16-track mixer with high-quality effects: multiband compressor, bit crusher, multiband EQ, chorus, delay, reverb, distortion, phaser, plate reverb, destroyer, flanger, space pan, limiter, sub generator · Real-time automation on all parameters · Compatible with SparkLE controller · Ableton Link integration · Possibility to share projects, kits and instruments between iSpark and the desktop version of Spark 2.
KORG iWAVESTATION
This app recreates a legendary 1990s synthesizer, offering time-varying timbre creation and advanced vector synthesis. Experience its unique sound-shaping potential with a renewed graphic interface and touch-based operation for iOS devices.
- Faithful reproduction of original WAVESTATION sound
- Graphical wave sequence view with touch control
- 1,500 sounds, 700+ waveforms, 55 effects
- Powerful random sequence engine
- AUv3 support for Logic Pro and GarageBand
- Integration with KORG Gadget DAW
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Creating sounds with time-varying timbre, on your mobile device. KORG iWAVESTATION - A wave sequence synthesizer for iOS. The WAVESTATION synthesizer went on sale in 1990. This instrument featured an advanced vector synthesis system which created new sounds by combining and connecting multiple waveforms; it provided a mix/morphing function that let you use a joystick to change the balance of four oscillators, and a distinctive wave sequence function that allowed you to place waveforms in a desired sequence to create sequence patterns. To this day, it continues to be considered a legendary and still-unique instrument. Now in 2016, the WAVESTATION has been reborn as "KORG iWAVESTATION," an app for iPad/iPhone. In addition to completely reproducing the programs, it also features a renewed design that lets everyone experience the stupendous sound-shaping potential of the WAVESTATION. It features touch-based operation that's distinctive of iOS, in conjunction with a new graphic interface that allows you to visualize and edit the time-varying timbral changes that are distinctive of the WAVESTATION. [ Features ] - A faithful reproduction of the original WAVESTATION sound: In addition to providing the sounds from all PCM memories of the WAVESTATION, the new iWAVESTATION also reproduces in software every detail of the parameters, based on an analysis of the original hardware circuit diagram. - A new wave sequence view that can be graphically controlled: The iWAVESTATION, we advance another step with a graphical user interface that takes advantage of the touch operations that are a characteristic of iOS. Even more than ever, we've updated the screen design with an emphasis on creating sequences. - 1,500 sounds, more than 700 waveforms, 55 effects, and a powerful random sequence engine: This new instrument includes a stupendous number of presets and waveforms, covering all models of the series. iWAVESTATION also provides a new random sequence function which will give you different perspectives to inspire new sounds. - Use with KORG Gadget and AUv3 for song production: iWAVESTATION can be used in conjunction with the "KORG Gadget" music production DAW app that has won numerous awards around the world. If both apps are installed, it can be used as the "Milpitas" gadget inside the KORG Gadget app. And also supports AUv3, so it can also be used as a sound module for Logic Pro and GarageBand. With a convenient and richly varied set of sounds, iWAVESTATION can be the foundation for either of these music production environments. More info at korg.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Arturia iSpark at $19.99 against KORG iWAVESTATION's $29.99. Arturia iSpark also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). KORG iWAVESTATION's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (69% vs 50%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Arturia iSpark costs $19.99 and KORG iWAVESTATION $29.99 up front. Arturia iSpark sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and KORG iWAVESTATION sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
KORG iWAVESTATION holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 134 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Arturia iSpark's written reviews are positive against 69% of KORG iWAVESTATION's.
Arturia iSpark ships an update every 3 months, KORG iWAVESTATION every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | Arturia iSpark | KORG iWAVESTATION |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 — better | $29.99 |
| Rating | 3.9 (60 ratings) | 4.2 (134 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.3% of reviews | 69.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 60 | 134 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 396 MB | 96 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arturia | KORG INC. |
Customer experience
Arturia iSpark
KORG iWAVESTATION
Bugs and requests
Arturia iSpark
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
KORG iWAVESTATION
Reported bugs
2 issues- Crashes when saving user presets
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Add AUv3 support
- Improve preset management and browsing
- Enhance MIDI functionality (channel selection, more CCs)
- Expand filter options (high-pass, band-pass)
In-app purchases
Arturia iSpark
- iSpark ALMA FragmentFree
- Techno Fragment2 variants$3.99
- Noise Fragment$3.99
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- EDM Fragment$3.99
- HipHop Fragment$3.99
- EDM Fragment 2$3.99
- Hip Hop Fragment 2$3.99
- Hip Hop Fragment 4$3.99
- Raw House Fragment 1$3.99
KORG iWAVESTATION
- Expansion Card Pack$4.99
Questions
Is Arturia iSpark free?
Is KORG iWAVESTATION free?
Which has better reviews, Arturia iSpark or KORG iWAVESTATION?
Do Arturia iSpark or KORG iWAVESTATION have ads?
Which is updated more often, Arturia iSpark or KORG iWAVESTATION?
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