Comparison

AUM vs Decent Sampler

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AUM

This app is a versatile audio mixer, recorder, and connection hub for mobile devices. It allows users to connect various audio sources, route signals, apply effects, and record mixes with high fidelity. It supports advanced features like MIDI control, synchronization, and integration with other audio apps and hardware.

Highlights
  • Connect hardware inputs/outputs
  • Route audio and MIDI
  • Host Audio Unit extensions
  • Record mixes and individual tracks
  • Synchronize with Ableton Link
  • Built-in processing nodes
  • MIDI control and routing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

AUM is the flexible audio mixer, recorder, and connection hub for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Connect hardware inputs and outputs, Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio apps, Audiobus, soundfile players, built-in signal processing and filters, in any configuration you want. Route anything to anywhere with mix-busses, effect sends, audiobus ports, and external multi-channel audio interfaces. Play hosted synths and instruments using the built-in keyboard or external MIDI controllers, or sequence them with AU MIDI plugins or from other apps using Virtual MIDI. Record mixes, individual tracks, or both, straight into the storage space of AudioShare (no copying of files needed), with synchronized start and end for perfect loops. Play back recordings, soundfiles and loops as channel sources in the mixer for backing tracks, further processing or mixing. Soundfiles can be opened from anywhere, including USB drives on iOS 13 and later. Route and filter MIDI in any way you like using the MIDI matrix. Combine and filter MIDI endpoints using MIDI buses. Synchronize everything with the transport clock and play in time with other apps or devices using Ableton Link. Connect external music machines and synchronize them with MIDI Clock. Includes built-in processing nodes for various stereo processing, Mid/Side balance and conversion, EQs and filters, limiting, clipping and saturation. Or use any 3rd party Audio Unit extension or Inter-App Audio effect. All controls in the mixer can be controlled via MIDI, including parameters of hosted and built-in plugins. "A brilliant idea that has been brilliantly executed. Top-notch technical stuff and highly recommended" - MusicAppBlog "Feature rich, powerful, intuitive, and simple to use" - DubSpot "Executes live mixing with surprising ease, with a load of extensive features under the hood, quick snappy response on the screen and audio" - AudioNewsRoom FEATURES • High quality audio up to 32-bit 192kHz • Clean and intuitive user interface with crisp vector graphics • Unlimited number of channels • Unlimited number of effect slots • Inserts and sends are configurable pre/post-fader • Internal busses for mixing, effect sends, signal splitting • Supports multi-channel audio interfaces for both inputs and outputs • Supports built-in speaker and mic, including stereo mic on devices that has it. • Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio and Audiobus • Route MIDI output from Audio Unit extensions • Supports Audio Unit multiple output and input busses (for side-chaining etc) • Highly accurate transport clock • Metronome with selectable output and optional pre-roll • Sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA apps • Play in time with Ableton Link, with Start/Stop support • Slave external hardware via MIDI Clock • FilePlayer with sync and looping with access to all your soundfiles • Records straight into AudioShare storage space • Record synchronized beat-perfect loops • Built-in nodes for stereo processing, filtering and dynamics • Latency compensation makes everything align at the outputs • Optional manual compensation using TimeOffset • Multiple Inter-App Audio / Audiobus output ports • Audiobus state saving • Built-in MIDI keyboard • Fully MIDI controllable • MIDI Matrix for routing MIDI anywhere • MIDI filtering for any MIDI destination • Combine MIDI sources or destinations using MIDI buses BUILT-IN SIGNAL PROCESSING • Stereo balance • Stereo to mono • Stereo panning • Mid/Side balance • Mid/Side - Stereo convert • Invert Phase • Parametric EQ • Low-shelf filter • High-shelf filter • Low-pass resonant filter • High-pass resonant filter • LP/HP combo filter • First order All-pass filter • Second order All-pass filter • Gain • Hard clip • Saturation • Lookahead peak limiter • System-provided Apple Audio Units

About

Decent Sampler

This music app lets you use professional-quality sample libraries on your mobile device. It supports Decent Samples libraries and SFZs, and can be used within other music production apps as an AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Use professional sample libraries
  • Supports Decent Samples libraries
  • Supports SFZ files
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Standalone app functionality
  • New libraries added weekly
Features
Read full description

Did you ever wish you could use professional quality sample libraries on your mobile device? Now you can! The Decent Samples plugin is a sample player that allows you to use your favorite Decent Samples sample libraries on the go (as well as SF2s, SFZs, and EXS files). Many of the most popular Decent Samples releases are available through the app with more being added every week. Because it's also an AUv3 plugin, you can use it from within GarageBand or with AUM.

Screenshots

AUM4 screens
Decent Sampler3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Decent Sampler at Free against AUM's $24.99. Decent Sampler also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). AUM's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 52%) and ratings volume (534 vs 53). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Decent Sampler is free to download; AUM costs $24.99 up front. AUM sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Decent Sampler sells 60 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for AUM against 4.6 for Decent Sampler. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AUM has 534 ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of AUM's written reviews are positive against 52% of Decent Sampler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AUM ships an update every 3 months, Decent Sampler weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
AUM versus Decent Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAUMDecent Sampler
Price$24.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (534 ratings) — better4.6 (53 ratings)
Positive reviews81.9% of reviews — better52.2% of reviews
Number of ratings534 — better53
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#96 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKymatica ABDecidedly, LLC

Customer experience

AUM

All ratings524 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.5%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews315 reviews
Positive81.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative12.4%

Decent Sampler

All ratings53 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.8%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive52.2%
Neutral14.9%
Negative32.8%

User reviews

AUM

From 534 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent audio routing and mixing capabilities
  • 🚀 Powerful and flexible workflow
  • 💡 Seamless integration with AUv3 and IAA apps
  • 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
  • 👍 Reliable and stable performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
  • 💡 Lack of MIDI clock sync receive functionality
  • 💡 Limited visual customization options (e.g. channel sizes)
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with some hardware interfaces

Decent Sampler

From 53 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Great sounds and libraries
  • 🎹 Powerful sampler for iOS
  • 💡 Free sample packs available
  • ✨ High-quality instruments
  • 🔄 Actively developed with updates

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and instability
  • 💾 High RAM and storage usage
  • 🔌 Issues with Logic Pro on iOS
  • 🐌 Slow download manager
  • 🤷‍♂️ Not working with older iPads

Bugs and requests

AUM

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes or freezes when using certain plugin combinations
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 15 and newer
  • Inconsistent MIDI transport controls

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add MIDI clock sync receive capability
  • Implement a timeline/sequencer view
  • Provide more visual customization options
  • Improve support for external hardware integration

Decent Sampler

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • Instant crash on load
  • App stopped working after iOS update
  • AUV3 crashes out of nowhere
  • Unresponsive upon opening
  • Server issues for login
Show 18 more
  • Instrument remains stuck on a note
  • Projects need to be reloaded to show app
  • Crash when loading samples
  • Failing to load presets when reloading host project
  • Adding unwanted temp presets
  • Crashing when selecting different samples
  • Login prompt won't let paste text
  • Can't paste password to login
  • Login screen covered by keyboard
  • Error 500 when downloading
  • Restore Purchases button not working
  • Forgotten Password button not working
  • Invalid email address for registration
  • No URL found when downloading sound packs
  • Clicking sounds while using
  • Glitching, clicking, and ghost sounds on held notes
  • Instrument crashes after a few minutes
  • Earthquake pad 02 glitching

Requested features

14 requests
  • Add user/pass fill from password keeper
  • Implement a download manager for multiple instruments
  • Allow running within IAA or Audiobus
  • Add ability to clear cache
  • Fix multi-track support in AUV3
Show 9 more
  • Add MIDI sequencing
  • Add pitch bend functionality
  • Add velocity response curve knob
  • Add filter stage and more flexible envelope
  • Allow disabling iOS auto-lock
  • Configure receiving MIDI channel
  • Improve preset selection
  • Add dark mode
  • Support VoiceOver

In-app purchases

4 purchases

AUM

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$1.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Huge Tip$9.99
60 purchases

Decent Sampler

One-time60
  • Box ViolinFree
  • Dave ChoirFree
  • Resonator GlockenspielFree
Show 57 more
  • Banjo UkuleleFree
  • KalimbaFree
  • Ukelin$0.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 3$2.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 4$3.99
  • Weber 1929 Baby Grand$4.99
  • Ramshackle Zither$4.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 5$4.99
  • Music Major Sample Library$4.99
  • Sawblade Kalimba Library$4.99
  • Melodica$4.99
  • Distance: Zero$4.99
  • Little Church Organ$4.99
  • Indie Guitar$5.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 6$5.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 7$6.99
  • Paper Drums$6.99
  • Relic Keyboard$7.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 8$7.99
  • HS-3715 Keyboard$7.99
  • Malevolence by Venus Theory$8.99
  • Viola Ensemble$9.99
  • Indie Bass$9.99
  • Metal Cups$9.99
  • Phonoharp$9.99
  • Violin Ensemble$9.99
  • Ethereal Vocals$9.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 10$9.99
  • Kalimba by Darel$9.99
  • Dangerous Undertones$9.99
  • Chroma Vol. 1$9.99
  • Luminate$9.99
  • Horror Box$9.99
  • Tape Violins Sample Library$10.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 11$11.00
  • Interlaced Sample Library$14.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 15$15.00
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 16$16.00
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 19$19.00
  • alt.strings$19.99
  • Felt & Fog$19.99
  • Organic Orchestra$19.99
  • Indie Drums$19.99
  • Bitscape 95$19.99
  • Thyssia by Venus Theory$19.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 20$20.00
  • Decent Samples Store Item 24$24.00
  • The Void$24.99
  • Processed Guitars$24.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 25$25.00
  • String Flows$29.99
  • 70s Summer Camp Sample Library$29.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 30$30.00
  • LoFi VaporTones Ds$33.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 39$39.00
  • Decent Samples Store Item 40$40.00
  • Chamberlin M1 by Jamie Lidell$49.99

Questions

Is AUM free?
AUM costs $24.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Decent Sampler free?
Decent Sampler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AUM or Decent Sampler?
AUM is rated higher. AUM averages 4.7 out of 5 from 534 ratings, while Decent Sampler averages 4.6 from 53 ratings.
Do AUM or Decent Sampler have ads?
Neither AUM nor Decent Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AUM or Decent Sampler?
AUM ships an update every 3 months, and Decent Sampler weekly. Most recently, AUM was updated on October 29, 2026 and Decent Sampler on October 27, 2026.

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