Ruismaker vs Playset
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ruismaker
This app is an analog drumsynth that creates sounds using authentic synthesis algorithms, not samples. It features a creative Euclidean sequencer for pattern programming and integrates seamlessly with AUv3 hosts like Garageband. It offers customizable sound models and MIDI control for flexible music production.
- Analog and FM synthesis sound modeling
- Sample-free sound generation
- Euclidean sequencer
- AUv3 compatibility
- MIDI CC control
- WAV and MIDI export
- Ableton Link sync
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What the reviews say: "A must-have drum synth for electronic music lovers on iOS" - Keyboard Mag "All of this comes together in a vision that’s really playable [...] this is another excellent choice for the iPad." - CreateDigitalMusic "Small, compact and easy to use, Ruismaker is both inexpensive and a perfectly credible choice if you are after solid drum synth sounds." - MusicAppBlog -- Ruismaker is a unique drumsynth plugin (i.e. it does not use samples), which is coupled with a creative Euclidean sequencer when run in standalone mode. The plugin is fully AUv3 (Audio Unit) compatible: - Seamless integration with Garageband and other AU hosts - Audio Unit Instrument: making music on iOS doesn't get more convenient - Supports Multi-Output AUv3 in AUM and ApeMatrix! - Each sound is modeled using authentic analog and FM algorithms; - Comes with dozens of unique customizable models - Does not use any samples; all sounds are synthesized in realtime, on the fly - Emulates analog components, introducing subtle, natural fluctuations in the sound - Light on the CPU, so you can run lots of Ruismakers simultaneously - Fully automatable parameters (requires host support) and MIDI CC controllable - Has its own preset manager The standalone sequencer is refreshingly different: - Program patterns using Euclidean algorithms - Powerful random feature and mutation probability settings per channel - Syncs with Ableton Link or MIDI Clock - Exports WAV and MIDI - Compatible with Audiobus 3 (including MIDI IN/OUT mode) - CoreMIDI In and Out - AU MIDI output for the on-screen pads User manual available on Ruismaker.com
Playset
Create music instantly with this intuitive groovebox sequencer. Build songs layer by layer with drums, bass, and synths, then mix and arrange them in a timeline. Share your projects and explore demo songs.
- Multi-touch drum & synth sequencer
- 50 original sample kits
- Mixer with FX
- Patterns & Timeline module
- MIDI & Audio Unit AUv3 support
- AudioBus & Ableton Link support
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Playset is Fingerlab's intuitive groovebox sequencer for iPad — designed for instant fun and live music making. Start with the drums, add a sneaky bass line, dress it with a fat lead and you've got your song. Adjust the mix, add some FX, arrange your patterns in the timeline and you're done. From the team behind DM1, Apple Design Award winner 2012. Playset is a premium app — no in-app purchases, no ads. Buy it once, it's entirely yours. Features: • Multi-touch drum & synth sequencer • 50 original sample kits (drum kits, bass & leads) • Mixer with mute, level, pitch, pan & custom kit per track • 2 FX per instrument (Reverb, Delay, Distortion, Chorus, Compressor and more) • Patterns & Timeline module • Fast bounce — master or separated tracks, mono or stereo • Share & import projects • Gallery with demo songs • Full MIDI & MIDI Mapping support • AudioBus & Ableton Link support • Audio Unit AUv3 support • Audio background mode Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: contact@fingerlab.net Have fun! The Fingerlab Team
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ruismaker at 4.8 against Playset's 4.1. Ruismaker also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 2 months). Playset's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 74%). On 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
Ruismaker costs $4.99 and Playset $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Ruismaker holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ruismaker has 58 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Ruismaker's written reviews are positive against 92% of Playset's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Ruismaker ships an update every 5 weeks, Playset every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ruismaker | Playset |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (58 ratings) — better | 4.1 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | 91.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 58 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 157 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bram Bos | Fingerlab |
Customer experience
Ruismaker
Playset
In-app purchases
Ruismaker
No in-app purchases
Playset
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Ruismaker free?
Is Playset free?
Which has better reviews, Ruismaker or Playset?
Do Ruismaker or Playset have ads?
Which is updated more often, Ruismaker or Playset?
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