Comparison

ScalePlay vs DRM

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

Head to head
About

ScalePlay

This app generates intricate musical patterns and sequences using complex scale theory. It's a powerful tool for both music production and education, offering scale references, virtual instruments, and interactive playback features.

Highlights
  • Generates intricate ostinatos and sequences
  • Applies complex scale patterns
  • User-defined songforms and chord changes
  • Scale references for hundreds of scales
  • Nine virtual instruments and 128 sounds
  • Visualizes scale relations
  • Interactive playback with generated patterns
Features
Read full description

ScalePlay is a generative music app capable of producing the most intricate ostinatos and sequences by applying complex scale patterns over user defined songforms and chord changes. It can be used in music production and is also a fantastic tool for music education. It includes scale references for hundreds of scales, nine virtual instruments and 128 instrument sounds. Its unique set of features allows the musician to visualize scale relations and to play along with generated patterns. Modern musicians often practice playing scales according to organizing principles like thirds. What is meant by that is to play a scale tone, then its third, then the second scale tone, the third on top of that one and so forth. The exercise would result in the scale tones 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, etc. Not an easy feat at first, because before even getting started, one has to know the base scale. Playing patterns through different keys and scale types finally is a demanding task even for advanced musicians. ScalePlay constructs patterns like these and much more complicated ones by using two simple grids. Grids have been around in music apps for years, but they are based on half-tone steps and include all available notes of the spectrum. That leaves one difficulty on the table, namely that of correctly identifying the notes of a scale. These grids also don’t easily allow for patterning as in our scale in thirds. So a different solution is called for and ScalePlay provides just that and so much more. In the application songs are used as metaphor to organize different scale types into a harmonic context. They are constructed with chords which in turn determine what scale types are available at a given time. During playback the app then cycles through these virtual chords or as with TouchPlay allows to call them up at will. This architecture is very helpful for superimposing ScalePlay patterns over existing pieces and even practicing improvising over changes. For practicing ScalePlay shows a pattern's progression on the built-in instrument and also provides a music notation reference. One can slow things down to need and play along. With the pattern lock feature all patterns can be kept in the same general vicinity. So instead of raising all scale tones when a base chord moves from C to G for example, patterns stay in place. This allows guitarists to practice scale patterns over changes while remaining in the same position. ScalePlay is also a fabulous generative music app. That is because of the magic that happens when these self-repeating scale structures are put in motion. Fantastic music occurs. Since ScalePlay supports virtual MIDI and can be recorded into any iOS based DAW. It also features TouchPlay for advanced looping. With TouchPlay scale structures can be looped endlessly and out of order. The TouchPlay environment is superimposed over ScalePlay's main interface and allows live switching between different scale types with the tap of a finger in continuous or full pattern mode. Of course ScalePlay supports multi-app multitasking as well as split-view and split-screen to make this feature even more useful. Instruments • Banjo, Bass, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Viola, Violin Some other Features: • 211 scale types • Virtual MIDI • Advanced looping with TouchPlay • Full general MIDI instrument library

About

DRM

This app emulates a vintage 1978 drum machine, offering a pocket beat-making companion with a pure, distraction-free interface. It includes original samples, preset patterns, and various instrument and audio effects.

Highlights
  • 8 original high-quality double-samples
  • 16 preset patterns
  • Selective instrument deletion modes
  • Commutable 'Spacedrum' instrument
  • Full machine state auto-save
  • Background audio playback
  • Audiobus V3 and InterApp audio support
Features
Read full description

Holding the simplicity of a rare 1978 instrument and carrying its raw heritage to you, it turns your device into a pocket beat making companion. I believe that designing a pure interface, simply displaying your machine without any distraction, was the best way to reflect the spirit of the period it was born. Characteristics : - 8 Original high quality double-samples - 16 preset patterns - 3 Selective instrument deletion modes - Commutable « Spacedrum » instrument - Full machine state auto-save - Background audio playback enabled - Audiobus V3 - InterApp audio Bonuses accessible in your device settings : - Additionnal LED display for the tempo and the volume - Pattern selection LED indicators - Alternative « Rock » drum kit with integrated effects - Built-in intruments effects : « Stereo pan » and « Jungle tune » - Built-in audio effects : « Equalizer » and « Distortion » - Built-in global effects : « Delay » and « Reverb » - Mute any instrument I hope you will enjoy it as much as I love it ;-)

Screenshots

DRM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScalePlay at 4.9 against DRM's 3.7. ScalePlay also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 38%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). DRM's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $9.99) and device support (3 vs 1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ScalePlay costs $9.99 and DRM $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScalePlay holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of ScalePlay's written reviews are positive against 38% of DRM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScalePlay ships an update every 3 months, DRM every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ScalePlay versus DRM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScalePlayDRM
Price$9.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.9 (10 ratings) — better3.7 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better38.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1012 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoGame SoftwareDavid Rochaix

Customer experience

ScalePlay

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%

DRM

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive38.5%
Neutral15.4%
Negative46.2%

In-app purchases

None

ScalePlay

No in-app purchases

None

DRM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ScalePlay free?
ScalePlay costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DRM free?
DRM costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ScalePlay or DRM?
ScalePlay is rated higher. ScalePlay averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while DRM averages 3.7 from 12 ratings.
Do ScalePlay or DRM have ads?
Neither ScalePlay nor DRM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScalePlay or DRM?
ScalePlay ships an update every 3 months, and DRM every 7 months. Most recently, ScalePlay was updated on September 24, 2026 and DRM on September 10, 2026.

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