Comparison

Troublemaker vs BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

Troublemaker

This app emulates the iconic TB-303 bassline synthesizer, offering its distinctive sound with a diode filter, sawtooth, and square wave oscillators. It provides extensive MIDI and sequencer features, allowing for creative sound design and integration with DAWs.

Highlights
  • Diode filter emulation
  • Sawtooth and square wave oscillators
  • Realtime Mutation Probability Engine
  • Standalone sequencer (1-64 steps)
  • Audio Unit (AUv3) compatibility
  • MIDI CC controllers
  • MIDI Clock Sync
Features
Read full description

Featured in the US Appstore! Here's what the reviews say: "Perfect for on the move acid sessions, the Trouble Maker app faithfully recreates the sound of the original TB-303" - DJ Mag "Troublemaker is absolutely no trouble at all to heartily recommend" - SoundOnSound "If you want to make the bassline from Josh Wink’s ‘Higher State of Consciousness’ on the bus, this is the app for the job" - Factmag.com "Top-notch stuff from a developer that just keeps getting better" - Musicappblog.com "This app has been consuming all of my time this week! Love it!" - Discchord.com Introducing Troublemaker: this is not a 303 The legendary TB-303 has magical properties; it is filled to the brim with analog shimmer. Its output jack is a gateway to a parallel universe and when you twiddle the filter knobs an army of highly trained pixies chisel the square waves from freshly harvested unicorn souls. So if you want a TB-303, you should buy a TB-303. But if you're after *that sound* Troublemaker will give you everything you need in spades. Troublemaker sports a carefully crafted diode filter emulation and among the available oscillators are the typical raspy, nasal sawtooth and rubbery square wave with its oddball shape and shifting pulse width. It also has the wow. Troublemaker is fully Audio Unit (AUv3) compatible, so you can go wild running multiple instances in your favorite DAWs. It also has: - MIDI CC controllers for all knobs (predefined), - Core Midi, Virtual Midi, Bluetooth Midi input, - MIDI Clock Sync, MIDI Start / Stop support - Realtime Mutation Probability Engine - Standalone sequencer supports 1-64 steps - Audiobus 3 support (audio + MIDI) - Exports MID and WAV files from the standalone sequencer - User manual and MIDI charts on ruismaker.com - Comes with an extra AUv3 plugin version of a modded Troublemaker unit And unlike the TB-303, it can actually sound like a bass guitar ;-)

About

BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer

This versatile polyphonic synthesizer offers a virtual analog sound engine inspired by classic hardware. It provides intuitive sound design tools, efficient CPU usage, and a unique motion sequencer for expressive modulation. Explore a vast library of presets and create unique sounds for your music.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog polyphonic stereo synthesizer
  • Intuitive sound design interface
  • CPU efficient for live performance
  • Unique motion sequencer
  • Built-in arpeggiator
  • Over 200 factory presets
  • Audio Unit V3 compatible
Read full description

BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer is a versatile virtual analogue polyphonic synthesizer built for immediate, hands-on sound design. Its three oscillators combine variable waveshapes and pulse widths with unison, hard sync, cross modulation and ring modulation, while dual variable-state filters with drive add further colour and character. The streamlined interface follows the natural signal path, keeping powerful synthesis controls accessible at a glance. Bring sounds to life with three ADSR envelopes, two multi-waveform LFOs and extensive modulation possibilities, while the Motion Sequencer adds rhythmic and expressive movement that can work hand in hand with the built-in arpeggiator. MPE support extends the performance possibilities, and BLEASS' efficient audio engine keeps the experience smooth and responsive on mobile devices. A complete built-in effects section includes Overdrive, Bitcrusher, Tremolo, filtered ping-pong Delay and Reverb, adding everything from subtle movement to more radical processing directly within the synth. More than 200 factory presets provide ready-to-play sounds and starting points for your own creations. BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer can be used as a standalone app or AUv3 instrument on iPhone and iPad. Also available for Windows and macOS. More information and technical specifications available on: https://www.bleass.com/alpha/

Screenshots

Troublemaker2 screens
BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Troublemaker at none against BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer's 10. Troublemaker also leads on price ($8.99 vs $14.99) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (86% vs 78%). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Troublemaker costs $8.99 and BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer $14.99 up front. BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Troublemaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 108 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Troublemaker's written reviews are positive against 86% of BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Troublemaker ships an update every 2 weeks, BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Troublemaker versus BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTroublemakerBLEASS Alpha Synthesizer
Price$8.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.6 (64 ratings)4.9 (108 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.9% of reviews86.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64108 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB38 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperBram BosBLEASS

Customer experience

Troublemaker

All ratings64 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive77.9%
Neutral10.5%
Negative11.6%

BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer

All ratings108 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive86.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative2.8%

In-app purchases

None

Troublemaker

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer

One-time10
  • Sound Of Izrael Preset Pack$2.99
  • Red Sky Lullaby Preset Pack$2.99
  • MPE Preset Pack #1$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Lily Jordy Preset Pack$3.99
  • The GarageBand Guide Pack$3.99
  • Hoops Collection #1$3.99
  • Yawdel Preset Pack$3.99
  • Funk Preset Pack$3.99
  • Torley Preset Pack$4.99
  • The Sound Test Room Pack$4.99

Questions

Is Troublemaker free?
Troublemaker costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer free?
BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Troublemaker or BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer?
BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer is rated higher. Troublemaker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer averages 4.9 from 108 ratings.
Do Troublemaker or BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer have ads?
Neither Troublemaker nor BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Troublemaker or BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer?
Troublemaker ships an update every 2 weeks, and BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer every 2 months. Most recently, Troublemaker was updated on October 17, 2026 and BLEASS Alpha Synthesizer on October 16, 2026.

Other comparisons