Comparison

Troublemaker vs Pure Acid

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
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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

Pure Acid

This app is a high-quality bassline synthesizer and drum machine inspired by classic 80s hardware. It offers a retro analog sound with modern features for fast and fun music creation. Explore various genres with factory presets and create unique rhythms and basslines.

Highlights
  • AUv3, Ableton Link, AudioBus, IAA support
  • Classic bassline waveforms (Saw, Pulse)
  • Distortion and filter LFO effects
  • 32-step sequencer with pattern editing
  • 16 independent drum parts with customizable sounds
  • Realtime master effects with XY-pad
Currently charting
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Pure Acid is a top quality bassline synthesizer and drum machine in one app! Inspired by classic hardware bassline synthesizers and rhythm machines, which changed musical world back in 80's, like the legendary TB-303 synthesizer, TR-808 / 707 / 909 rhythm boxes and their numerous replicas, Pure Acid is designed to bring back the feeling of retro analog gear in every detail in terms of sound, as well as to provide new functions previously unavailable in the original devices to make your music creation workflow fast and fun! A large number of factory preset patterns will immerse you into an exciting world of Acid House, Techno, Hardcore and Big Beat music genres, which will inspire you to create your own basslines and rhythms for your compositions! You can use Pure Acid app as a ready-to-go realtime musical instrument (groove box) in your jam sessions together with Ableton Link to synchronize it with the rest of your music gear. Its bassline editing system and randomization options will be handy to create unique groovy basslines easily. Realtime master effects with XY-pad controls can add expression to your live performance. You can also use Pure Acid with AudioBus, AUM or other IAA-supporting apps to create complex and interesting sound setups. Features: • supports AUv3, Ableton Link, AudioBus, Inter-App Audio, Core Midi, Virtual Midi In/Out, Bluetooth Midi • AudioBus state saving support • 64-bit sound engine • Midi Learn • Export to midi file • includes Multiple Output AUv3 plugin with 6 audio output busses Bassline Section: • 2 classic bassline waveforms: Saw and Pulse • classic knobs: Tune, Cutoff, Resonance, Env Mod, Decay and Accent • Distortion effect with amount, HPF and Boost knobs • filter LFO with rate and depth knobs Sequencer Section: • up to 12 bassline patterns can be stored in one preset • up to 32 steps per each bassline pattern • patterns can be chained together to create more complex patterns • pattern Tempo and Swing parameters • Gate parameter, which allows you to adjust bass note lengths • Pattern Editor allows you to copy, transpose patterns, shift notes left/right, insert or delete a note, variate (randomize all note properties expect pitch), shuffle (randomize notes order only), reverse and compose patterns using Bassline Composer function • onscreen keyboard allows you to enter bassline notes in a comfortable way. You can also record basslines in realtime. Drums Section: • 16 independent drum parts • 35 different classic drum sounds with ability to tune your own drum kit • each drum part sound has its own parameters: Tune, Decay, Attack/Snap/Color, FX A send, FX B send, Boost, Pan, Level • up to 12 drum patterns and 4 drum fill patterns per preset • 16 steps per each drum pattern, with ability to add 16 "backbeat" steps between main steps (32 steps per drum pattern in total) • patterns can be chained together to create more complex patterns • Swing and Flam features • Total Accent part with adjustable total accent value can give you ability to "highlight" specific steps in your drum pattern • new: step conditions for drum steps Mixer Section: • 2 mixer channels: Bassline and Drums • Drive effect for each channel • 2 send effect pedals: FX A and FX B • 14 send effect types • send effect can be routed to either master output, MFX or another send effect (FX A -> FX B), which allows to chain several effects one after another • MFX pedal with 22 effect types to choose from • FX A and FX B send amount knobs for each mixer channel • XY-pad on each effect pedal to control their parameters • Master Limiter effect to prevent sound clipping and more: • Unlimited number of user presets • 84 factory presets • Audio export to wav file (16, 24 or 32 bit) • Preset / Bank Share function • Selectable UI color schemes with ability to adjust colors manually • Can work either as a standalone app, or as AUv3 audio unit plugin • Designed for both iPad and iPhone

Screenshots

Troublemaker2 screens
Pure Acid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Troublemaker at none against Pure Acid's 2. Troublemaker also leads on price ($8.99 vs $14.99). Pure Acid's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (94% vs 78%). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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 Pure Acid $14.99 up front. Pure Acid sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Troublemaker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pure Acid holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64 and 169 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Troublemaker's written reviews are positive against 94% of Pure Acid's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Troublemaker ships an update every 2 weeks, Pure Acid every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Troublemaker versus Pure Acid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTroublemakerPure Acid
Price$8.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.6 (64 ratings)4.9 (169 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.9% of reviews94.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64169 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#103 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBram BosDmitrij Pavlov

Customer experience

Troublemaker

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

Pure Acid

All ratings167 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.3%

Bugs and requests

Troublemaker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pure Acid

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • GUI scaling issues on smaller devices
  • Crashes or freezes on certain devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to import MIDI files
  • Standalone drum machine mode
  • Expanded drum sample library
  • Knob/parameter automation recording

In-app purchases

None

Troublemaker

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Pure Acid

One-time2
  • Ukrainian style color scheme$4.99
  • Ukrainian style app icon$4.99

Questions

Is Troublemaker free?
Troublemaker costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pure Acid free?
Pure Acid costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Troublemaker or Pure Acid?
Pure Acid is rated higher. Troublemaker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Pure Acid averages 4.9 from 169 ratings.
Do Troublemaker or Pure Acid have ads?
Neither Troublemaker nor Pure Acid shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Troublemaker or Pure Acid?
Troublemaker ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pure Acid every 3 weeks. Most recently, Troublemaker was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pure Acid on October 25, 2026.

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