Comparison

Future Drummer vs ShockWave

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

Head to head
About

Future Drummer

Create electrifying electronic music with a futuristic drum machine. Craft unique beats and rhythms using a vast library of sounds and an advanced jamming algorithm. Export your creations as audio or MIDI, and perform live with intuitive controls.

Highlights
  • Cutting-edge drum and futuristic percussion sounds
  • Improved jamming algorithm for electronic music
  • Audio & MIDI Export (Multi-Track or Full Mix)
  • Live mode with real-time effects and controls
  • Editable sounds and intuitive tools
  • Song Mode for fast rhythmic structure creation
  • Integrated effects (Compressor, Delay, Reverb, EQ)
Features
Read full description

Get ready to ignite your creative spark and produce electrifying tracks that will make your audience groove. With a vast collection of cutting-edge drum and futuristic percussion sounds, you'll be able to craft the perfect beats and rhythms to elevate your music. Our technology boasts an improved jamming algorithm that has been specifically designed to cater to the needs of electronic and experimenta music producers, musicians and students. The advanced algorithm provides you with the power to create grooves that are not only innovative but also adaptable to your musical vision. Whether you're into Minimal, House, Electro, Hip Hop, Industrial, Electro Latino, or EDM, you'll find all the drum and percussion sounds you need to produce the beat-driven tracks of your dreams. Unleash your inner rhythm master and craft electrifying beats and grooves that will keep your audience moving. With a wealth of editable sounds and intuitive tools, you'll have the power to create drum patterns that are truly unique and innovative. So, why wait? Start exploring the world of electronic music production today and take your sound to the next level! EXPORT -> New Audio & Midi Export feature. Get Multi-Track or Full Mix in seconds. - Midi Out sends all note grooves and jamming at real time, so you can record the sequence or apply external sounds. - The new Live mode involves you in the grooves like never before with loads of controls with effects, hits, reverses, slices and groove controls at real time - Reverse or Slice individual hits with the easy editor. - Live Pads to assign rhythms, jam intensity and colors to play live session. Selectable by Midi with Notes or Program Change. - Song Mode. Extra fast tool to create rhythmic structures for your song in seconds - Song Mode is the fastest and effective way to create the structure for your songs with the best quality. - Integrated Effects: Compressor, Delay, Reverb and EQ for main Mix. 2 Extra Send delays for Live mode - Random generators to get creative ideas instantly. - More than 100 Multilayer sounds - Add new In-App Purchase Sounds - More than 300 editable grooves easy searchable by tags. Don't need to program but you can make your own grooves, no limits. - Random generators to get creative ideas instantly. - Ableton Link Sync - Inter-App Audio - Midi Out --- MIDI CONTROLS --- Assignable Controls MIDI Mapping Default Controls : Play : G2 LivePads : C1 - G2 Fill + Play/Stop : A2 Fill : C2 Fill + Toggle Hats/Ride D2 Toggle Hats/Ride Db2 Fill with LivePad Change E2 Load Live Pad C3 Preview LivePad Db3 Next Live Pad D3 Select Live Pad Set Eb3 Tap Tempo Bb2 Crash Cymbal B2 Next Song Ab2 Previous Song Gb2 Jam CC 1 Intensity CC 2 Master Volume CC 7 Swing CC 11 Reverb Level CC 91 Bank CC 32 Rhythm CC 0 Soundset PC

About

ShockWave

This app is a monophonic synthesizer for iOS and AUv3 plugins, utilizing Phase Distortion synthesis. It offers dual PD oscillators, sequencers, LFOs, and envelopes for complex sound design. Almost any control can be modulated by multiple sources, with real-time visual feedback.

Highlights
  • Phase Distortion Synthesis
  • Dual PD Oscillators
  • Dual 8-step Sequencers
  • Dual ASR Envelopes
  • Tempo-syncable LFOs
  • Extensive Modulation Matrix
  • MIDI and MPE Support
Features
Read full description

ShockWave is a monophonic Synthesizer designed to bring modular style workflow to the world of iOS & AUv3 plugins. Built around the concept of Phase Distortion (PD) Synthesis, Shockwave includes a pair of PD Oscillators each capable of creating everything from pure Sine Waves over smooth Sawtooth and Square Waves to Resonance & Sync sweeps, filtered Noise and more. In addition to the Synth Voice, ShockWave includes a dedicated control section housing a pair of 8 step sequencers, a sample & hold module as well modules for trigger divisions, logic comparisons and controlled randomness. A pair of Low Frequency Oscillators and 2 Attack/Sustain/Release (ASR) Envelopes serve as main modulation sources and can be used in a number of ways. Envelopes can be triggered from a number of internal sources including other modules such as trigger divider, logic or chance module but can also be connected to each other allowing for a wide range of patches usually only possible in large modular systems. LFOs are individually tempo sync-able and capable of producing total of 5 different waveforms each. The two sequencers can run independently or combine to one 16 step sequence where rate and length can be controlled independently for each of the two. In true modular nature almost any control within ShockWave can be modulated with up to 11 sources - simultaneously. Modulations are setup simply by holding a control and dialling in the desired amount in a list of all available sources. A special X-Ray mode adds a realtime display of all currently active modulations right at their corresponding control making it easy to understand what's happening inside the synthesizer at any given time. Synth Voice and Control Section are accompanied by built-in Delay and Reverb sections placed on send busses with all of their controls including the send levels being available as mod destinations. Last but not least, ShockWave features a solid MIDI implementation including support for, aftertouch, velocity, wheels, custom CC mappings and up to 4 dimensions of expression when using MPE compatible controllers, such as the Roli Seaboard, Linnstrument, Geoshred, KB-1 and others. MIDI Output is supported as well and includes Note and Control Change output generated from various internal sources including Sequencers, Envelopes and LFOs making it possible to control external MIDI gear or chain multiple plugin instances for advanced, self driving patches. Overview: - Semi Modular Monophonic Synth Voice - Phase Distortion Synthesis (PD) - Dual PD Oscillators with 5 Waveforms + Noise - Dual ASR Envelopes with variable trigger source - Dual LFO with Tempo Sync - Cross Modulation with Linear/Exp. FM, PM, AM & RM - Mixer section with individual pan and level controls per oscillator - Output VCA with variable control source - Pattern Generator for generating sequences from various internal sources - Quantizer to force note input into a specific scale (19 Scales + User Scales) - Step Sequencer with 2x8 or 1x16 steps, individual rate and number of steps per row - Trigger Divider for dividing internal trigger sources - Probability Gate for adding controlled randomness - Sample & Hold for additional randomness - Logic Module to create triggers from various internal sources - Built-in Delay & Reverb Effects - MIDI Note and CC output for controlling external gear or chaining multiple instances - Semi Modular Architecture - 11 Modulation Sources - 40 Modulation Destinations - 2 Color Themes MIDI Input: - 4D Expression (Glide, Slide, Pressure & Velocity) - Mod & Pitch-Wheel - Tempo Sync - Custom CC Control MIDI Output: - Note - Control Change Connectivity: - Standalone - AUv3 - AudioBus - IAA

Screenshots

Future Drummer4 screens
ShockWave4 screens

Verdict

The call

Future Drummer and ShockWave both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of Future Drummer's written reviews are positive against 53% of ShockWave's. Future Drummer also leads on price ($17.99 vs $19.99). ShockWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Future Drummer costs $17.99 and ShockWave $19.99 up front. Future Drummer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. ShockWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Future Drummer against 4.6 for ShockWave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 381 and 190 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of Future Drummer's written reviews are positive against 53% of ShockWave's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Future Drummer ships an update every 4 weeks, ShockWave every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Future Drummer versus ShockWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFuture DrummerShockWave
Price$17.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.7 (381 ratings) — better4.6 (190 ratings)
Positive reviews95.9% of reviews — better52.5% of reviews
Number of ratings381 — better190
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size178 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLumbeatKai Aras

Customer experience

Future Drummer

All ratings381 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews458 reviews
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative1.5%

ShockWave

All ratings190 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral2.6%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive52.5%
Neutral11.9%
Negative35.6%

Bugs and requests

Future Drummer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ShockWave

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • "Bad Signal" errors in AUM, stops sound generation.
  • Intermittent "bad signal" prompt in AUM, requires reloading.
  • Sounds awful, very distorted with glitchy UI.
  • App crashes frequently.
  • No sound coming out of AUv3 in GarageBand.
Show 15 more
  • More than half of the sounds do not play.
  • Performance remains but synth loads blank when returning to work after closing.
  • App stops producing sound after a few minutes of use.
  • Preset browser causes the app to stop producing sound.
  • No audio output on iPhone 6 & 7 plus, sometimes noise when changing presets, keyboard doesn't work.
  • Randomize button not viewable on iPhone 6.
  • App crashes when returning to a project.
  • App crashes on the loading screen on iPhone 11, but works on iPhone 7.
  • Hangs and freezes, won't load/work in AUM or GarageBand.
  • Horribly laggy, almost unusable.
  • Volume is noisy and glitchy.
  • Response on dials needs more work.
  • Modulation tab issues, unable to turn other knobs properly.
  • DAW incompatibility issues.
  • App crashing, won't even load.

Requested features

6 requests
  • Provide a proper manual detailing all parameters and sections with examples.
  • Implement a key trigger option for the sequencer to allow MIDI controller playback.
  • Add a poly mode.
  • Improve documentation and tutorials.
  • Standardize knob appearance and response.
Show 1 more
  • Increase the number of available patches beyond 128.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Future Drummer

One-time4
  • Hip Hop Sets$3.99
  • Hybrid Sounds$3.99
  • Experimental Tones$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Minimal Vibes$3.99
None

ShockWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Future Drummer free?
Future Drummer costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is ShockWave free?
ShockWave costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Future Drummer or ShockWave?
Future Drummer is rated higher. Future Drummer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 381 ratings, while ShockWave averages 4.6 from 190 ratings.
Do Future Drummer or ShockWave have ads?
Neither Future Drummer nor ShockWave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Future Drummer or ShockWave?
Future Drummer ships an update every 4 weeks, and ShockWave every 2 months. Most recently, Future Drummer was updated on September 23, 2026 and ShockWave on September 21, 2026.

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