Future Drummer vs RingsFX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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)
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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
RingsFX
This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.
- Physical modeling synthesis emulation
- Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
- Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
- External audio excitation
- Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
- 7 unique synthesis modes
- 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
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RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RingsFX at none against Future Drummer's 4. RingsFX also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and price ($14.99 vs $17.99). Future Drummer's advantage is ratings volume (381 vs 26). On review sentiment, 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
Future Drummer costs $17.99 and RingsFX $14.99 up front. Future Drummer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. RingsFX asks for nothing beyond the download.
RingsFX holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Future Drummer has 381 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Future Drummer's written reviews are positive against 100% of RingsFX's.
Future Drummer ships an update every 4 weeks, RingsFX fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.
| Parameter | Future Drummer | RingsFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $14.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (381 ratings) | 4.9 (26 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 381 — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 178 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lumbeat | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Future Drummer
RingsFX
In-app purchases
Future Drummer
- Hip Hop Sets$3.99
- Hybrid Sounds$3.99
- Experimental Tones$3.99
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- Minimal Vibes$3.99
RingsFX
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Future Drummer free?
Is RingsFX free?
Which has better reviews, Future Drummer or RingsFX?
Do Future Drummer or RingsFX have ads?
Which is updated more often, Future Drummer or RingsFX?
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