AudioLayer vs Mozaic Plugin Workshop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AudioLayer
This app is a powerful mobile multi-sampler for music production, offering advanced features for creating and manipulating complex instruments. It integrates seamlessly with iOS production environments and supports iCloud for easy collaboration and storage.
- Streaming Sample Engine (SSE)
- Hierarchical Layer and Zone editing
- Seamless Instrument Switching (SIS)
- Integrated audio sample recorder
- Auto Sampler for hardware synths
- AUv3 AudioUnit integration
- iCloud storage and collaboration
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AudioLayer satisfies the most sought after gap for contemporary music production on iOS devices. AudioLayer is a full featured open standard audio multi-sampler pushing the boundaries beyond what has been available even in the desktop music production worlds. And all this integrated in all relevant iOS production environments especially the emerging AUv3 AudioUnit standard. - SSE - Streaming Sample Engine - The ultra efficient Streaming Sample Engine SSE is capable of playing hundreds of voices of big multi-sampled instruments even in strictly resource limited applications like using multiple instances of AudioLayer in AudioUnit host environments. Innovative features like Sub Sample Looping for perfect loops even in the audible range extend the range of applications even further. - Multiple storage options - The consequent usage of the open file structure of the Files app makes organising even large sample libraries a breeze. Sample recordings and Instrument designs made with AudioLayer are seamlessly available across all your devices and desktop using either iCloud storage or external SSD. The iCloud option opens up new forms of collaborations with musicians all around the world to share your creations and work together. - Multi Scope Editing - To support the creation of complex multi-sampled instruments AudioLayer allows you to use a hierarchical structure of Layers and Zones each with it’s own sound manipulation parameters. A unique element of AudioLayer is the possibility to decide for each Zone at which Scope level your editing apply: For the all Zones in the Instrument, for the Layer only or individually for this Zone only. This opens a whole new world of creative options for sound mangling. For sound manipulation you can use a full set of Filters, Envelopes and LFOs to shape the pitch, timbre and level of the sound of each Zone. SIS - Seamless Instrument Switching The unique architecture of the Streaming Sample Engine allows for instant loading of even complex instruments and makes this switching from one Instrument to the next without cutting off the sound! And this includes of course also different effect settings - Easy Design Workflow - The built in audio sample recorder let you create Instruments on the fly in seconds. The Music Effect AudioUnit / Audiobus effect plugin of AudioLayer let you record multi-samples semi automatically directly inside your preferred host and instantly create an Instrument with the help of several Auto mapping options available. This includes file name based mapping of key ranges and velocities and automatic pitch detection. For the creatives we’ve also integrated a special “Single Cycle Waveform” detector making the use of this special files a breeze. - Auto Sampler feature for easy creation of Sample Instruments from hardware synthesiser. - Versilian Studio Sample Library ( VCSL/VSCO ) with excellent strings and orchestra samples for free download - Exchange libraries with XinematiX App Integration • Stand-alone App • Sample import for EXS24 and SFZ Format • AUv3 AudioUnit Instrument and Music Effect • Inter App Audio • Audiobus 3 Input/Effect with state saving support. • Audio recorder with share function. • Ableton Link compatible.
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
Design and build your own custom MIDI plugins for music production. This tool offers a simple yet powerful scripting language and pre-built components to create filters, sequencers, and generative music tools. It integrates with AUv3 MIDI hosts for seamless workflow.
- Custom MIDI plugin creation
- Easy-to-learn scripting language
- Generative music tools
- MIDI filters and sequencers
- AUv3 support
- Tilt sensor integration
- Built-in script editor
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Create your own MIDI plugins: MIDI filters, generative music tools, basic sequencers, MIDI control panels, chaos experiments... Let your imagination take you places. Mozaic runs inside your favorite AU MIDI host, and gives you practical building blocks such as LFOs, pre-fab GUI layouts, musical scales, AUv3 support (with AU Parameters, transport events, tempo syncing, etc.), random generators and a super-simple yet powerful script language. Mozaic even offers quick access to your device’s Tilt Sensors for expressive interaction concepts! The Mozaic Script language is designed from the ground up to be the easiest and most flexible MIDI language on iOS. A language by creatives, for creatives. You’ll only need to write a few lines of script to achieve impressive things - or to create that uber-specific thing that was missing from your MIDI setup. Check out the Programming Manual on Ruismaker.com to learn about the script language and to get inspiration for awesome scripts of your own. Mozaic comes with a sizable collection of tutorials and pre-made scripts which you can use out of the box, or which can be a starting point for your own plugin adventures. Features in a nutshell: - Easy to learn Mozaic Script language: easy to learn, easy to read - Sample-accurate-everything: the tightest MIDI timing possible - Built-in script editor with code-completion, syntax hints, etc. - 5 immediately usable GUI layouts, with knobs, sliders, pads, etc. - In-depth, helpful programming manual available on Ruismaker.com - Easy access to LFOs, scales, MIDI I/O, AU parameters, timers - Supports Sysex, with built-in checksum calculations - AUv3; so you'll get multi-instance, state-saving, tempo sync and resource efficiency out of the box Mozaic opens up the world of creative MIDI plugins to anyone willing to put in a few hours and a hot beverage or two. Practical notes: - Mozaic requires a plugin host with support for AUv3 MIDI plugins (AUM, ApeMatrix, Cubasis, Auria, Audiobus 3, etc.) - The standalone mode of Mozaic lets you edit, test and export projects, but for MIDI connections you need to run it inside an AUv3 MIDI host - MIDI is not sound; Mozaic on its own does not make noise... so bring your own synths, drum machines and other instruments! - AUv3 MIDI requires iOS11 or higher
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mozaic Plugin Workshop at $1.99 against AudioLayer's $12.99. Mozaic Plugin Workshop also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (95% vs 56%). AudioLayer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
AudioLayer costs $12.99 and Mozaic Plugin Workshop $1.99 up front. AudioLayer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mozaic Plugin Workshop asks for nothing beyond the download.
Mozaic Plugin Workshop holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 179 and 81 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of AudioLayer's written reviews are positive against 95% of Mozaic Plugin Workshop's.
AudioLayer ships an update fortnightly, Mozaic Plugin Workshop every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.
| Parameter | AudioLayer | Mozaic Plugin Workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (179 ratings) | 5.0 (81 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | 94.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 179 — better | 81 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 months |
| 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 | 13.0 | 12.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 242 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Harry Gohs | Bram Bos |
Customer experience
AudioLayer
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
Bugs and requests
AudioLayer
Reported bugs
17 issues- App crashes on startup (splash screen)
- Reverb and chorus effects cause sound to disappear
- Pitch resets to -24 after stopping Logic Pro playback
- Layer voice polyphony controls not working properly
- SFZ batch import distributes samples incorrectly across layers
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- EXS24 import fails for complex instruments (pianos, drum kits)
- MIDI source names display as 'Unknown Name'
- Plugin window resizing required to access all controls
- Sample end marker positioning doesn't work in all view sizes
- Soundfont import module shows as missing despite purchase
- App becomes unresponsive when loading complex instruments
- Control Change 11 (Expression) not received
- Autosampler function button missing after update
- Settings not saved properly as AUv3 plugin
- Instrument loading defaults to first instrument in host
- Click/pop noises in sustain loops
- Inter-Audio (IAA) compatibility broken
Requested features
17 requests- Time-stretching/pitch-shifting capability
- Program Change MIDI support
- Undo/Redo functionality
- GigaSampler .gig library support
- Soundfont SF2 import (now paid feature)
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- MIDI learn for real-time parameter control
- Expression (CC11) and other CC support
- Multi-output support for individual zone routing
- Batch import and file management improvements
- Instrument selection screen persistence in MIDI mode
- Bit reduction effect for vintage sampler emulation
- Better local file management and folder organization
- Modulation wheel pitch control
- Transposition features
- Disk streaming for larger libraries
- Macro/customizable GUI support
- Purge unused samples function
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
AudioLayer
- SoundFont Import$3.99
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AudioLayer free?
Is Mozaic Plugin Workshop free?
Which has better reviews, AudioLayer or Mozaic Plugin Workshop?
Do AudioLayer or Mozaic Plugin Workshop have ads?
Which is updated more often, AudioLayer or Mozaic Plugin Workshop?
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