Xalophone vs Async Sampler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Xalophone
Create music anywhere with this digital instrument app. Customize sounds with a variety of effects and presets, or build your own. Save and instantly replay your creations, then export them in high fidelity for sharing.
- Configurable sound effects pipeline
- 21 preset instrument configurations
- Create custom sound presets
- Auto-save and instant playback
- High fidelity file export (AAC, CAF)
- Multi-touch interface
- Adjustable musical note range
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Xalophone is a digital musical instrument that's easy to play while doing other activities. It features a configurable sound effects pipeline for customizing its sound to your mood and situation. 21 preset configurations mimic natural and synthetic instruments, but that's only the beginning: you can edit these presets or create new ones to generate a wide variety of sound styles. Auto-save and instant playback allows you to replay any tune you create with Xalophone. Plus high fidelity file export for easily sharing your music with friends and colleagues. Features: • Full-screen interface that is easy to learn and use. • Multi-touch: play and modulate up to five notes simultaneously. • Configurable sound effects: • Distortion (linear, square, cubic) • Ring Modulation • Decimation • Tremelo • Flanger • Delay • Zita Reverb • Chown Reverb • Costello Reverb • Adjustable musical note range, from a half octave up to 8 octaves. • Divide octaves into 1 to 12 intervals: 12 corresponds to the classic western musical scales, like on a piano; others offer different relationships between notes • Auto-save and Playback: Every note played on Xalophone is saved (in a super-efficient format, a hundredth the size of an mp3), so you can playback any tune you make. This recording stays on your device and is never shared, unless you choose to. • Export to AAC .m4a format for sharing with friends or playback on other devices • Export to high fidelity .CAF format for import into digital audio workstations or other audio processing pipelines • Share your exported tracks with friends by text message, email, social media, and other file sharing applications, even if they don't have Xalophone installed Watch a video to see how it works, or download it for free to see & hear for yourself. Headphones, EarPods or AirPods are recommended for an immersive experience. 3 minute video guide: https://youtu.be/w8-wNFnLfzo Works on iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13
Async Sampler
Create captivating sound collages, dynamic textures, and rhythmic patterns with this powerful musical instrument. It offers asynchronous and synchronous playback modes, a versatile LFO, and an effects processor to elevate your sound design.
- Standalone and AUv3 versions
- Three independent samplers
- Extensive sample library
- Upload your own samples
- Asynchronous and synchronous playback
- Flexible LFO system
- Effects processor
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Async Sampler, a powerful musical instrument designed to bring your soundscapes to life. This flexible tool is dedicated to crafting captivating sound collages, dynamic asynchronous textures, rhythmic patterns, and rich sound designs. It opens up a world of creative possibilities, making it the perfect companion for music producers, sound designers, ambient, and noise enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a curious explorer, Async Sampler is here to inspire and elevate your musical journey. App comes with a rich library of unique samples, and you can easily upload and use your own sounds. Async Sampler fundamentally consists of three samplers that can reproduce sound asynchronously, meaning they can operate without being tied to a specific BPM, or synchronously, using an external MIDI clock source or the tempo of your project if you're using Async Sampler as an AUv3 plugin. The instrument features a versatile LFO that allows you to control any parameter. Async includes an effects processor and a master bus section. Also, you have the option to use external MIDI controllers, save and load your custom presets and samples, among other features. Key features: — Standalone and AUv3 versions — Three independent samplers — Extensive sample library out of the box — Ability to upload your own samples — Asynchronous and synchronous playback modes for each sample — Flexible LFO system that can control almost any parameter — Effects processor — Ability to save presets — And much more
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Xalophone at Free against Async Sampler's $14.99. Async Sampler's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On ads, in-app purchases, 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
Xalophone is free to download; Async Sampler costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Async Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Async Sampler has 18 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Xalophone ships an update every 2 months, Async Sampler every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Xalophone | Async Sampler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) | 4.5 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.1 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 235 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Xalnaut Inc. | Sergei Zhulkov |
Customer experience
Xalophone
Async Sampler
In-app purchases
Xalophone
No in-app purchases
Async Sampler
No in-app purchases









