FM 304 vs 16 Drones
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FM 304
Create music with three powerful FM synthesizers, each featuring integrated sequencers and onboard effects. This app offers intuitive real-time control over all synth parameters for quick sound design and tune creation.
- Three 4-operator FM synths
- Integrated sequencers
- Onboard delay, reverb, and chorus effects
- One knob per function control
- 100 save slots
- 8 algorithms
- Note frequency quantize
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FM 304 — 3x FM Synth Groovebox FM 304 is a powerful trio of 4-operator FM synthesizers, each with its own sequencer and effects. Built for fast, hands-on sound design, every parameter is available with a one-knob-per-function layout — no menus, no digging. Create evolving patterns, punchy sequences, and complex FM textures in seconds. Everything is on screen, ready to tweak, making it easy to move from idea to finished loop without breaking flow. Features • 3 independent 4-operator FM synthesizers • Immediate one-knob-per-function control • 3x 16-step sequencers (one per synth) • Built-in effects: delay, reverb, chorus • 3x LFOs for modulation • 8 FM algorithms • Note frequency quantisation • 100 save slots Designed for speed No menu diving. No setup. Just pure FM synthesis with everything visible and playable.
16 Drones
Create evolving soundscapes and harmonic textures with a powerful ambient drone synthesizer. Shape layered drones using custom wavetables and envelopes, then perform expressively in key. Offers deep timbral control and flexible MIDI integration.
- 16 drone voices for layered textures
- Custom wavetable synthesis
- Per-voice drone envelopes
- Subtractive synthesis layer
- Expressive in-key performance voice
- Support for musical scales
- Standalone and AUv3 operation
- MIDI input and learn
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16 Drones is an ambient drone synthesizer built for evolving textures, harmonic soundscapes, and expressive in-key performance. Shape layered drones with a custom wavetable engine, per-voice controls, per-voice custom drone envelopes, and an additional subtractive layer. Then perform on top with a dedicated Play voice that stays in the same scale. Designed to be deep but immediate, 16 Drones gives you rich timbral control, musical scale exploration, expressive performance options, flexible MIDI workflow, and both standalone and AUv3 operation. Features: 16 drone voices for layered evolving textures Custom wavetable synthesis with per-voice control Per-voice custom drone envelopes for motion and character An additional subtractive layer for extra depth and weight A dedicated Play voice for expressive in-key performance Rich musical and exotic scales Standalone app and AUv3 instrument support MIDI input support for performance and control MIDI Learn for fast hardware mapping Aftertouch expression support, including polyphonic aftertouch Factory presets for fast inspiration
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: 16 Drones at Free against FM 304's $3.99. 16 Drones also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 43 months). FM 304's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On ratings volume 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
16 Drones is free to download; FM 304 costs $3.99 up front. 16 Drones sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FM 304 asks for nothing beyond the download.
FM 304 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of FM 304's written reviews are positive against 75% of 16 Drones's.
FM 304 ships an update every 43 months, 16 Drones every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FM 304 | 16 Drones |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better | 4.4 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 43 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | — | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Paul Betowski | Ruben Terron Rodriguez |
Customer experience
FM 304
16 Drones
In-app purchases
FM 304
No in-app purchases
16 Drones
- 16 Drones Pro$11.99









