Comparison

Koala Sampler vs Tau DJ v1i

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

Head to head
About

Koala Sampler

This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.

Highlights
  • Record up to 64 samples with mic
  • Apply 16 built-in effects
  • Load and use own samples
  • Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
  • Export loops and tracks as WAV
  • AI sample separation
  • AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
Features
Read full description

Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments

About

Tau DJ v1i

A sophisticated DJ system offering a boutique experience with advanced technology. It provides essential DJ features like multi-deck support, master tempo, waveforms, MIDI, and DVS.

Highlights
  • 2 or 4 decks
  • Master tempo
  • Waveforms
  • MIDI support
  • DVS support
  • Sophisticated alternative to other DJ software
Read full description

DJ technology is my passion. I created Tau to provide a sophisticated alternative to Serato, Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, Djay, and others. Tau features everything you expect: 2 or 4 decks, stems, master tempo, waveforms, MIDI, and DVS, to name a few. Its advanced technology provides a unique, boutique DJ experience.

Screenshots

Koala Sampler4 screens
Tau DJ v1i3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Koala Sampler at 88% against Tau DJ v1i's 33%. Koala Sampler also leads on price ($4.99 vs $39.99) and rating (4.8 vs 2.3). Tau DJ v1i's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Koala Sampler costs $4.99 and Tau DJ v1i $39.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Tau DJ v1i asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Koala Sampler's written reviews are positive against 33% of Tau DJ v1i's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Koala Sampler ships an update fortnightly, Tau DJ v1i monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Koala Sampler versus Tau DJ v1i: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKoala SamplerTau DJ v1i
Price$4.99 — better$39.99
Rating4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better2.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews88.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better4
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#6 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMazbox LimitediMect Ltd.

Customer experience

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,438 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews618 reviews
Positive88.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.4%

Tau DJ v1i

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

Koala Sampler

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
  • Sequencer timing and quantization issues
  • Crashes when using certain features or with large projects

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
  • More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
  • Improved sample management and organization features
  • Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
  • Customizable color schemes and UI themes

Tau DJ v1i

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
  • Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
  • Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
  • Samurai Edition$3.99
  • Mixer$4.99
None

Tau DJ v1i

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Tau DJ v1i free?
Tau DJ v1i costs $39.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Koala Sampler or Tau DJ v1i?
Koala Sampler is rated higher. Koala Sampler averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Tau DJ v1i averages 2.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Koala Sampler or Tau DJ v1i have ads?
Neither Koala Sampler nor Tau DJ v1i shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Koala Sampler or Tau DJ v1i?
Koala Sampler ships an update fortnightly, and Tau DJ v1i monthly. Most recently, Koala Sampler was updated on October 26, 2026 and Tau DJ v1i on October 25, 2026.

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