Koala Sampler vs Vivoscope
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Vivoscope
This app creates a precise strobe light to reveal hidden animations on zoetrope vinyl records. It calculates the exact frequency needed based on RPM and frame count, offering both LED torch and screen flash modes for optimal viewing in dark environments.
- Precision frequency calculation
- LED torch and screen flash modes
- Fine-tune dial with haptic feedback
- Save and load presets
- Dark UI for low-light use
- Custom RPM and frame count
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Vivoscope is a precision strobe light built for zoetrope vinyl records, the kind that hide animations in the grooves, visible only under the right frequency of light. Point the LED torch at your spinning record, tap START, and watch the animation freeze into perfect motion. Precision Timing: Most strobe apps pulse at a fixed rate. Vivoscope calculates the exact frequency your record needs based on its RPM and frame count, then holds it with rock-steady accuracy using a high-frequency hardware timer. Formula: (RPM ÷ 60) × Frames = Hz Example: 78 RPM × 24 frames = 31.20 Hz Two Flash Modes: * LED Torch, uses the rear camera flash for a powerful, bright strobe in dark rooms. Ideal for most zoetrope vinyls. * Screen Flash turns the display into a strobe light. Works on any iPhone, no camera required. Fine-tune Dial: Real turntables drift. The rotary fine-tune dial lets you nudge the frequency ±2 Hz in 0.01 Hz steps, with haptic feedback on every tick, until the animation locks perfectly still. Presets: Save your exact settings: RPM, frame count, fine-tune offset, and reload them in one tap. Built-in presets cover the full range of 78 RPM zoetrope releases. Designed for the dark: The interface is built to work in a darkened room. Deep black background, amber accents, large controls, everything visible at a glance without breaking the mood. Features: * LED torch and screen flash modes * High-frequency hardware timer for rock-steady strobing * Rotary fine-tune dial (±2 Hz, 0.01 Hz steps, haptic ticks) * Preset save and load system * 78 RPM default - 31.20 Hz confirmed working * Custom RPM and frame count for any vinyl * Auto screen lock prevention during strobe * 10-minute torch warning to protect your battery * Fully dark UI - no bright elements to ruin the experience Warning: This app produces rapidly flashing lights. Not suitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy or light-triggered migraines.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Vivoscope at Free against Koala Sampler's $4.99. Vivoscope also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Koala Sampler's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 3) and chart position (#9 vs unranked). On ads 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
Vivoscope is free to download; Koala Sampler costs $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Vivoscope asks for nothing beyond the download.
Vivoscope holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.5K ratings behind it against 3, 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 100% of Vivoscope's.
| Parameter | Koala Sampler | Vivoscope |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.5K ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.5K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mazbox Limited | Milot Shala |
Customer experience
Koala Sampler
Vivoscope
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
Vivoscope
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Koala Sampler
- Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
- Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
- Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
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- Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
- Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
- Samurai Edition$3.99
- Mixer$4.99
Vivoscope
No in-app purchases









