Comparison

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin vs Circa Looper

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

Head to head
About

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin

This app allows you to record audio samples from your device or other apps and map them to a MIDI keyboard to create your own instruments. It offers advanced editing, built-in effects, and an arpeggiator for versatile sound design.

Highlights
  • AUv3 compatible sampler instrument
  • Record audio from internal mic or interface
  • Sample directly from other iOS apps
  • Map audio clips to MIDI notes
  • Sophisticated pitch shifting algorithm
  • Built-in reverb, delay, and chorus effects
  • Arpeggiator with glide and hold options
Read full description

Chameleon is an AUv3 compatible sampler instrument plugin for your favourite DAW. The program can run as a standalone app in order to record audio samples from the internal microphone or professional audio interface. It also supports incoming Inter-App Audio connections for sampling directly from other iOS applications, however it is primarily intended to be used as an AUv3 Instrument plugin for applications such as Cubasis, AUM, Auria, Meteor, Gargeband etc. The plugin can additionally be loaded as an AUv3 effect in order to record audio passing through it from other AUv3 Instrument sources, which makes it a very versatile and useful tool. So what is a sampler? A sampler is a device that allows you to imitate other instruments with just a few short audio snippits. Although it comes with a library of presets it also allows you to create your own. You do this by recording multiple audio clips and mapping them to the notes on a MIDI keyboard and Chameleon does the rest using a sophisticated pitch shifting algorithm to fill in the blanks. Recorded samples can either be layered or mapped freely over a 7 octave range and saved as individual presets. Presets are then organised into custom categorised banks which can be exported and shared with others. Just think, you can sample all your favourite synth sounds and carry them around on your iPhone/iPad without the inconvenience of lugging heavy gear around with you. Sample anything from musical instruments to vocal snippits, drum machines or ambient noises. The possibilities are endless. Recording is incredible easy. Just create a New Patch and press record. Chameleon will wait for you to play a note before recording begins. Once recorded press the LEARN button and tap the note range on the virtual or MIDI keyboard to map the sample. Repeat this as many times as required, tweak the settings and save your patch. Additionally you can setup loop points with the ability to apply crossfade. If all that sounds too complicated, just press auto sample and let Chameleon do all the sampling for you. Chameleon also has a quite sophisticated arpeggiator which allows you to create complex mixtures of notes and chords with glide, hold and re-triggering options. On board reverb, digital delay and chorus effects are available to give your samples a more polished touch. We also include 4 touch pads for quickly dialing in on a sound or for easy effect automation. Configurable touch ADSR and modulation options are available too. Chameleon can also import audio samples using iOS Files integration or you can make use of Copy / Paste to quickly drop one of more samples into a patch. You can also freely edit samples using the built in tools such as normalise, fade in, fade out, crop, clear options etc. You can run Cameleon as a standalone app and map external MIDI keyboards (Bluetooth MIDI support also included) and perform audio sampling outside of your DAW. This is provided for convenience since you can't record input when hosted as an AUv3 Instrument plugin. Yes some DAW's have built in samplers which only have the ability to playback libraries provided with the software. Chameleon allows you to built your own libraries of sounds and share them with others. There's a budding rapper in you dying to get out and we have just the tool! Features: AUv3 Instrument and AUv3 Effect compatible Runs as a standalone app for sampling purposes. Supports incoming IAA connections to compatible apps.. ADSR touch envelopes and modulation. ARP - Sophisticated programmable arpegiator. Reverb, Chorus and Digital Delay Effects with BPM sync. Backup and Restore patches and banks. Create your own user banks. 4 Touch Pads for automation. 16 MIDI Drum Pads iOS Files App support for import and export. Bluetooth MIDI support Loop Points and optional Crossfade supported. Monophonic and Polyphonic modes. Auto Sample feature. Built in Vocoder.

About

Circa Looper

A powerful multi-channel looping instrument for iPad, designed for musicians and producers. It offers six independent stereo loop layers, deep modulation, precision syncing, and built-in effects for creating complex patterns and evolving soundscapes. Its touch-friendly interface allows for hands-on creative control and seamless DAW integration.

Highlights
  • Six independent stereo loop layers
  • Deep modulation control
  • Precision syncing
  • Built-in reverb and delay
  • Touch-friendly interface
  • Full MIDI mapping
  • Drag-and-drop audio export
Read full description

IMPORTANT: Circa is an AUv3 plugin. It requires an AUv3 host such as AUM (recommended), Garageband, Logic, or Cubase. It will not run on its own. Circa is a six-layer stereo looping instrument for iPad, built for players and producers who want a looper that does more than loop. Each layer is independent, fully modulatable, and deeply controllable, with a touch-first interface designed for live performance and studio exploration alike.Inspired by modern loopers like the BOSS RC-505 and MLRE on the Monome Norns, Circa pairs the playability of a hardware looper with the routing and modulation of a serious production tool. Capture a spontaneous take, carve it up with slices, pitch it, scrub it, route it through built-in effects, and let gesture recorders play your UI back like a second instrument. SIX LAYERS Six independent stereo loop layers, each with its own transport, sync mode, trigger mode, filter, and effect sends. Layers can sync to the host, sync to a master loop, or run free. Triggers can fire on sync, on audio input, or freely. Record from the stereo input or self-record through an internal buss for feedback loops and generative behavior. TOUCH-FIRST PERFORMANCE Dedicated pages for Speeds and Positions let you perform loops with your hands. The position strip can be divided into slices for chopped playback. Speed, position, filter, and sends are all continuous and playable. Damper, scrub, and slice controls are built for tactile manipulation, not mouse input. GESTURE RECORDERS Six UI loopers that record and play back your actual control movements. Almost every parameter in Circa can be captured as a gesture, then looped or played as a one-shot. Trim silence from the front, toggle loop mode, or fire gestures from MIDI. Build evolving performances without touching the interface twice. MODULATION Deep modulation across the plugin. Continuous targets include layer delay and reverb sends, output levels, A/B selectors, play position, and more. Momentary targets cover mute, solo, and toggle states. Assign multiple modulators to any target and build performances that develop on their own. FULL MIDI CONTROL A complete MIDI controller system with continuous, momentary, and hold assignments. Use any controller to drive most of Circa's functions. MIDI modulation assignments light up briefly when triggered, so you can see your rig working at a glance. BUILT-IN EFFECTS Studio-grade reverb, delay, parametric EQ, and compressor drawn from Audio Damage's effect library. Send any layer to reverb and delay independently, then route through the stereo bus EQ and compressor on the way out. SEVEN OUTPUTS Six assignable stereo outputs plus a dedicated cue output. Send any layer to any output. Solo, record, and edit through the cue bus without the audience hearing. CROSS-PLATFORM PRESETS Circa's user presets are XML-based and cross-platform. A preset made on iOS opens on macOS, Windows, or Linux, and vice versa. Sessions built in GarageBand or Logic on iOS open on desktop if you have a license to the desktop version. WHAT'S INCLUDED Six independent stereo loop layers Slice-based position playback Gesture recorders for UI automation Continuous and momentary modulation system Full MIDI controller mapping Built-in reverb, delay, EQ, and compressor Six assignable stereo outputs plus cue Cross-platform XML preset format AUv3 plugin for iPad Also available as a desktop plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP formats at audiodamage.com.

Screenshots

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin4 screens

Verdict

The call

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin and Circa Looper both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin's written reviews are positive against 33% of Circa Looper's. Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin also leads on price ($5.99 vs $7.99) and ratings volume (45 vs 9). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin costs $5.99 and Circa Looper $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Circa Looper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin has 45 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin's written reviews are positive against 33% of Circa Looper's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin versus Circa Looper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChameleon AUv3 Sampler PluginCirca Looper
Price$5.99 — better$7.99
Rating4.4 (45 ratings)4.6 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS1312.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size226 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin

All ratings45 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral2.2%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative16.0%

Circa Looper

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin

No in-app purchases

None

Circa Looper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin free?
Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Circa Looper free?
Circa Looper costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin or Circa Looper?
Circa Looper is rated higher. Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Circa Looper averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.
Do Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin or Circa Looper have ads?
Neither Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin nor Circa Looper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin or Circa Looper?
Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin ships an update every 3 weeks, and Circa Looper every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chameleon AUv3 Sampler Plugin was updated on September 22, 2026 and Circa Looper on June 11, 2026.

Other comparisons