Comparison

SDS vs Analog Rack Delay

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

Head to head
About

SDS

Create beats and play drum samples with this feature-rich drum machine app. It offers an intuitive sequencer, extensive sample manipulation, and professional audio output options. Suitable for beginners and experienced musicians alike.

Highlights
  • 30+ factory kits
  • Intuitive 16-step sequencer
  • Nearly 200 factory samples
  • Drag and drop sample loading
  • Mixer with FX
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • MIDI and Ableton Link support
Features
Read full description

SDS-x is the most fun you’ll have with a drum machine on iOS! SDS-x is a drum machine that makes it easy to play drum samples and fun to make beats. SDS-x is also extremely feature rich, with advanced controls for crafting your sound and building complex sequences. Whether this is your first iOS music app or you are an avid AUv3 enthusiast, SDS-x has something for you. SDS-x can be played by tapping the pads or by using the sequencer to program a beat. Highlights: - Get started quickly with one of the 30+ factory kits. - Program beats with a fun and unique sequencer. - Build kits from nearly 200 factory samples. - Drag and drop samples over pads to load sounds. - Mix your pads and add effects with intuitive controls. - Host SDS-x in your favorite iOS DAW as an AUv3 plug-in. - Play with others using MIDI and Ableton Link - Export pattern audio as WAV file to use in any DAW! (PRO) Features: Sequencer - Make a beat using the intuitive, sixteen-step sequencer. - Add variation with “per step” controls for velocity and note multiplier. - Get the feel right with swing and quantize parameters. - Switch things up with 16 patterns per kit. - Make a song by chaining up to 128 patterns. - Create complex polymeters with “per track” sequence length. Pads - SDS-x has nine pads, each with two sample layers. - Custom name and color for each pad. - Per sample controls for: pitch, pan, and level. - Per pad controls for: trigger mode, sample mode, loop, mono/poly, mute group, velocity, MIDI receive, MIDI send. - Trigger modes: one-shot, gate, toggle, and retrigger 8th to 64th triplet. - Sample modes: mix, rotate, random, velocity switch, velocity mix. - Global velocity modes: top, center, fixed, pressure. Samples - SDS-x comes fully loaded with nearly 200 samples, recorded and edited by Simple Drum Samples. - Import your own sounds from the Files app to expand your sample library. (PRO) Perform - Control pad levels, pan, mute, solo, and effects sends with the in-app mixer. - Five FX types: delay (send), reverb (send), high pass filter, low pass filter, and “master” effect for getting LOUD. - Full screen pads mode for improved experience on smaller devices. - Hard pan option for metronome to run click and samples to FOH on separate channels. Workflow - Use one of the 30+ factory kits. - Save your work as a user kit. (PRO) - Drag and drop samples from your in-app library onto a pad to load samples. - Intuitive XY pad for controlling FX parameters. - Double tap and long press actions for most controls to speed up workflow. - Dual menu view on iPad. Connect - Comes with AUv3 plugin. Play SDS-x alongside your other music apps! - Keep time with other devices using Ableton Link. - Connect wirelessly using Bluetooth MIDI. - Pads can send and receive MIDI, so you can play with external gear! - Share user kits via AirDrop, iMessage, and more. (PRO) Privacy Policy: https://www.audiosymmetric.com/privacy-policy.html EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Analog Rack Delay

This audio plugin offers the powerful delay algorithms of Nembrini Audio in a user-friendly package. It features BPM sync, a stereo spread circuit, and a rich analog tube preamp for unique signal coloration. Use it as a standalone app or within other music production software.

Highlights
  • Analog delay algorithms
  • BPM Sync
  • Stereo spread circuit
  • Tube preamp coloration
  • Standalone app
  • AudioUnit v3 effect
  • Inter-App Audio effect
Features
Read full description

The Analog Rack Delay plugin is the power of Nembrini Audio’s delay algorithms in a simple package! BPM Sync, stereo spread circuit and a very juicy sound! Nembrini Audio has taken the guitarists most preferred analog and digital effect pedals and has repacked it in new rack style plugins easy to use and extremely powerful at the same time, with the addition of a custom design tube preamp virtual circuit which gives color to the signal in a very special way. Just insert the Analog Rack Delay plugin in your tracks to hear its beautiful analog tube coloration! Works as a standalone app, AudioUnit v3 effect, or Inter-App Audio effect

Screenshots

SDS4 screens
Analog Rack Delay1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Analog Rack Delay at none against SDS's 3. Analog Rack Delay also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 90%). SDS's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Both are free to download. SDS sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Analog Rack Delay asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SDS against 4.8 for Analog Rack Delay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 67 and 32 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of SDS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Analog Rack Delay's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SDS ships an update every 3 months, Analog Rack Delay every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SDS versus Analog Rack Delay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDSAnalog Rack Delay
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (67 ratings) — better4.8 (32 ratings)
Positive reviews90.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings67 — better32
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan RobinsonNembrini Audio

Customer experience

SDS

All ratings67 ratings
Positive98.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative5.8%

Analog Rack Delay

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SDS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Features Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Pro Features Yearly$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Features$12.99
None

Analog Rack Delay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SDS free?
SDS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Analog Rack Delay free?
Analog Rack Delay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SDS or Analog Rack Delay?
SDS is rated higher. SDS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 67 ratings, while Analog Rack Delay averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.
Do SDS or Analog Rack Delay have ads?
Neither SDS nor Analog Rack Delay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SDS or Analog Rack Delay?
SDS ships an update every 3 months, and Analog Rack Delay every 5 months. Most recently, SDS was updated on October 13, 2026 and Analog Rack Delay on October 13, 2026.

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