Flip Sampler vs ButterSynth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Flip Sampler
Create music on the go with this intuitive, sample-based studio. Import or record sounds, shape them with effects, and arrange them into full tracks. Features include a piano roll, automation, and live performance tools.
- Sample-based music creation
- Import/record sounds
- Built-in effects and editing
- Piano roll and automation
- Song arrangement and mixing
- Live performance features
- Export tracks and stems
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Flip is a sample-based mobile music studio that was designed for a fast and intuitive work flow. Import your own sounds via AirDrop or the Files app, or record sounds directly with your device's microphone or a connected iOS interface. As soon as you record a sound it’s available to be played on drum pads as well as being mapped across a keyboard. Sounds can be subtly shaped or entirely transformed using the built-in effects and easy-to-use editing tools. You can record a quantized or unquantized performance on the pads or keyboard. There is also a full piano roll where you can enter and edit notes and velocities. Record knob movements or draw automation by hand to bring even more life to your sounds. Every automation lane can also have its own independent length, for polymetric and generative music possibilities. Create up to 16 different sections for your song and drag and drop them into any order to create your arrangement. Mixing and mastering tools allow you to finish a full track without ever leaving your phone. You can export your full track, or hit the tape icon and record the live output of the app while you tweak anything on the fly. Both options allow you to capture individual track stems as well! A performance page lets you trigger your patterns live while controlling a global filter, assignable pitch bends and reverb sends, and a random fill generator. Artist packs are available in-app at $3.99 or less, which include original sounds and projects from Andrew Huang, Cuckoo, Chuck Sutton, Kilamanzego, Pusher, and more on the way all the time. Features: - 9 track sampler - 4 effects per track: Delay, Filter, Chorus, Bitcrush - Graphic EQ per track - Monophonic or up to 16-note polyphonic playback per sample - Adjustable pitch, volume, playback direction, sample start and stop points - Looping Envelope with forward, backward, both (ping pong) direction - 19 automatable parameters per track - Independent lengths for each automation lane - Automation can be recorded via knob movements or drawn by hand - Drum pad and keyboard input - Full piano roll with 10 octaves, note velocity, editing tools - Randomization over sample selection for quick inspiration - Randomization over note position to create surprising variations - Drag-and-drop song arrangement page - Global reverb with individual track sends - Mixing and mastering tools - Powerful performance features for creating instant fills, pitch shifts, reverb sends, and global low or high pass filtering - Export full track and stems - Live recording of performances - Metronome with tap tempo and swing/shuffle - Ableton Link integration for easy syncing with other devices over WiFi - Share projects and sounds via AirDrop, email, etc. - Undo and redo
ButterSynth
This powerful synthesizer app offers a hybrid approach, combining wavetable, FM, and sample-based synthesis. Create unique sounds with a vast sonic range, advanced modulation, and a built-in effects rack. It caters to both experienced sound designers and beginners with extensive presets.
- Hybrid 6-oscillator synthesis (wavetable, FM, sample)
- Built-in wavetable editor
- FM engine with 4 operators
- Sample and Granulator engines
- 32-slot modulation matrix
- Internal FX rack with 16 modules
- Extensive preset library
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ButterSynth is a hybrid 6-oscillator wavetable/FM/sample-based AUV3 and standalone synthesizer with a vast sonic range, from gentle pads to screaming leads and basslines. Mix any combination of wavetable, FM, sample and other synthesis engines for one truly massive sound. For the more advanced users, you'll love using ButterSynth's thoughtfully designed interface, incredibly powerful modulation matrix, fully-featured internal FX rack, factory waveform and sample libraries, and almost limitless scope for fun, experimentation and sound design. For less experienced synth programmers, ButterSynth includes a library of hundreds of ready-to-use presets, sparking your creativity to start making music right away. Headline features include - Mix and match any combination of 6 synthesis engines to either emulate your favourite synths of yester-year or build a synth ready for the future. - Dual-wavetable engines also feature 9 phase modes, wave folding, and deep unison controls modelled on vintage hardware synths. - Built-in wavetable editor gives you the ability to tweak, morph, and hand-draw your own custom wavetables, with each wavetable supporting up to 256 frames. - FM engine offers 4 operators with a selection of 12 modulation paths. Each operator can be loaded with any waveform from the factory or user library, and can also self-modulate via the feedback dial. - Sample and Granulator engines both let you load samples (either imported or from the factory library) and control precisely how they are chopped, triggered and layered. Both also feature the same powerful unison modes available in the WT engine. - Highly configurable 32-slot modulation matrix featuring precise mix/max ranges, self-modulation (via the amount target), plus configurable response curves and layer modes. Simply long-tap any parameter to set it as a Mod destination! - Full suite of versatile control sources which includes: 4x MSEG-style looping curve envelopes, 4x LFOs, 4x step sequencers, X/Y pad with motion recording, 8x Macro dials and a powerful arpeggiator inspired by Kirnu Interactive’s Cream. - The EFX rack lets you build your own insert effects chain using any combination of the 16 built-in FX modules. Modules available at launch include delay, reverb, distortion, chorus, OTT compression etc. Note - FX parameters can also be targeted by the mod matrix, unlocking the possibility to program ‘per voice’ modulated effects. - All presets, wavetables, samples and other settings are stored in the Files app, making bulk import/export, backup and community sharing quick and easy. - All of this is housed in an irresistibly designed 4-tab UI that makes synth programming quick and fun.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Flip Sampler at $11.99 against ButterSynth's $19.99. Flip Sampler also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases 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
Flip Sampler costs $11.99 and ButterSynth $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Flip Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flip Sampler has 326 ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Flip Sampler's written reviews are positive against 60% of ButterSynth's.
Flip Sampler ships an update every 4 weeks, ButterSynth every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Flip Sampler | ButterSynth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (326 ratings) — better | 4.0 (62 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 64.5% of reviews — better | 60.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 326 — better | 62 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #177 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 208 MB | 468 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Suture Sound Inc. | Arto Vaarala |
Customer experience
Flip Sampler
ButterSynth
User reviews
Flip Sampler
From 326 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Powerful sampling and automation features
- 💡 Great for sketching out musical ideas on the go
- 🚀 Responsive and fast workflow
- 👍 Comprehensive and feature-rich for the price
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Bugs with MIDI, automation, and sample management
- 👎 Limited to 9 sample pads
- 👎 Glitchy piano roll and note editing
- 👎 Delay and latency issues with Bluetooth devices
ButterSynth
From 62 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✨ Deep sound design capabilities
- 🎛️ Versatile modulation matrix
- 🔊 Great sound quality
- 💡 Innovative wavetable generator
- 🌟 Serum-like experience
Room to improve
- 📱 Fiddly on small screens
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Disappears in Cubasis
- 🐛 Spikes CPU usage
- 🐛 Crashes on patch change
Bugs and requests
Flip Sampler
Reported bugs
5 issues- Samples randomly re-pitch or lose settings
- Undo function doesn't work as expected
- Exported tracks have different key/pitch than original
- Metronome glitches and stops working
- Dynamic island on iPhone 14 Pro covers UI elements
Requested features
5 requests- Expand to 16 or more sample pads
- Add longer loop/pattern lengths
- Implement MIDI controller support
- Improve sample organization and folder management
- Add resampling and time-stretching capabilities
ButterSynth
Reported bugs
39 issues- App crashing with AUM
- Disappears in Cubasis randomly
- Crashes all the time inside Logic
- Changing a patch spikes CPU to 99%
- Crashes on every patch change
Show 34 moreShow fewer
- No audio when rendering or freezing track
- Keyboard doesn't load on iPhone
- iOS18 broke ButterSynth (audio recording issues)
- Failed to load as Auv3
- Crashes as soon as a preset is selected
- Some patches hanging/sounding without input
- CPU spikes to 100% on preset switching
- Audio crackles on preset switching
- Sample module has consistent buzz
- LFOs are extremely simple (no phase offset)
- Square wave LFO is not square (has slew)
- Step sequencer always has glide/slew
- Cannot save custom presets
- No undo function in wave table editor
- AUv3 plugin resets when ButterSynth crashes
- Does not show up as auv3 in Cubasis, AUM, or Audio Evolution
- Crashes regularly even on newest iPad
- Preset changes every time play is pressed
- Not resizing appropriately on smaller screens
- Crashes with unison function in AUM
- White noise on crash with unison
- Sound continues after song stops in GarageBand
- Preset changes on stop, rewind, or play in GarageBand
- Keeps crashing in GarageBand (AUv3)
- Patches in standalone sound different as AUv3
- Crashes when hitting play with arpeggiator/sequencer on iPhone
- No keyboard appears in iPhone standalone mode
- Audio Unit Extension quit error on export
- Lots of crashes in standalone and hosted in AUM
- MIDI not working
- Automation still doesn’t work in Logic Pro
- Random LFO is great for recording sequences
- Preset browser closes each time a new preset is selected
- Works as AUv3 after starting in standalone mode
Requested features
20 requests- MPE popup possible on top of the auv3
- Button to hide built-in keyboard
- Buffer size option
- Additional MIDI mappings (e.g., arpeggiator toggle)
- Sustain pedal support
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Longer LFO speed for evolving soundscapes
- Alternative skins/color themes
- Pinable preset browser
- Virtual keyboard to remain active while browser is pinned
- Make app take up whole screen (no black borders)
- Master detune
- Parameter lock
- More presets
- Fix square wave LFO to be truly square
- Fix step sequencer glide/slew for discrete steps
- Undo function in wave table editor
- Filter key follow button
- Adjust envelope curves (especially release)
- Easier way to adjust modulation matrix amount
- Phase distortion inclusion
In-app purchases
Flip Sampler
No in-app purchases
ButterSynth
No in-app purchases









