Comparison

DRM vs SUBscription Synth

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

Head to head
About

DRM

This app emulates a vintage 1979 drum machine, offering a pure interface for creating beats on your device. It includes high-quality samples, preset patterns, and advanced audio features for music production.

Highlights
  • 8 original high-quality double-samples
  • 32 preset patterns
  • Selective instrument deletion modes
  • Full machine state auto-save
  • Background audio playback
  • Audiobus V3 and InterApp audio support
  • Built-in audio and global effects
Features
Read full description

Holding the simplicity of a rare 1979 instrument and carrying its raw heritage to you, it turns your device into a pocket beat making companion. I believe that designing a pure interface, simply displaying your machine without any distraction, was the best way to reflect the spirit of the period it was born. Main caracteristics : - 8 Original high quality double-samples - 32 preset patterns - 3 Selective instrument deletion modes - Full machine state auto-save - Background audio playback enabled - Audiobus V3 - InterApp audio Bonuses accessible in your device settings : - Additionnal LED display for the tempo and the volume - Pattern selection LED indicators - Alternative « Rock » drum kit with integrated effects - Built-in intruments effects : « Stereo pan » and « Jungle tune » - Built-in audio effects : « Equalizer » and « Distortion » - Built-in global effects : « Delay » and « Reverb » - Mute any instrument I hope you will enjoy it as much as I love it ;-)

About

SUBscription Synth

This app transforms user-entered text into unique monophonic sub-synth waveshapes. It offers a text-to-synthesis engine, drive and dirt effects, a low-pass filter, and extensive modulation options for creating powerful bass sounds.

Highlights
  • Text-to-synthesis engine
  • Monophonic sub-synth
  • Drive and dirt effects
  • 12dB/oct low-pass filter
  • 2 envelopes, 2 LFOs, 4 expression controls
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone operation
Read full description

To celebrate international joke day 2023, we decided to take a big step with our first synthesizer plugin; SUBscription. While based on a tongue-in-cheek pun about the current state and direction of the music tech industry, we actually ended up with a surprisingly excellent plugin that takes user-generated phrases (subscription codes) and converts them into unique waveshapes in a monophonic sub-synth. - Create powerful, characterful bass sounds - Unique and exceptionally high IQ text synthesis technique ^TM - Reasonable subscription models - Unequivocally superior, requires no review. SUBscription Upon entering a subscription code into our brand new text-to-synthesis engine, you are entering a world of sonic enrichment and fame, but you may have to make a deal with the devil. Text Synthesis Create characterful wave shapes using our experimental new text-to-synthesis technique. We have prepared every possible character combination (subscription code) because you’re weak and predictable. Drive & Dirt Boost the ever loving **** out of the synth with some crispy drive. Use the Dirt knob’s Rate modulation to thicken and filth up your tracks with noisy textures. Filter Carve your frequencies out with the 12dB/oct low-pass ladder filter. Much like the filter, we too will be filtering out any bug reports, requests or errors - our time is far more important. Modulation Add movement to your sounds with 2 envelopes, 2 LFO’s & 4 expression controls which are assignable to nearly every parameter. Unlike the fluid nature of modulation, we stand firm with our decisions - you just wouldn’t get it. Product Aftercare If you need support via email you’ll have to deal with harshly worded, incredibly frustrated developers and please note that all critical feedback of any nature will be met with serious scolding. SUBscription is designed as an AUv3 plugin, meaning it works within iOS and iPadOS hosts such as Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis 3, AUM and Beatmaker 3. SUBscription also works as a standalone instrument.

Screenshots

DRM4 screens
SUBscription Synth2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SUBscription Synth at 88% against DRM's 57%. SUBscription Synth also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 6). DRM's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

DRM costs $1.99 and SUBscription Synth $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DRM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SUBscription Synth has 42 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of DRM's written reviews are positive against 88% of SUBscription Synth's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DRM ships an update every 7 months, SUBscription Synth every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DRM versus SUBscription Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDRMSUBscription Synth
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.6 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings642 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid RochaixCaelum Audio

Customer experience

DRM

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

SUBscription Synth

All ratings42 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

DRM

No in-app purchases

None

SUBscription Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DRM free?
DRM costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SUBscription Synth free?
SUBscription Synth costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DRM or SUBscription Synth?
DRM is rated higher. DRM averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while SUBscription Synth averages 4.6 from 42 ratings.
Do DRM or SUBscription Synth have ads?
Neither DRM nor SUBscription Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DRM or SUBscription Synth?
DRM ships an update every 7 months, and SUBscription Synth every 2 days. Most recently, DRM was updated on September 10, 2026 and SUBscription Synth on September 23, 2026.

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