Jazz Drummer vs RingsFX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Jazz Drummer
This app offers a new approach to jazz drumming for mobile devices, featuring distinct drummer styles and adjustable improvisation levels. It includes tools for creating realistic drum sounds, live performance control, and song composition with integrated effects.
- Three distinct drummer styles (Swing, Be Bop, Modern Bop)
- 2D slider for jam level and intensity control
- Save mixer and effects per sound bank
- Humanize Velocity for realistic sound
- Live Pads with rhythm, jam, and intensity control
- MIDI control mapping
- Four combinable effects (Compressor/Gate, EQ, Delay, Reverb)
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Jazz Drums for iPad and iPhone with new approach to improvisation and swing pulse. - Three drummers in one. Jo, Max and Roy : Swing, Be Bop and Modern Bop drums. Regardless of the selected rhythm, the choice of drummer will affect all improvisations, jams and fills style. - New 2d Slider to control jam level ( x - horizontal ) and intensity ( y - vertical ) - Save Mixer and Effects for each Sound Bank. - Toggle Ride / Hats and Cross Stick / Snare - Adds a new Jazz bank to iBassist with lot of bass lines and chord progressions. - Humanize Velocity to get realistic sound. - iCloud Backups - Live Pads with Rhythm, jam and intensity parameter to play live and control by MIDI. - Song Mode with the new 2D Slider for parts. - 4 Effects to combine, including Compressor/Gate, Equalizer, Delay and Reverb. - Several Random generators to get creative ideas instantly. --- MIDI CONTROLS --- Assignable Controls MIDI Mapping Default Controls : Play : G2 LivePads : C1 - G2 Fill + Play/Stop : A2 Fill : C2 Fill + Toggle Hats/Ride D2 Toggle Hats/Ride Db2 Fill with LivePad Change E2 Load Live Pad C3 Preview LivePad Db3 Next Live Pad D3 Select Live Pad Set Eb3 Tap Tempo Bb2 Crash Cymbal B2 Next Song Ab2 Previous Song Gb2 Jam CC 1 Intensity CC 2 Master Volume CC 7 Swing CC 11 Reverb Level CC 91 Bank CC 32 Rhythm CC 0 Soundset PC
RingsFX
This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.
- Physical modeling synthesis emulation
- Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
- Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
- External audio excitation
- Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
- 7 unique synthesis modes
- 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
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RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RingsFX at $14.99 against Jazz Drummer's $17.99. Jazz Drummer's advantage is ratings volume (268 vs 27). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and 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
Jazz Drummer costs $17.99 and RingsFX $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RingsFX holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jazz Drummer has 268 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Jazz Drummer's written reviews are positive against 100% of RingsFX's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Jazz Drummer | RingsFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $14.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (268 ratings) | 4.9 (27 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 93.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 268 — better | 27 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 330 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lumbeat | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Jazz Drummer
RingsFX
Bugs and requests
Jazz Drummer
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes when changing patterns or settings
- MIDI learn feature crashes on certain devices
- Compatibility issues with iOS 26 and newer
Requested features
4 requests- Add AUv3 support for better integration with DAWs
- Improve MIDI functionality and connectivity
- Provide more detailed tutorials and user guides
- Implement preset saving and recall options
RingsFX
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Jazz Drummer
No in-app purchases
RingsFX
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Jazz Drummer free?
Is RingsFX free?
Which has better reviews, Jazz Drummer or RingsFX?
Do Jazz Drummer or RingsFX have ads?
Which is updated more often, Jazz Drummer or RingsFX?
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