PowerSample Live vs Performance Sampler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PowerSample Live
This application allows users to easily play and manage multiple sound samples. Organize sounds into different sets and customize each sample's configuration. Share your creations across devices and control the pads with a keyboard or MIDI device.
- Manage and edit sound sets
- Manage and edit individual samples
- Import/export sets for sharing
- Customize sample configurations
- Control pads with keyboard
- Connect MIDI devices for control
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PowerSample Live is an easy-to-use sampler to play different sounds. Manage multiple samples and sort them into different sets. Each sample can be configured differently to fit your needs. Key features: - Manage and edit different sets - Manage and edit different samples - Import export sets to share between different devices - Customize each sample - Controll the pads with your keyboard - Connect any midi device to controll the pads
Performance Sampler
Create malleable, performative sound with dynamic, real-time effects. This app offers a tactile approach to sample-based music creation with multi-touch gestures to sculpt audio. Explore new sounds, jam on the go, or perform live with a clean, fluid interface and robust sound-shaping tools.
- Real-time audio manipulation
- Multi-touch gestures for sound sculpting
- Customizable sample pads with FX chains
- Parametric EQ and tuner per pad
- Sequencer with up to 512 steps
- Ableton Link integration
- Resampling and mic/line in recording
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Samposium is a performance sampler built for real-time audio manipulation. Through fluid, multi-touch gestures inspired by modular synthesizers and the spirit of improvisation, you bend, shape, twist, and sculpt samples into rich, textured arrangements — sample putty you mold live, not just trigger. Whether you're playing live, jamming on the go, or exploring new sounds, Samposium turns your iPad or iPhone into an interactive musical instrument, welcoming to complete beginners and seasoned musicians alike. New in this release: Sequences just leveled up into Patterns. Build and edit up to 8 patterns (A–H) live, without ever stopping playback, so a simple loop can grow into a full arrangement without you ever losing the moment. Grab a Bluetooth MIDI controller and take hands-on control — every mapping in your project now lives in one screen, so you always know exactly what's wired to what. Professional beat-making and sound design at your fingertips • Create fully customizable sample pads - adjust colors, sizes, positions, and behaviors to match your style • Design unique sounds with independent effects chains on every pad, complete with 3-band EQ, tuning, and full effect order control • Layer drums realistically with choke groups, mute or solo any pad at a glance, and craft intricate beats with a powerful 64-step sequencer, up to 512 unique steps • Instantly clear every mute or solo with one tap when things get chaotic mid-set • Tap anywhere on a waveform to hear that exact moment instantly, even while the sequencer keeps running Record and capture your sound • Connect a USB audio interface and choose exactly which input channel feeds which pad, with mono/stereo recording and channel metering • Record your own samples or layer in royalty-free sounds with live Mic/Line In recording and resampling • Bundled project demos and 300+ MB of royalty-free samples to spark creativity immediately Make music your way, anywhere • Adaptive interface that flows seamlessly between portrait and landscape orientations • Choose from multiple layouts designed for different workflows - prioritize what matters to you • Show or hide views to keep your focus exactly where it needs to be • Fully customizable colors and colorblind-friendly options with light and dark modes Collaborate and create without limits • Sync seamlessly with other music apps and hardware using Ableton Link • Full MIDI control with visual feedback - map every pad, effect, and sequencer action with "push to learn," using wired or Bluetooth MIDI controllers • Per-pad MIDI settings for advanced production control • Get quick inspiration with intelligent randomization that respects your settings Stay in the creative flow • Quick-save and auto-save so your ideas are never lost, plus quick access to your 5 most recent projects • Intuitive multi-touch gestures and controls designed for fast, expressive playing • Effect range controls and step-size quantization for precise sound sculpting Everything you need, nothing you don't • One purchase, no subscriptions - create forever • Comprehensive user guide to master every feature • Works as a standalone app or as an AUv3 plugin, with full audio recording support • Run multiple instances of Samposium side-by-side inside your DAW What people are saying: "I'm always excited about any new, powerful multi-layer sampler for iOS. In this, I really like how fluid the interface and workflow are here." - Synth Anatomy "It's for music creation with your samples and it's for live jamming and it does all kinds of cool stuff. It's very elegant with the way it's been designed." - The Sound Test Room "It's fun, it is a performance sampler. There are no in-app purchases with this, you pay for it once! It works on your iPhone, it works on your iPad" - JadeStarr Questions? help@synthfamdsp.com Join our community on Discord https://www.synthfamdsp.com/#community
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PowerSample Live at $3.99 against Performance Sampler's $14.99. PowerSample Live also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). Performance Sampler's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
PowerSample Live costs $3.99 and Performance Sampler $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Performance Sampler holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Performance Sampler has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of PowerSample Live's written reviews are positive against 100% of Performance Sampler's.
PowerSample Live ships an update every 8 months, Performance Sampler every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PowerSample Live | Performance Sampler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 411 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Linsenmeier | Joshua Totemwongse |
Customer experience
PowerSample Live
Performance Sampler
In-app purchases
PowerSample Live
No in-app purchases
Performance Sampler
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PowerSample Live free?
Is Performance Sampler free?
Which has better reviews, PowerSample Live or Performance Sampler?
Do PowerSample Live or Performance Sampler have ads?
Which is updated more often, PowerSample Live or Performance Sampler?
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