SAND vs Zen AutoPan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SAND
This app is a grid-based music sequencer that allows users to create compositions using AUv3 plugins and external MIDI devices. It offers extensive tools for arranging clips, editing notes, automating parameters, and routing MIDI.
- Grid-based MIDI sequencing
- AUv3 plugin hosting
- External MIDI device support
- Advanced clip editing
- Track and effect management
- Song mode for arrangement
- MIDI routing and mapping
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Have SAND in your pocket. Create music anywhere. Sketch your ideas, compose with MIDI and audio clips, host your favorite plugins. All designed for creative flow, whether you're at home or on the go. SAND is a music sketchpad for AUv3, MIDI, and audio clips—built so you can try ideas quickly, without setup getting in the way. Please note: SAND does not generate sound on its own—it relies on AUv3 plugins you can find on the App Store. Try SAND free for 14 days; in-app purchases unlock features after the trial. GRID SEQUENCER Arrange MIDI and audio clips on a grid to build your ideas. Copy, duplicate, merge, combine, and drag-and-drop clips to shape your project. Quick clip tools: quantize, length, legato, transpose from the clip menu. Render MIDI clips as audio by dropping them onto an audio track. MIDI TRACKS Work with instrument and MIDI tracks in your projects. Load an instrument and unlimited audio and MIDI effects on each track. Hide tracks and assign custom icons to keep sessions organized. Save tracks as templates for future projects. Edit MIDI in a piano-roll clip editor: quantize, legato, split, duplicate, copy, and paste. Build chords with the chord selector. Adjust note position, pitch, duration, and velocity. Handle bars edit position and pitch on the note. Use an adjustable grid or free placement. Scale highlighting helps you stay in key. Record with an optional count-in or from the first note. Quantize recordings for tighter timing. AUDIO TRACKS Add dedicated audio tracks alongside your MIDI material. Import audio into clips from other apps or the clip import flow, with preview before committing. Record audio into clips with per-track input settings and track arming. Set loop or one-shot playback, beat-aligned or immediate start, and optional clip BPM. Looping clips follow project tempo. The audio editor supports copy, paste, crop, gain adjustment, normalize, silence, fades, reverse, pitch, stretch, and split. With automatic or manual preview. PLUGIN HOST Host AUv3 instruments, audio effects, and MIDI processors. Control parameters and presets, and save default states for new instances. Record notes and MIDI from plugin interfaces, and capture output from MIDI plugins. Mark plugins as favorites for faster access. SONG MODE Arrange clips in sections with independent lengths, played back seamlessly in order. Launch every clip in a section at once, sections work as scene launchers. Set a different time signature per section when needed. AUTOMATION Automate volume, pan, effect parameters, and MIDI for dynamic changes across your tracks. MASTER TRACK Apply effects globally across the project. Use the master track's clip to generate bass lines and chord progressions. MIDI ROUTING Record from external MIDI devices, including hardware synths. Send MIDI out for real-time playback and route MIDI between tracks. Use SAND as a virtual MIDI input and output. MIDI MAPPING Map a MIDI controller to control the app with a flexible, customizable layout. "Shift" mappings extend what a single controller surface can do. PROJECT VERSIONS Save and restore named snapshots of a project—experiment freely, then return to an earlier state. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Rename projects and branch copies with Save As…. (iOS 18+) Start new work from project templates. (iOS 18+) SYNC Sync with other apps and DAWs using Ableton Link. ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD AND PADS Record with a velocity-sensitive on-screen keyboard. Choose scale and root to limit keys to a scale, and adjust visible keys to match how you play. Play and record beats with on-screen drum pads. IMPORT / EXPORT Export clips as audio or MIDI. Export projects as Ableton Live sets. Record performances and export audio, including stems for separate processing.
Zen AutoPan
This AUv3 stereo movement tool offers dynamic panning effects for music production and sound design. Sculpt your audio with multiple LFO shapes and an intuitive XY pad for real-time creative control. Seamlessly integrate with compatible DAWs on iOS devices.
- Multiple LFO Shapes
- Intuitive XY Pad
- Adjustable Stereo Width
- AUv3 Compatibility
- Optimized for iOS
- 3D Visuals
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FX Forms #002 - Zen AutoPan from Wild Surmise Music, second offering in the series of AUv3 FX plugins. Note: This needs a compatible DAW App such as Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, Garageband etc to use the AUv3 plugin. Zen AutoPan is not merely a tool, but an invitation to dance with the rhythm of the universe. Designed with the meticulous care of a Zen garden, this AUv3 app is a portal to experiencing the dynamic interplay of sound and silence. As Alan Watts might say, it allows you to "play" with your music, weaving the fabric of stereo panning effects into the tapestry of auditory experience. In the act of creating or enhancing sound, Zen AutoPan becomes a partner in the dance of existence, moving with the effortless grace of a leaf on a breeze. It's here, in the realm of music production and sound design, that Zen AutoPan offers a reflection of the universe's own symphony, inviting you to partake in the cosmic play of sound and silence, movement and stillness. Features: - Multiple LFO Shapes: Choose from sine, square, sawtooth, and random LFO shapes to sculpt your sound. - Intuitive XY Pad: Control the depth and speed of your stereo panning effects with an easy-to-use XY pad, allowing for real-time adjustments and creative expression. - Width Control: Adjust the stereo width to go from subtle spatial enhancements to full stereo sweeps, giving your tracks a larger-than-life presence. - Versatile Use: Ideal for music production, live performances, and sound design projects. - AUv3 Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with your favorite DAW or music production app, offering flexibility and ease of use. - Optimized for iOS: Crafted specifically for the iOS environment, Zen AutoPan ensures a stable, high-performance experience on your favorite devices. 3D Visuals leverage SceneKit and Metal Shaders providing good visual performance on iOS devices and can also be turned off in the info menu.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zen AutoPan at none against SAND's 4. SAND's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (89 vs 15). On price, rating, review sentiment 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
Both are free to download. SAND sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Zen AutoPan asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SAND against 4.7 for Zen AutoPan. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAND has 89 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 79% and 80% positive.
SAND ships an update every 2 months, Zen AutoPan every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SAND | Zen AutoPan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (89 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 89 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 13 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matteo Caldari | Tom Power |
Customer experience
SAND
Zen AutoPan
Bugs and requests
SAND
Reported bugs
27 issues- Record function always starts when entering Midi Instrument or FX
- Sand not opening in overview
- Integration with other apps seems off
- Record does not pick up data
- Cannot save ideas from one app to another
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- Auv3 interfaces don't scale well
- Note editing, snapping/quantization awkward and buggy
- Sand won't run within AUM anymore
- Sand not recognized within AUM
- Sand wouldn't recognize other apps as host
- Rendering issues
- Editing notes in pitch grid flies up
- Entering note values difficult
- Changing note length has issues
- Bugs not worked out, more brought in
- Clips out of sync when manually triggered
- Unpredictability for creating new notes
- Selecting notes for editing difficult
- Synchronizing between tracks problematic
- Occasional crashes
- Notes editing/selection/moving process is a pain
- No BT headphone support
- Less than 50% of synths/plugins show up
- Many plugins don't work properly
- App prompts for purchase again after buying
- Pattern length adjustment by 1 is crazy
- No snapping for note length stretch
Requested features
58 requests- Sand always open in overview
- Long press in sequence track window
- Random/chance abilities in clips (Polyend Play style)
- Semi-generative function or scale-based patterns/sequences
- Save AUv3 presets
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- Audio integration with audio quantization
- Audio clips
- Return to zero button
- More clip actions for performance (fire clip/scene, count in, repeat, single shot)
- Trigger sequences not just on bars
- Packaged as a MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet time signatures (3/4, 6/8)
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- More clip actions for performance
- MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet Time Signatures
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- Pattern length adjustment in note editor
- Snapping for note length stretch
- More clip actions for performance
- MIDI AUv3 processor
- Sequencer for patterns and automation curves
- Triplet Time Signatures
- MIDI channels for instruments
- Export to MIDI file
- Deep piano roll note editing
- Song mode
- Stem support
- Automation
- Lower OS requirement
- Selection of multiple notes in sequencer
- Separate lane for MIDI control of FX plugins
- Proper mixer view
- Support for Bluetooth headphones
- Pattern length adjustment in note editor
- Snapping for note length stretch
Zen AutoPan
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SAND
- 14-day trialFree
- 14 Days TrialFree
- Unlock$9.99
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- Audio Tracks$9.99
Zen AutoPan
No in-app purchases







