Comparison

AMB vs S

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

Head to head
About

AMB

This mobile application offers a simplified approach to FM synthesis, allowing users to create a variety of sounds, from crystalline textures to sharp basslines, directly on their device. It's designed for on-the-go sound design and musical exploration.

Highlights
  • Simplified FM synthesis
  • Pocket-sized design
  • Sound shaping
  • Crystalline sound creation
  • Noisy texture generation
  • Sharp bassline creation
Read full description

AMB-R is a simplified and alternate take on FM synthesis that fits snugly in your pocket. Shape crystalline sounds, noisy textures, or sharp basslines anytime and anywhere.

About

S

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer that works with specific hardware. It offers a variety of sound engines, filters, and effects for creating unique audio textures. Advanced modulation options and a flexible routing system allow for deep sound design.

Highlights
  • Dual engine slots per voice
  • Multiple sound flavors (analog, wavetable, FM, speech)
  • Classic and Modern filter modes
  • Advanced FX rack
  • Two free-routing LFOs
  • Unified mod matrix
  • Standalone, AU, and AUv3 formats
Features
Read full description

s-2 is a polyphonic synthesizer designed to work with the Roland AIRA Compact S-1. ENGINE Each voice runs two parallel engine slots that mix together. Pick a sound flavor per slot, including: • Classic analog — saw, square, sub, noise, pulse-width • Wavetable • FM • Speech • Chord • Plucked string FILTER AND FX Classic mode runs a vintage-style ladder filter into a simple Delay → Chorus → Reverb chain. Modern mode swaps in a multi-mode SVF (LP / BP / HP) followed by a 3-slot Advanced FX rack with Bitcrusher, Drive, Flanger, Phaser, Auto-Filter, Tape Delay, Plate Reverb and Chorus. MODULATION Two free-routing LFOs (sine / triangle / saw / square / random / noise, with optional clock-sync), a dedicated filter envelope with two destination slots, and a unified mod matrix dialog that visualizes every routing in one place. Click any knob in Learn mode to assign — no digging through menus. FORMATS • Standalone for iOS • Audio Unit (AU) for Logic Pro and other AU hosts • AUv3 plugin for iPad / iPhone in AUM, GarageBand, Cubasis and more - s-2 is an independent third-party application. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Roland Corporation. "Roland", "AIRA", "AIRA Compact", and "S-1" are trademarks of Roland Corporation, used here only to describe MIDI compatibility between this app and that hardware.

Screenshots

AMB4 screens
S3 screens

Verdict

The call

AMB and S both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of AMB's written reviews are positive against 0% of S's. AMB also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

S holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of AMB's written reviews are positive against 0% of S's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AMB ships an update every 3 weeks, S every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AMB versus S: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAMBS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJan StrahlbergMathias Kirkerød

Customer experience

AMB

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

S

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

AMB

No in-app purchases

None

S

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AMB free?
AMB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is S free?
S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AMB or S?
S is rated higher. AMB averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while S averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do AMB or S have ads?
Neither AMB nor S shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AMB or S?
AMB ships an update every 3 weeks, and S every 6 weeks. Most recently, AMB was updated on October 24, 2026 and S on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons