AMB vs S
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Simplified FM synthesis
- Pocket-sized design
- Sound shaping
- Crystalline sound creation
- Noisy texture generation
- Sharp bassline creation
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
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.
| Parameter | AMB | S |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (3 ratings) | 4.5 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jan Strahlberg | Mathias Kirkerød |
Customer experience
AMB
S
In-app purchases
AMB
No in-app purchases
S
No in-app purchases









