Comparison

FabFilter Twin 3 vs Musical Demon's Impulse

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

Head to head
About

FabFilter Twin 3

This powerful virtual analog synthesizer offers a vast array of sound-shaping tools, including multiple oscillators, filters, and a comprehensive modulation system. Create a wide range of synth sounds with an intuitive interface and a rich factory preset library.

Highlights
  • Four flexible oscillators
  • Four vintage-style filters
  • Extensive modulation system
  • All-new FX section
  • Arpeggiator with groove controls
  • Full-featured preset browser
  • Analog-modelled drift
Read full description

Since its first release in 2005, FabFilter Twin has been famous for its filter quality and oscillator sound. FabFilter Twin 3 expands and improves on its predecessors in every area, including a complete redesign of the GUI and workflow, more and better oscillators and filters, a radically powered-up modulation system, an all-new FX section, and much more. Sonically versatile, supremely intuitive, and spectacularly ‘analog’, Twin 3 is a dream instrument for creating synth sounds of all kinds, from basses, leads, and pads to plucks, drums, effects, and beyond. The Twin 3 app lets you play via the on-screen keyboard or a MIDI keyboard connected to your iPad. To use Twin 3 as a plug-in, you need an AUv3-compatible host app like Auria, AUM or Cubasis. Twin 3 will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for instrument plug-ins in the host app. Key features: - Virtual analog synth featuring four flexible oscillators, four filters, six FX modules, and a vast modulation system with a wealth of flexible source signal generators, drag and drop source/target routing, and no limit to the number of modulation assignments that can be made - Fully redesigned, greatly simplified interface with easier workflow - Completely overhauled modulation system with redesigned modulation sources, and floating slot and FX panels - All-new FX section, housing Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Phaser, Drive, and Compressor modules - Arpeggiator with Groove/Legato controls, note order, latch options, and more - Full-featured preset browser, with tags, favorites, and search and filter functions, and new factory preset library - Per Oscillator polyphony mode: each incoming note triggers a different oscillator - Bell, Shelf, and Notch vintage-style EQ filter shapes - 6dB/octave filter slope option - Modulatable filter Cutoff/Peak Offset knobs knobs, for adjusting all filters at once - High Quality mode — 4x oversampling - Transient mode turns Envelope Followers into transient detectors - Curve adjustment handles for EG Attack, Decay, and Release stages - Slider mode (vertical-only operation) and Range setting (toggles between bipolar and unipolar behavior) for XY controllers - Hide all modulation sources except for XY controllers and Sliders at a click - Native sustain pedal support - Even better oscillator and filter sound quality, with analog-modelled drift - Maximum number of voices doubled from 32 to 64 - Lower minimum Envelope Generator Attack, Decay, and Release times - Maximum number of XY controllers/Sliders increased to six - Envelope Generator Threshold, XLFO Balance, and Frequency Offset made available as modulation targets - Modulation sources can be renamed - Maximum number of modulation slots increased to 100 - Legato mode for MIDI-triggered XLFO - Range options added to MIDI Sources: Negative (-1 to 0), Centered (-1 to 1), and Positive (0 to 1) - Carefully designed and curated factory presets, plus the ability to save your own presets - Undo/redo and A/B comparison "FabFilter Twin is one of the best virtual analogues we've heard so far, and at this price point it's well worth the investment!" — Computer Music "Once I found FabFilter Twin, I immediately noticed how great it works and how amazing it sounds!" — George Morel

About

Musical Demon's Impulse

Features
Read full description

Impulse is a focused, musician‑built tool for capturing clean, accurate impulse responses from your own cabinets, rooms, and signal chains. Designed for engineers, guitarists, producers, and sound designers, it delivers a streamlined workflow with precise alignment, intelligent safety checks, and fast export. With real‑time environmental analysis, automatic trimming, and a robust deconvolution engine, Impulse helps you capture reliable IRs anywhere — from studios to rehearsal spaces. Whether you’re building a personal IR library or refining your live rig, Impulse gives you the clarity and control you need.

Screenshots

Musical Demon's Impulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Musical Demon's Impulse at Free against FabFilter Twin 3's $24.99. Musical Demon's Impulse also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 19 months). FabFilter Twin 3's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Musical Demon's Impulse is free to download; FabFilter Twin 3 costs $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FabFilter Twin 3 ships an update every 19 months, Musical Demon's Impulse fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FabFilter Twin 3 versus Musical Demon's Impulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFabFilter Twin 3Musical Demon's Impulse
Price$24.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (42 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews86.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings42 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFabFilterSteve Chavez

In-app purchases

None

FabFilter Twin 3

No in-app purchases

None

Musical Demon's Impulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FabFilter Twin 3 free?
FabFilter Twin 3 costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Musical Demon's Impulse free?
Musical Demon's Impulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FabFilter Twin 3 or Musical Demon's Impulse have ads?
Neither FabFilter Twin 3 nor Musical Demon's Impulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FabFilter Twin 3 or Musical Demon's Impulse?
FabFilter Twin 3 ships an update every 19 months, and Musical Demon's Impulse fortnightly. Most recently, FabFilter Twin 3 was updated on October 27, 2026 and Musical Demon's Impulse on October 28, 2026.

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