Comparison

bismark bs vs SampleTank CS

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

Head to head
About

bismark bs

This professional sampler allows you to load SoundFont and DLS libraries to access a wide range of instruments. It functions as a powerful AUv3 plug-in instrument within DAWs or as a standalone app with a built-in MIDI player and extensive controller support.

Highlights
  • AUv3 plug-in instrument
  • Load SoundFont (.sf2) and DLS libraries
  • 16-part multitimbral playback
  • Scalable on-screen keyboard
  • Pitch bend wheel and CC controllers
  • USB and Bluetooth MIDI support
  • Built-in SMF player
Features
Read full description

bismark bs-16i is a professional AUv3 SoundFont sampler for iOS and iPadOS. Use it as a powerful plug-in instrument inside your favorite DAWs. bs-16i is powered by a synthesizer engine adopted in professional and commercial audio equipment. With the optional Hi-Res Engine, it delivers extremely clean, low-noise sound using 100% floating-point audio processing. Load SoundFont (.sf2) and DLS libraries and access a vast collection of instruments. A General MIDI–compatible setup is included by default with "GeneralUser GS SoftSynth" by S. Christian Collins. AUv3 plug-in features: • Works as an AUv3 instrument in Logic Pro, GarageBand, AUM, and other compatible hosts • Automation-ready parameters • Designed for both iPhone and iPad workflows App features: • Scalable on-screen keyboard • Pitch bend wheel and CC controllers • Built-in SMF (Standard MIDI File) player • USB and Bluetooth MIDI support Connect external MIDI keyboards, controllers, and sequencers, or drive bs-16i from other apps using Virtual MIDI. Common (AUv3 and App) features: • 16-part multitimbral playback • Full support for standard MIDI messages • SoundFont, DLS, MIDI, and Scene files are managed in the “bs-16i” folder on iCloud Drive and automatically synced across all your iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. iCloud Drive and local storage can be selected for each Scene. Notes: • To load SoundFont or DLS files, sufficient free memory exceeding the file size is required. • This application collects the following information: device name, OS version, SoundFont/DLS file name, and Core MIDI interface name.

About

SampleTank CS

This professional mobile sound and groove workstation brings desktop-level virtual instrument power to your iPhone and iPad. It offers a vast array of world-class instruments and patterns for live performance and composition, with expandable sound libraries available for purchase.

Highlights
  • 23 free instruments in 16 categories
  • 8-part multitimbral sound module
  • Expandable sound library with 2300+ instruments
  • Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns
  • 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export
  • Intuitive interface and new sound engine
  • Song and Live environments
Read full description

SampleTank 2 for iOS is a professional, fully featured mobile sound and groove workstation that brings the sound, power and features of desktop virtual instruments to your iPad and iPhone — without compromise. It is designed for professional live performance, song composition and puts a comprehensive array of world-class instruments, sounds and patterns right at your fingertips. SampleTank CS provides all the functionality of the full app, with 23 instruments in 16 categories, so you can try out this powerful workstation for free. Additional sounds are available a la cart via in-app purchase. SampleTank gives you 8 multitimbral instrument slots that you can easily layer or split. Choose from a comprehensive, expandable sound collection that covers virtually every acoustic and electronic sound imaginable. Plus, each instrument category includes instrument riffs and grooves so you can start composing and playing in no time. The included instruments and the new sound engine are derived from the desktop version of SampleTank, IK's flagship workstation, offering you unmatched realism, variety of sound and audio performance. For the first time on iOS, thousands of professional sample-based sounds and patterns can be easily accessed, layered and used for playing live or in the studio. What’s more, SampleTank offers an ever-growing library of sounds and are available via in-app purchase: • Elektronika - a series of electronica and EDM-oriented groove libraries and sound collections that make it easy to create hits in today’s most popular styles • Miroslav Philharmonik — the legendary orchestral libraries, now available on your mobile device! Stunningly realistic and expressive samples of a wide range of orchestra and percussion instruments. • SampleTank PRO - the latest and most high-end sounds and grooves available, letting you create professional-grade compositions on your mobile device • Plus additional libraries covering cinematic sounds, the finest pianos, drum libraries from iconic drummers and much more! SampleTank for iOS offers over 2,300 instruments and over 1,200 MIDI patterns — the largest collection of sounds available for any virtual instrument for iOS. Features: • 23 sounds in 16 categories included free • 8-part multitimbral professional quality sound and groove module • Expandable sound library with 2300+ instrument • Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns • 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export • Totally redesigned intuitive interface • New sound engine derived from SampleTank 3 for Mac/PC • Zones feature lets you easily create splits & layers on your controller • Song and Live environments for composing and playing • Built-in insert effects and master reverb • MIDI learn feature makes programming external controllers easy • Plug-and-play compatibility with iRig interfaces and controllers • Polyphony: up to 64 voices on new Apple devices

Screenshots

bismark bs4 screens
SampleTank CS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SampleTank CS at Free against bismark bs's $7.99. SampleTank CS also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). bismark bs's advantage is rating (3.8 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (62% vs 29%). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SampleTank CS is free to download; bismark bs costs $7.99 up front. bismark bs sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

bismark bs holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 124 and 143 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of bismark bs's written reviews are positive against 29% of SampleTank CS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

bismark bs ships an update monthly, SampleTank CS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
bismark bs versus SampleTank CS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterbismark bsSampleTank CS
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (124 ratings) — better3.1 (143 ratings)
Positive reviews62.3% of reviews — better28.9% of reviews
Number of ratings124143 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB1.5 GB
Age rating4+4+
Developerbismark LLCIK Multimedia US, LLC

Customer experience

bismark bs

All ratings125 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral9.6%
Negative21.6%
Written reviews268 reviews
Positive62.3%
Neutral14.9%
Negative22.8%

SampleTank CS

All ratings144 ratings
Positive52.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative39.6%
Written reviews298 reviews
Positive28.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative60.7%

User reviews

bismark bs

From 124 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great soundfont player
  • 👍 Versatile sound options
  • 👍 Good MIDI support
  • 👍 Useful for GarageBand
  • 👍 Easy to use interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashing issues
  • 🐛 Legacy version problems
  • 🐛 Soundfont loading issues
  • 🐛 Notes not playing
  • 🐛 MIDI cutting out

SampleTank CS

From 143 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great sound quality
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Excellent for live performances

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🔒 Issues with in-app purchases and restoring purchases
  • 🔋 High memory usage
  • 👎 Lack of updates and support

Bugs and requests

bismark bs

Reported bugs

49 issues
  • MIDI cutting out intermittently
  • Copy-pasted MIDI data plays piano sound instead of selected instrument
  • Notes sometimes not playing during playback or export
  • Legacy edition not loading in GarageBand
  • App crashes when loading projects with legacy edition
Show 44 more
  • Refuses to open unit extension and crashes app
  • Cannot load songs that use the legacy version
  • Legacy version won't load, crashes GarageBand
  • Cannot import MIDI song after last upgrade
  • Projects made before upgrade are unusable
  • App crashes
  • Soundfonts disappear after opening the app
  • New AUv3 or legacy AUv3 not working correctly
  • New AUv3 stuck on default piano
  • Legacy AUv3 doesn't access iCloud .sf2 files
  • Notes disappearing in playback
  • Imported soundfonts not displayed in settings but visible in edit
  • App not opening after changing to a newer iPad
  • Soundfonts only partially loaded from folder
  • Notes sometimes fail to play, possibly velocity data issue
  • Articulations not interpreted well, fixed attack type
  • Stuck notes
  • AUv3 not working in GarageBand, loading as 'Inter-app unit'
  • App closing by itself on iPhone SE 2nd Gen
  • Sound cuts out when merging tracks
  • Sustain stuck, affecting app usage
  • AUv3 version doesn't recall soundfonts
  • Delay in sound output after pressing keys
  • MIDI program change not working correctly on iOS 14
  • Notes sometimes don't play in GarageBand
  • Transpose not working
  • Portamento setting not saving
  • AUv3 not loading in BeatMaker, Nanostudio, etc. after update
  • No sound when connecting to Yamaha ypg 235
  • Busy Boy sound not found
  • Latest update crashes on startup on iPad 4 (iOS 8.4.1)
  • BS-16i drops audio in AUM
  • Cubasis issue: BS resets to factory when stopping project
  • App crashes in Beatmaker 3
  • No MIDI out to Audiobus MIDI chain when playing MIDI file
  • Cannot access 'INBOX'
  • Tune option makes app sound like a toy
  • Sustain getting stuck, especially on continuous effects
  • App crashes during settings changes on iPad
  • Sound cutting out during MIDI playback
  • App crashes with large soundfonts
  • MIDI stopped working after last update
  • App crashes when using more than 16 notes
  • UI changed, making instrument selection less intuitive

Requested features

12 requests
  • More features for sound design
  • Affected filter cutoff by low velocity
  • Envelope affected by cutoff
  • Organ effects like 'Wah'
  • Add a manual/documentation
Show 7 more
  • Improve UI/design
  • Option to change theme color
  • Split keyboard option
  • MIDI learn for sliders/knobs
  • Background Audio support
  • Transpose button
  • Scale keyboard to 17 keys on iPhone

SampleTank CS

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • MIDI issues and lack of device detection
  • Purchased content not properly restored

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add AU/AUv3 support for better DAW integration
  • Improve MIDI functionality and mapping
  • Allow importing custom samples
  • Enhance performance controls (e.g., pitch bend, modulation)

In-app purchases

3 purchases

bismark bs

One-time3
  • 128 Polyphony$2.99
  • Hi-Res Synthesizer Engine$4.99
  • Compressor$4.99
15 purchases

SampleTank CS

One-time15
  • Organ$4.99
  • Strings$4.99
  • Brass$4.99
Show 12 more
  • Synth Leads$4.99
  • Synth Pads$4.99
  • Woodwinds$4.99
  • Acoustic Drums$4.99
  • Electric Piano$7.99
  • The Grid$14.99
  • Upgrade to SampleTank$24.99
  • Miroslav Philharmonik - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • Sample Moog - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • Sonik Synth - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • All Sounds$64.99
  • SampleTank PRO - All Sounds Pack$64.99

Questions

Is bismark bs free?
bismark bs costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SampleTank CS free?
SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, bismark bs or SampleTank CS?
bismark bs is rated higher. bismark bs averages 3.8 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while SampleTank CS averages 3.1 from 143 ratings.
Do bismark bs or SampleTank CS have ads?
Neither bismark bs nor SampleTank CS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, bismark bs or SampleTank CS?
bismark bs ships an update monthly, and SampleTank CS every 2 months. Most recently, bismark bs was updated on October 29, 2026 and SampleTank CS on October 28, 2026.

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