Oscilloscope vs Koala Sampler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Oscilloscope
Analyze audio and analog signals with a portable oscilloscope. Features include waveform display, triggering controls, and a built-in signal generator for various waveforms. Supports external input for more advanced measurements.
- Real-time waveform display
- Triggering modes
- Signal measurement cursors
- Built-in signal generator
- Dual channel input support
- Reference signal calibration
- Export traces as text file
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"I use this for analog, and audio measurements. Attach an Apple USB adapter and a $40 stereo A-D converter available online, and my iPad is like a $300 O'Scope." -thymeout- Oscilloscope app is great for analyzing audio range signals, or learning oscilloscope measurement basics. The interface includes many standard oscilloscope controls, such as: triggering, time and voltage per division, signal measurement cursors, and more. The app incorporates a signal (function) generator capable of generating sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth waveforms of up to 22 KHz. Calibration to an external reference signal is supported, guaranteeing the accuracy of measurements. Input can be acquired via the built-in microphone or an external mic/probe connected to the headset connector. For best results, use an external audio interface connected to your device dock. This allows for standard audio equipment to be connected, as well as for dual channel input. Oscilloscope probes also be connected (using a BNC connector). When feeding external signals via probes, you should take care not to exceed 1V AC voltage. Currently iDevices support only AC input. For up-to-date information on feeding signals and currently supported audio interfaces, please visit http://oa.onyx3.com Feature Highlights: ● Real-time waveform display (60 FPS) ● Triggering modes: Normal, Auto, Single ● Set trigger level and pre-trigger time ● Dual channel signal generator ● Reference signal calibration ● Pause function to get a screen capture ● Export traces as text file for further analysis ● Measure signal data using cursors ● Use "finger pinch" on screen to set voltage and time base ● Double tap screen to enter Black Panel mode ● Three color themes to choose from ● XY mode for viewing Lissajous figures ● Frequency range 20Hz-22KHz ● iPhone X ready
Koala Sampler
This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.
- Record up to 64 samples with mic
- Apply 16 built-in effects
- Load and use own samples
- Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
- Export loops and tracks as WAV
- AI sample separation
- AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
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Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Koala Sampler at $4.99 against Oscilloscope's $19.99. Koala Sampler also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). Oscilloscope's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On ads 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
Oscilloscope costs $19.99 and Koala Sampler $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Oscilloscope asks for nothing beyond the download.
Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Oscilloscope's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's.
Oscilloscope ships an update every 8 months, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Oscilloscope | Koala Sampler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (19 ratings) | 4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.7% of reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 | 1.4K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #199 | #5 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ONYX Apps | Mazbox Limited |
Customer experience
Oscilloscope
Koala Sampler
Bugs and requests
Oscilloscope
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Koala Sampler
Reported bugs
3 issues- Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
- Sequencer timing and quantization issues
- Crashes when using certain features or with large projects
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
- More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
- Improved sample management and organization features
- Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
- Customizable color schemes and UI themes
In-app purchases
Oscilloscope
No in-app purchases
Koala Sampler
- Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
- Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
- Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
- Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
- Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
- Samurai Edition$3.99
- Mixer$4.99
Questions
Is Oscilloscope free?
Is Koala Sampler free?
Which has better reviews, Oscilloscope or Koala Sampler?
Do Oscilloscope or Koala Sampler have ads?
Which is updated more often, Oscilloscope or Koala Sampler?
Which is more popular, Oscilloscope or Koala Sampler?
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