Comparison

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD vs Arturia iSpark

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

Head to head
About

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD

This app emulates a classic 80s hardware drum machine with a realistic interface. Create your own rhythms, save patterns, and control drum kit parameters. It offers advanced features like AU3 support, Inter App Instrument, and Core MIDI.

Highlights
  • Realistic 80s interface
  • 16-step sequencer
  • Programmable rhythm and fill patterns
  • Drum kit parameter control
  • AU3 support
  • Core MIDI and Audiobus integration
Features
Read full description

EGDR808 v3.0 is here with full AU3 Audio Unit support! ElliottGarage presents EGDR808, a drum machine that emulates the vintage hardware from the 80's. Its realistic and clear interface recalls the analog machine from the past, for all the vintage fanatics. You can play with the rythm presets included or you can create your own pattern. "Love That Classic '808 Drum Machine? EMULATE the '808 w/ EGDR808" - iOSsociety "...attention to detail in recreating the vintage look is uncanny, and faithfully emulated. More importantly the sound is spot on. Elliott Garage really put some love into this going for the same functionalities and feel of the old machine. It's love you can hear, and music lovers as well as vintage enthusiasts should agree this is one of the best 808s on iOS. " - SmiteMatter.com Features: - Interface like the real drum machine from the 80's - 16 steps sequencer - 12 programmable rythm patterns and 4 fills patterns - Auto fill in every 2, 4, 8, 12 or 16 pattern - Save the pattern you've created and play your songs - Manual Play, Pattern Write and Pattern Clear mode - Drumkit pieces parameters control (tuning, decay and snappy) - Song Mode page (swipe to left to open) - Swing and tap tempo - Inter App Instrument - Core MIDI (network session, controller esterni, inter app midi) - Audiobus - Ableton Link - Export with iTunes, mail or MAPI Audio Copy - AU3 support Check the videos on http://www.youtube.com/ElliottGarage support: info@elliottgarage.com

About

Arturia iSpark

Create complete music tracks with a versatile beat-making solution. Explore a vast library of drum kits and instruments, then sculpt your sound with powerful editing tools and a flexible sequencer. Design unique sonic textures and melodic elements for your compositions.

Highlights
  • Real-time pattern playing and tweaking
  • 64-step flexible sequencer
  • Modular engine with TAE® technology
  • Extensive sound customization
  • Song mode for chaining patterns
  • XY modulation touchpads
  • Compatibility with Spark environment
Read full description

iSpark is an all-inclusive beat-making solution allowing to create rich tracks from A to Z while experiencing an unequaled workflow. It includes a large variety of drum kits and individual instruments based on the most renowned drum machines and top-notch sound design. It is the result of a simple recipe, care for rhythm, innovation and uncompromising ergonomics combined with the personality of the greatest drum machines. What you can do with iSpark: iSpark allows you to play drum patterns in-real time and to tweak your sound on-the-fly. Its optimized and performance-oriented layout gives you a direct access to an extended range of sonic parameters. It also integrates a powerful and flexible 64-step sequencer enhancing your creative freedom and effectiveness. iSpark unites our multi-rewarded TAE® technology coupled with a modular engine and crystal-clear multi-layered samples. Beyond drum and percussive sounds, iSpark blasts the frontiers of beat-making through a range of singular sonic effects, warm analog synth textures and melodic elements. Details: Main screen The main screen is all about performance. Its layout, inspired by our SparkLE controller, gives you immediate access to a comprehensive set of fundamental controls and parameters. Its lower part allows you to play and record your drum patterns in real-time, step by step, to jump between your patterns and to set their length. Mixer In the mixer, you can adjust the volume and panorama of your instruments, set two individual effects for each of them, and modify the sending levels to the return effects. The VU meters help you to balance effectively your instruments. Studio The Studio is the iSpark laboratory of sound. This is where you will customize your kits and all the instruments that compose it. For each instrument, you can choose the samples that are used and adjust a comprehensive list of parameters. Sequencer In the sequencer screen, all the steps of your different instruments are right in front of you. You can thus create your sequences in a flash. Besides, the automation tool allows you drawing modulation curves with a simple glide of your fingertip. Song The Song mode gives you the possibility to chain your pattern in order to create a whole performance. Organizing your song is as easy as a drag-and-drop. Switch to “Perform” and discover two large XY modulation touchpads that will bring your songs to life. Connectivity: iSpark offers a total and seamless compatibility with the existing Spark environment. Maintain continuously your creative flow by transferring in a heartbeat your projects, patterns, your kits and individual instruments between Spark 2 and iSpark. Connect the dedicated SparkLE controller to iSpark and associate the flexibility of an app-based instrument to the effectiveness and comfort of hardware. The compatibility with AudioBus and Inter-App Audio offers a smooth integration of iSpark in you iPad-based setup.
With iSpark, your mobile setup found its beat-making solution. Main features: Pristine quality sound engines including: TAE® analog synthesis, physical modeling, and multi-layered samples provided by our top-tier development partners · 640 Instruments / 40 kits - Classic drum machines - Electronic kits - Acoustic kits · Shuffle and shift modes to humanize grooves · Choke groups to mute instruments naturally · Song mode with 16 segments · Song segment triggering from hardware · Performance master effects: repeat, tape, reverse, strobe, pan, mix, bit crusher, 8-mode filter and Roller · 16-track mixer with high-quality effects: multiband compressor, bit crusher, multiband EQ, chorus, delay, reverb, distortion, phaser, plate reverb, destroyer, flanger, space pan, limiter, sub generator · Real-time automation on all parameters · Compatible with SparkLE controller · Ableton Link integration · Possibility to share projects, kits and instruments between iSpark and the desktop version of Spark 2.

Screenshots

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EGDR808 Drum Machine HD at $5.99 against Arturia iSpark's $19.99. EGDR808 Drum Machine HD also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 14). Arturia iSpark's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence 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

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD costs $5.99 and Arturia iSpark $19.99 up front. Arturia iSpark sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. EGDR808 Drum Machine HD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 175 and 60 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 43% of EGDR808 Drum Machine HD's written reviews are positive against 50% of Arturia iSpark's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
EGDR808 Drum Machine HD versus Arturia iSpark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEGDR808 Drum Machine HDArturia iSpark
Price$5.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.6 (175 ratings) — better3.9 (60 ratings)
Positive reviews42.6% of reviews50.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings175 — better60
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.68.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size80 MB396 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElliott GarageArturia

Customer experience

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD

All ratings175 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive42.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative46.3%

Arturia iSpark

All ratings59 ratings
Positive71.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative22.0%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive50.3%
Neutral12.1%
Negative37.6%

Bugs and requests

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Stops playing after reopening AUv3
  • Missing instruments on iPhone XR
  • No open hat decay
  • Settings not retained when reopening songs
  • Lost all saves after iCloud restore
Show 11 more
  • App crashes on launch
  • Tempo fluctuates and is inconsistent
  • Touch input is incorrect
  • Fills always playing when building patterns
  • Claps re-triggering unexpectedly
  • Microphone access prevents calls
  • Buffer under runs
  • Tempo changes when editing parameters
  • Tempo defaults to 120 bpm
  • Tempo changes when pattern is changed
  • Clears save patches when closing app from app bar

Requested features

22 requests
  • Preset saving
  • Update features overall
  • Export or send MIDI
  • AudioShare implementation
  • Make conga sounds available
Show 17 more
  • Add Audiobus support
  • Update interface to look like TR808
  • MIDI support for sequencers
  • Panning for each instrument
  • Save kits for reuse
  • Longer decay for sounds
  • Support for 12/8 time signature
  • Triplet functionality
  • Fix app crashing on launch
  • Improve usability and functionality
  • Fix tempo issues
  • Fix issues with fills and re-triggering
  • Fix microphone access issues
  • Fix buffer under runs
  • Fix tempo changing with pattern changes
  • Fix saving patches after closing app
  • Allow saving beats

Arturia iSpark

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

EGDR808 Drum Machine HD

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Arturia iSpark

One-time13
  • iSpark ALMA FragmentFree
  • Techno Fragment2 variants$3.99
  • Noise Fragment$3.99
Show 10 more
  • EDM Fragment$3.99
  • HipHop Fragment$3.99
  • EDM Fragment 2$3.99
  • Hip Hop Fragment 2$3.99
  • Hip Hop Fragment 4$3.99
  • Raw House Fragment 1$3.99
  • Hip Hop Fragment 3$3.99
  • EDM Fragment 3$3.99
  • EDM Fragment 4$3.99
  • Noise Fragment 3$3.99

Questions

Is EGDR808 Drum Machine HD free?
EGDR808 Drum Machine HD costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Arturia iSpark free?
Arturia iSpark costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EGDR808 Drum Machine HD or Arturia iSpark?
EGDR808 Drum Machine HD is rated higher. EGDR808 Drum Machine HD averages 4.6 out of 5 from 175 ratings, while Arturia iSpark averages 3.9 from 60 ratings.
Do EGDR808 Drum Machine HD or Arturia iSpark have ads?
Neither EGDR808 Drum Machine HD nor Arturia iSpark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EGDR808 Drum Machine HD or Arturia iSpark?
EGDR808 Drum Machine HD ships an update every 3 months, and Arturia iSpark every 3 months. Most recently, EGDR808 Drum Machine HD was updated on October 26, 2026 and Arturia iSpark on October 24, 2026.

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