Comparison

iDensity vs FRMS

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

Head to head
About

iDensity

This app offers real-time asynchronous sound file granulation, enabling users to create a wide array of audio effects. It provides tools for time/pitch manipulation, texture generation, buffer recording, and complex sound exploration. Designed for musicians and sound designers, it offers flexibility for live performance, studio composition, and on-the-go sound design.

Highlights
  • Real-time sound granulation
  • Time/pitch shifting and jittering
  • Texture generation
  • Buffer recording and manipulation
  • Scrub pad exploration
  • Dynamic envelope shaping
  • Audio Unit (AUv3) support
Features
Read full description

iDensity is rated as a Killer App by Apps4iDevices. iDensity is a new real-time software designed for asynchronous sound file granulation, a genuine granular playground able to generate a wide range of usual and not so usual effects: time/pitch shifting, time/pitch jittering, intricate textures, grain fountain/pulverizer, recording and manipulation of buffers, complex scrub pad exploration, dynamic envelope shape and many more. iDensity for iPad will give you all the basic and advanced tools you need to manipulate sound in subtle and surprising ways. All these features are packed in an optimized, user-friendly, visually sharp interface that is easy to access when fast-improvising live, composing in a studio, or sound designing at home and on the go! You will have the power, freedom, and flexibility to create like never before – on your iPad! Control and shape grains, anytime, anywhere with Density for iPad. + Six Granular Streams + Six Remote Audio Units Host support + Full Instr and FX AudioUnit (AUv3) support + High Density Granulation + Sampled and Live granulation + In-Stream Echo and RM post Fx + Multichannels Audiobus Inter-App Audio support + MIDI, Virtual Midi and Network + Sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox AudioCopy etc... + Snapshots Presets Morphing Pad + Post Fx chain: Parametric and High Shelf Filters, Classic Reverb and Dynamics Processor + Scrub Recording and playback + etc.

About

FRMS

This app offers a powerful and flexible layering system for creating unique audio experiences. It blends multiple synthesis types, allowing users to craft everything from ambient soundscapes to glitchy textures. Import your own sounds or use the curated library for endless sonic exploration.

Highlights
  • 4 Synthesis Engines per voice
  • FM Modes & Operator Stacking
  • Real-Time Granulation
  • Deep Modulation & Envelope Control
  • Advanced FX & Polyphony
  • MPE Compatibility
Features
Read full description

FRMS blends Granular, FM, Additive, and Subtractive synthesis in a powerful, flexible layering system. Create lush, evolving soundscapes or gritty, glitchy textures by combining up to four synthesis layers. With a sleek, intuitive interface, FRMS turns basic sounds into immersive audio experiences—from dense ambient drones to mechanical soundscapes. Choose from FRMS’s curated sample library, import your own sounds, or capture live audio for instant granulation. Shape unique sounds with layered synthesis, independent envelopes, modulation, and effects. Key Features: - 4 Synthesis Engines, 4 Layers Per Voice – Mix Granular, FM, Additive, and Subtractive synthesis. - FM Modes & Operator Stacking – Create rich, complex tones with 8 FM modes. - Real-Time Granulation – Process samples or live audio with up to 640 grains. - Deep Modulation & Envelope Control – Modulation matrix per layer, plus 2 EGs and filters per layer. - Advanced FX & Polyphony – 4 voices polyphony, arpeggiator, delay, and reverb. - High-Quality Sample Library & MPE Compatibility – Access FRMS’s expansive sound library and integrate with MIDI Polyphonic Expression and Ableton Link. Unlock endless sonic possibilities with FRMS, perfect for both beginners and advanced sound designers. "Imaginando super fan over here ..own everything they make. FRMS is no exception, as it’s incredibly powerful, versatile, and surprisingly intuitive. It’s a joy to work with, and the sound possibilities are endless." "I expected a lot from this app given the pedigree of the developer, but wow, this exceeded all my expectations. The depth of the granular synthesis engine combined with FM is truly amazing. A must-have for any sound designer." "This is a great app for anyone serious about granular synthesis. The interface is clean and easy to use, and the sound quality is top-notch. I find myself getting lost for hours exploring new sounds." "This synth is an interesting and great evolution in the world of granular. It pushes the boundaries of what you can do with layers and modulation. The presets are inspiring, but the real magic comes when you start creating your own." "FRMS has officially become my favorite synth app. The way it combines granular synthesis and FM is just genius. You can get subtle textures or full-blown sonic mayhem. Highly recommended!" "Every time I use FRMS, I feel like I’m discovering new dimensions of sound. The modulation options are vast, and the way you can shape tones makes it a designer’s dream. This app has changed my approach to sound design." "There’s something magical about the way FRMS handles sound. It’s intuitive yet deep, and I’ve created some of my best work using this app. Kudos to the developers for making such a high-quality product." "FRMS is absolutely brilliant. The interface is smooth, and the ability to layer sounds and modulate them takes granular synthesis to another level. I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know." "This app is an endless source of inspiration. Whether I’m working on cinematic soundscapes or glitchy textures, FRMS has everything I need. The layers and effects are phenomenal." "If you love creating ambient music, this app is for you. The ability to tweak and layer samples into lush textures is incredible. It’s become an essential part of my workflow." "The design of FRMS is superb. It’s both visually pleasing and incredibly functional. Every detail has been thought through, and the sound engine delivers in every way." "Hands down, the best granular synth I’ve used. The presets are great, but what sets it apart is how intuitive it is to create your own unique sounds."

Screenshots

iDensity4 screens
FRMS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iDensity at none against FRMS's 16. iDensity also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). FRMS's advantage is ratings volume (284 vs 48) and price ($8.99 vs $9.99). On rating, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

iDensity costs $9.99 and FRMS $8.99 up front. FRMS sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. iDensity asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for iDensity against 4.8 for FRMS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FRMS has 284 ratings behind it against 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of iDensity's written reviews are positive against 85% of FRMS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iDensity ships an update monthly, FRMS every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
iDensity versus FRMS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriDensityFRMS
Price$9.99$8.99 — better
Rating4.9 (48 ratings) — better4.8 (284 ratings)
Positive reviews86.1% of reviews — better84.6% of reviews
Number of ratings48284 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB267 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperapeSoftImaginando Lda

Customer experience

iDensity

All ratings48 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews79 reviews
Positive86.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative11.4%

FRMS

All ratings284 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews123 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative9.8%

User reviews

iDensity

From 48 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Incredible soundscapes
  • 🎛️ Powerful granular synthesis
  • 🎚️ Multi-channel capability (6 channels)
  • 🎧 Excellent for ambient music
  • 💡 Innovative sound design tool

Room to improve

  • 🤔 Steep learning curve
  • 🎨 Unappealing UI/color schemes (for some)
  • 🎛️ Counterintuitive controls (for some)
  • 💰 In-app purchases can be costly
  • ❓ Lack of clear documentation/tutorials (historically)

FRMS

From 284 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Fantastic sound design
  • 👍 Intuitive and well-designed interface
  • 🎶 Inspiring and creative sound possibilities
  • 💻 Works great on iPad and desktop
  • 🔑 Excellent preset packs

Room to improve

  • 🔋 CPU-intensive, can cause performance issues
  • 🔇 Bluetooth connectivity problems
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

Bugs and requests

iDensity

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Occasional crashes (historically)
  • AudioBus issues (historically)
  • Preset management not working correctly (historically)
  • Transport sync not working (historically)
  • GUI bugs (e.g., maximizing a strand)
Show 5 more
  • Craquements, grésillements (cracking, crackling)
  • X/Y snapshot morphing not working on iPad 1
  • Sample import issues (cut off)
  • Unable to record from microphone (historically)
  • App crashes upon recording (historically)

Requested features

10 requests
  • Independent MIDI note control over pitch for each stream
  • Alphabetical preset sorting
  • Load existing project name into 'Save As'
  • Multi-port output for AUM/Ape Matrix
  • Built-in wave-editor for sample cutting
Show 5 more
  • Ability to determine loop length
  • Motion sequencer or assignable LFOs
  • Sync AU3 transport to host (historically)
  • Add MIDI note and channel select as modifier/controller
  • Dark mode option

FRMS

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes and audio glitches in certain DAW environments
  • Issues with sample playback and freezing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to import larger sample files
  • More granular control over modulation parameters
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Improved MIDI integration and learn capabilities

In-app purchases

None

iDensity

No in-app purchases

16 purchases

FRMS

One-time16
  • Fragmented Chants$5.99
  • Euphoria Preset Pack$6.49
  • Ghost Signals Preset Pack$7.99
Show 13 more
  • Supremeja Music Preset Pack$8.99
  • Sounds Of Saxophone$8.99
  • Glitches From The Heart$8.99
  • Sounds Of Guitar Preset Pack$8.99
  • Antique Shop Preset Pack$8.99
  • Sounds Of Clarinet Preset Pack$8.99
  • Sounds Of Bassoon Preset Pack$8.99
  • Sounds Of Foley 1$8.99
  • Scratching The Surface 1$8.99
  • Sounds Of Saxophone 2 Pack$8.99
  • Aural Alchemy 2 - Collector Edition$11.99
  • The Book Of Genesis$11.99
  • Aural Alchemy$11.99

Questions

Is iDensity free?
iDensity costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FRMS free?
FRMS costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iDensity or FRMS?
iDensity is rated higher. iDensity averages 4.9 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while FRMS averages 4.8 from 284 ratings.
Do iDensity or FRMS have ads?
Neither iDensity nor FRMS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iDensity or FRMS?
iDensity ships an update monthly, and FRMS every 2 months. Most recently, iDensity was updated on October 21, 2026 and FRMS on October 26, 2026.

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