SampleTank CS vs Bluetooth MIDI Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Bluetooth MIDI Connect
Wirelessly connect Korg's Bluetooth MIDI controllers to your iPhone or iPad. This app enables seamless integration for a variety of Korg devices, enhancing your mobile music production setup.
- Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection
- Connects to Korg controllers
- Compatible with iPhone/iPad
- Seamless integration for music production
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Korg's Bluetooth MIDI Connect allows you to easily connect Korg's Bluetooth MIDI compatible controllers such as microKEY Air, nanoKEY Studio, nanoKONTROL Studio wirelessly with your iPhone/iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SampleTank CS at 3.1 against Bluetooth MIDI Connect's 2.5. SampleTank CS also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 44 months). Bluetooth MIDI Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Bluetooth MIDI Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.
SampleTank CS holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 144 and 60 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SampleTank CS's written reviews are positive against 25% of Bluetooth MIDI Connect's.
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, Bluetooth MIDI Connect every 44 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SampleTank CS | Bluetooth MIDI Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (144 ratings) — better | 2.5 (60 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews — better | 24.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 144 — better | 60 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 44 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.5 GB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IK Multimedia US, LLC | KORG INC. |
Customer experience
SampleTank CS
Bluetooth MIDI Connect
Bugs and requests
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)
Bluetooth MIDI Connect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SampleTank CS
- Organ$4.99
- Strings$4.99
- Brass$4.99
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- 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
Bluetooth MIDI Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SampleTank CS free?
Is Bluetooth MIDI Connect free?
Which has better reviews, SampleTank CS or Bluetooth MIDI Connect?
Do SampleTank CS or Bluetooth MIDI Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Bluetooth MIDI Connect?
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