Comparison

SampleTank CS vs Sound Generator Lab

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

Head to head
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

About

Sound Generator Lab

Features
Read full description

Design your sound freely. Your fingertips become the instrument. This app is a professional-grade synthesizer that combines simplicity with powerful sound-shaping capabilities. It covers the essentials of sound synthesis, featuring four basic waveforms-Sine, Square, Sawtooth, and Triangle-along side LFO modulation and panning controls. With the real-time oscilloscope, you can edit your sounds while "seeing" them move. Key Features: - Four Basic Waveforms: Seamlessly switch between Sine, Square, Sawtooth, and Triangle waves. - Real-time Oscilloscope: Visualize your sound instantly. Experience waveform changes as they happen. - Precision Frequency Control: Intuitive slider adjustments combined with a numeric text input for exact, Hz-level tuning. - LFO Modulation Unit: Adjust Frequency and Depth to add vibrato or create unique modulation effects. - Stereo Panner: Control the spatial positioning of your sound to create immersive width. - Responsive Piano Keyboard: A piano layout optimized for any screen size, ensuring a comfortable playing experience. Recommended For: - Those who want to learn the basics of synthesizer sound design. - Creators looking to easily generate original sound effects (SE). - Musicians seeking a tool for quick musical inspiration. - Anyone who wants to play a high-quality synth on their smartphone without needing physical hardware. Download now and step into the world of infinite sound creation.

Screenshots

SampleTank CS4 screens
Sound Generator Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: SampleTank CS at 13.0 against Sound Generator Lab's 15.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Sound Generator Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, Sound Generator Lab every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
SampleTank CS versus Sound Generator Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSampleTank CSSound Generator Lab
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (144 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings144 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size1.5 GB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIK Multimedia US, LLCakira ohmachi

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)

Sound Generator Lab

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

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
1 purchases

Sound Generator Lab

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is SampleTank CS free?
SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sound Generator Lab free?
Sound Generator Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SampleTank CS or Sound Generator Lab have ads?
Neither SampleTank CS nor Sound Generator Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Sound Generator Lab?
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and Sound Generator Lab every 5 weeks. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on October 17, 2026 and Sound Generator Lab on October 4, 2026.

Other comparisons