Comparison

SampleTank CS vs Artis Sound Editor

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

Artis Sound Editor

This tool allows for the editing and manipulation of sound programs and multi-mode parameters for Kurzweil Artis synthesizers. It offers features like a program channel mixer, layer manipulation, and real-time editing via USB/MIDI or wireless connection.

Highlights
  • Program Channel Mixer
  • Program Common parameter editing
  • Program Layer manipulation
  • MIDI Continuous Controller tools
  • Real-time Multi Mode parameter editing
  • Import Multi Zones
  • Transmit/receive Programs and Multi data
Read full description

Artis Sound Editor is a Sound Development tool created specifically for Kurzweil Artis keyboard/synthesizer. It requires a Kurzweil Artis keyboard. Some of Artis Editor's features now include:   •Program Channel Mixer. •Editing of Program Common parameters including Insert and Aux FX selectors. •Basic Program Layer manipulation. Copy and paste of Layers from other Artis Programs. •MIDI Continuous Controller tools and Virtual Parameter Table display. •Real time editing of all Artis Multi Mode parameters. •Import of Multi Zones from other Artis Multi. •Transmitting and receiving of Programs, Multi, FX Chains and other objects data. •On-screen keyboard. •Direct USB/MIDI connection with Apple iPad Camera Adapter. •Wireless connection possible using MIDI network.   This Artis Sound Editor is an app for iPad only.   Kurzweil and Artis are trademarks of Young Chang Co., Ltd. Soundtower is a trademark of Soundtower Inc.

Screenshots

SampleTank CS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Artis Sound Editor at none against SampleTank CS's 15. Artis Sound Editor also leads on rating (3.3 vs 3.1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). SampleTank CS's advantage is ratings volume (143 vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, 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

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Artis Sound Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Artis Sound Editor holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SampleTank CS has 143 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SampleTank CS's written reviews are positive against 33% of Artis Sound Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SampleTank CS versus Artis Sound Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSampleTank CSArtis Sound Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (143 ratings)3.3 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews33.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings143 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.5 GB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIK Multimedia US, LLCSoundTower Inc.

Customer experience

SampleTank CS

All ratings144 ratings
Positive52.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative39.6%
Written reviews298 reviews
Positive28.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative60.7%

Artis Sound Editor

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

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)

Artis Sound Editor

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
None

Artis Sound Editor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SampleTank CS free?
SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Artis Sound Editor free?
Artis Sound Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SampleTank CS or Artis Sound Editor?
Artis Sound Editor is rated higher. SampleTank CS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Artis Sound Editor averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do SampleTank CS or Artis Sound Editor have ads?
Neither SampleTank CS nor Artis Sound Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Artis Sound Editor?
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and Artis Sound Editor every 2 months. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on October 28, 2026 and Artis Sound Editor on October 23, 2026.

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