ModWheels vs Koala Sampler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ModWheels
This app emulates classic synthesizer modulation and pitch wheels on your iPhone or iPod. Connect a MIDI interface to control any MIDI-enabled synth or keyboard, and utilize a pitch ribbon for vintage synth performance.
- Synthesizer modulation wheels
- Pitch wheels
- Pitch ribbon controller
- MIDI interface support
- MIDI over WIFI support
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ModWheels brings classical synthesizer modulation and pitch wheels to your iPhone and iPod. Just hook up a MIDI interface and control any MIDI enabled synth or keyboard. In addition to the wheel interface this app also features a pitch ribbon / wheel combination as it could be found on some vintage synths. This app comes in handy when you are using one of these new organ keyboards which also feature synth sounds. But for some reason the designers have forgotten the performance controls? ModWheels help you using the full potential of those keyboards. ModWheels can be used with most MIDI hardware like LINE6 MIDI Mobilizer and it also supports MIDI over WIFI ModWheels has been rated „Killer App“ by the testers of Apps4iDevices
Koala Sampler
This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.
- Record up to 64 samples with mic
- Apply 16 built-in effects
- Load and use own samples
- Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
- Export loops and tracks as WAV
- AI sample separation
- AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
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Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Koala Sampler at 4.8 against ModWheels's 4.0. Koala Sampler also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). ModWheels's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On 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
ModWheels costs $1.99 and Koala Sampler $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. ModWheels asks for nothing beyond the download.
Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of ModWheels's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's.
ModWheels ships an update every 3 months, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ModWheels | Koala Sampler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (9 ratings) | 4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 1.4K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #5 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.1 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matthias Schorer | Mazbox Limited |
Customer experience
ModWheels
Koala Sampler
Bugs and requests
ModWheels
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Koala Sampler
Reported bugs
3 issues- Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
- Sequencer timing and quantization issues
- Crashes when using certain features or with large projects
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
- More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
- Improved sample management and organization features
- Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
- Customizable color schemes and UI themes
In-app purchases
ModWheels
No in-app purchases
Koala Sampler
- Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
- Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
- Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
- Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
- Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
- Samurai Edition$3.99
- Mixer$4.99
Questions
Is ModWheels free?
Is Koala Sampler free?
Which has better reviews, ModWheels or Koala Sampler?
Do ModWheels or Koala Sampler have ads?
Which is updated more often, ModWheels or Koala Sampler?
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