Comparison

ModWheels vs Koala Sampler

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Synthesizer modulation wheels
  • Pitch wheels
  • Pitch ribbon controller
  • MIDI interface support
  • MIDI over WIFI support
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

ModWheels4 screens
Koala Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
ModWheels versus Koala Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModWheelsKoala Sampler
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.0 (9 ratings)4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.3% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings91.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#5 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.1 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias SchorerMazbox Limited

Customer experience

ModWheels

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative12.5%

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,420 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.5%

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

None

ModWheels

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • 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?
ModWheels costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ModWheels or Koala Sampler?
Koala Sampler is rated higher. ModWheels averages 4.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.
Do ModWheels or Koala Sampler have ads?
Neither ModWheels nor Koala Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ModWheels or Koala Sampler?
ModWheels ships an update every 3 months, and Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. Most recently, ModWheels was updated on September 21, 2026 and Koala Sampler on October 12, 2026.

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