Comparison

Different Drummer vs Makonome

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

Head to head
About

Different Drummer

This app generates unique and complex rhythmic music patterns for any instrument, including drums. It offers extensive control over rhythm, harmony, and expression through wave-based synthesis. Explore endless possibilities for creating innovative beats and sequences.

Highlights
  • Rhythmic music generation for any instrument
  • Complex pattern and rhythm creation
  • MIDI controller and file creator
  • Wave-based control for expression
  • Multi-track music output
  • Audiobus 3 and Ableton Link 3 support
  • Progression Composer for arpeggios
Features
Read full description

"Different Drummer blows my mind and that's pretty hard to do."—Dave Taub, drummer for Billy Idol, John Lennon, Yes and many more. Don't let the name fool you. Different Drummer is a powerful rhythmic MUSIC generator for ANY instruments or samples (with harmonies) that happens to work Very Well for drums too. It's also an amazing Midi Controller and MIDI file creator. Create everything from simple or complex patterns, non-repeating music, straight or poly rhythms, human or robot feel, arpeggios, chord progressions, fills, sequences and much at your fingertips using this one-of-a-kind app. This may be the best music idea finder anywhere in the galaxy! This is an essential tool for those seeking new beats and sequences but our customers say it best: Most used app in the toolbox ***** "I have plenty of music apps...synths, DAWs, sequencers, beat boxes, effects, drum machines...you name it, but Different Drummer has been the MOST used of all of them." by Sattech27 This is your secret weapon in the quest for innovative beats and music that make sense yet defy the status quo. Different Drummer taps into the primal source of all rhythm—waves. DD puts out multi-track music which is lifelike and primal at times and out of this world at others. It's a rhythmic music synthesizer that uses waves to play any sound in astonishing ways that vary from electro to dubstep to tribal to classical. This software was created with music in mind—but in the spirit of discovering what is next in music, not just finding a new way to do the same thing like so many music apps do so well. If you are a pioneer or care about where music is going, this app is for you. Easy to start learning, always discovering more. Adjust note, rest, tie, panning, beat and dynamics waves for the ultimate range of expression. You will never exhaust the endless possibilities of Different Drummer and you are guaranteed to discover legit beats that no one has ever heard before. No matter how many apps you have...not having Different Drummer is a loss. To not possess this musical wonder is committing a Groove Crime in your studio or live setup! Features: • 8 Sampler Tracks + Jam-along track with 6-wave Cyclophone Controls plus 2 harmonies on each main track. • AudioBus 3 with State Saving, Remote Triggers and Inter-App audio out & background play • Stereo audio recording. Export via Audioshare, Dropbox or iTunes or AudioCopy or General Pasteboard (to GarageBand for example) • Ableton Link 3 enabled • Zenterface™ let's you work in a more simplified radial view and is just fun! • Progression Composer makes it easy to create guide tracks or multi-track arpeggios • Jammer panel to play along with the music • Jamlets panel lets you create endless action buttons for live jamming, saved with your presets • Control drum pitches, rests, ties, dynamics, panning and beat value using additive waves • Instant Capture in case you hear a killer beat you want saved on auto random • Save Wave Presets to Wave Library and share with other users in Community • 37 Preset Drum styles you can fully mess with (these are for fun, not the main purpose) • String Wave Sets together in saved Sequences and share in Community • Export Wave Sets or Sequences as MIDI Files (via iTunes, AudioShare, Email or Dropbox) • Over 190 drum and sound FX samples with more added every update • Add your own 24-bit samples via iTunes (WAV or CAF), AudioPaste or DropBox • Over 75 musical scales to assign drums or instruments to as well as key • Channel Volume, Filter, Distortion and Reverb Mixer • Set Key, Tempo, Swing and Time Signature • Automation for randomizing and morphing playback with snap-back option • MIDI Sync Out and In • Up to 8 Channels of MIDI Out • Dedicated Wave for any Midi CC with Learn • Core MIDI lets you play other synthesizers and drum machines on your iPad such as Animoog and NLog Pro or external hardware To hear Different Drummer in action and learn more please go to www.technemedia.com

About

Makonome

Features
Read full description

Makonome is a precise, no-nonsense metronome for musicians who practise seriously. ROCK-SOLID TIMING • Sample-accurate click powered by AVAudioEngine • 20 to 400 BPM, with optional half-BPM steps • Circular tempo dial with tempo markings, tap tempo and direct BPM entry • Any meter from 1 to 16 beats over 2, 4, 8 or 16: 7/8 with accent groups like 2+2+3, 6/8 counted in dotted beats or every eighth • Eighth, sixteenth and triplet subdivisions • Accent or mute any beat • Five sounds, including a voice that counts the beats, plus pitch and volume control READY TO PLAY • Count-in of 1, 2 or 4 bars, with a click or a voice count • Auto stop after a number of bars or a time, with a bar counter • Screen flash on the beat • Pendulum, Circular, Count and Line visualizations that move exactly with the click you hear, at 120 Hz on ProMotion iPhones BUILD YOUR TIME • Gap Trainer mutes the click for a few bars so you keep time on your own, with gaps that can grow each cycle • Tempo Changer raises the tempo every few bars or seconds, up to a target BPM ACCURACY TRAINER Connect an electronic drum kit over MIDI and see exactly how you play against the click. • Live ahead/behind needle for every hit, with per-drum timing and velocity • Histograms and a beat map that show where in the bar you rush or drag • Practice mode hides the numbers while you play and reveals a short summary every 4 or 8 bars • Free Time mode: after a count-in the click goes silent and Makonome follows your tempo, showing your drift bar by bar • Record sessions, look back at them and export them PRESETS AND COLLECTIONS • Save tempo, time signature, subdivision and accents as presets, with notes • Group presets into collections for songs, setlists or routines • Play a collection hands-free: step to the next preset with the on-screen buttons, a keyboard or a Bluetooth foot pedal PRACTICE TRACKING • Named practice sessions with time goals • History with total time, average length, goals met and practice streaks • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets for your weekly time and streak • Daily practice reminders PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS • Ableton Link keeps tempo and start/stop in sync with Ableton Live and other Link apps on your network • Tempo Detection listens through the microphone and finds the BPM of what's playing • iCloud backup of your settings, presets and practice history Makonome is free to download with the core metronome, count-in, auto stop, visualizations, practice history and widgets. Makonome Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks the Gap Trainer, Tempo Changer, practice sessions, presets and collections, Tempo Detection, the Accuracy Trainer, extra sounds and pitch control. Try everything free for 14 days. Buy once and Pro works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Tempo Detection and the Accuracy Trainer are turned on in Settings → Experimental.

Screenshots

Different Drummer4 screens
Makonome4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Makonome at Free against Different Drummer's $9.99. Makonome also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). Different Drummer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.1). On 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

Makonome is free to download; Different Drummer costs $9.99 up front. Makonome sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Different Drummer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Different Drummer ships an update monthly, Makonome every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Different Drummer versus Makonome: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDifferent DrummerMakonome
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (32 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings32 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTechné MediaSustainable Development d.o.o.

Bugs and requests

Different Drummer

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Crashes with IAA/Audiobus
  • Doesn't sync MIDI clock / Ableton Link properly
  • Hanging MIDI notes with automation
  • Crashes when sending to Dropbox
  • Emailing MIDI file issues
Show 3 more
  • Audio doesn't start playing until wave is tweaked
  • Inaccurate sliders
  • Buggy with iOS 7 (older review)

Requested features

8 requests
  • AUv3 support
  • MIDI clock / Ableton Link sync improvements
  • Revamp sample import (e.g., zip support)
  • Add presets
  • MIDI-in support
Show 3 more
  • Landscape view
  • Grid mode
  • Dark mode option

Makonome

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Different Drummer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Makonome

One-time1
  • Makonome Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Different Drummer free?
Different Drummer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Makonome free?
Makonome is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Different Drummer or Makonome have ads?
Neither Different Drummer nor Makonome shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Different Drummer or Makonome?
Different Drummer ships an update monthly, and Makonome every 6 days. Most recently, Different Drummer was updated on October 23, 2026 and Makonome on October 28, 2026.

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