Comparison

Different Drummer vs MixSurface

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

MixSurface

Features
Read full description

MixSurface is a wireless control surface for the REAPER digital audio workstation. Set it up once and mix, tweak, and perform from your iPhone or iPad. REQUIRES REAPER running on your Mac or PC on the same local network, plus a small free extension. MixSurface is a remote controller, not a copy of REAPER. No REAPER handy? Tap Try Demo on the connect screen and explore the app with a simulated session, no setup required. * FADERS THAT FEEL GREAT Faders, pan, mute, solo and metering, with touch response tuned for real mixing: fast, precise and smooth under your fingers. Bank across every track, or group them into custom layers you switch in a tap. * SENDS ON FADER, INCLUDED FREE Flip the whole mixer into send mode and ride one destination across every channel, the classic console monitor-mix workflow. Pin the buses you reach for most so they are always one tap away. * BUILT-IN EQ ADAPTERS A multi-touch parametric EQ, pre-mapped to popular EQ plugins. Drag bands on the curve, pinch to set Q, and read live values straight from REAPER, with no per-plugin setup. * CUSTOM TEMPLATES Control any plugin with knobs and faders that read and write in real time, including gain-reduction metering for compressors that report it. Use the built-in templates, or map your own in seconds with listen mode: touch a control in REAPER and it binds. * GLOBAL CONTROL SURFACES Build your own pages from plugin controls, transport and one-tap REAPER actions, then make them global so they follow you into every project. * AUTOMATION AND TRACK SETUP Read and write automation from the surface, with each fader showing the automation value rather than just the trim. Name tracks, set colours, choose record inputs and set monitoring without going back to the computer. * KEEP THE VIEWS IN STEP Show only the tracks REAPER is showing, or drive REAPER's mixer from a layer you tap. Run several phones and tablets on one session and they all stay in sync. * FREE, PLUS ONE PURCHASE The mixer, track layers and Sends on Fader are free, forever. One purchase, no subscription, unlocks Channel Details, the multi-touch EQ, plugin control, custom templates and the global Control View. Family Sharing supported. Built for people who run REAPER and want a control surface that just works. Requires REAPER 7 or later on macOS or Windows, the free MixSurface extension, and a shared local network (Wi-Fi or wired). MixSurface connects over your local network only, with no account and no cloud. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cockos Incorporated. "REAPER" is a trademark of Cockos Incorporated.

Screenshots

Different Drummer4 screens
MixSurface4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MixSurface at Free against Different Drummer's $9.99. MixSurface 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 15.0). 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Different Drummer ships an update monthly, MixSurface every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Different Drummer versus MixSurface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDifferent DrummerMixSurface
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, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTechné MediaSoulful Music

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

MixSurface

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Different Drummer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MixSurface

One-time1
  • Unlock REAPER Features$29.99

Questions

Is Different Drummer free?
Different Drummer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MixSurface free?
MixSurface is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Different Drummer or MixSurface have ads?
Neither Different Drummer nor MixSurface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Different Drummer or MixSurface?
Different Drummer ships an update monthly, and MixSurface every 6 days. Most recently, Different Drummer was updated on October 23, 2026 and MixSurface on October 25, 2026.

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