Comparison

Impaktor vs FW Radar

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

Head to head
About

Impaktor

This app transforms any surface into a playable percussion instrument using your device's microphone. It offers a vast sonic palette with advanced sound modules and synthesis types, allowing for a wide range of acoustic, electronic, and industrial tones. Enjoy a realistic virtual drumming experience with low latency and a 6-track recorder.

Highlights
  • Surface-to-percussion instrument transformation
  • Advanced sound module simulation
  • Semi-modular synthesis architecture
  • Physical modeling, FM, and noise shaping synthesis
  • 6-track audio recorder with 3D panning
  • Ultra-low latency performance
Features
Read full description

* "Without doubt the most powerful and genuinely useful percussion app on the App Store right now" Computer Music * Reached the #1 paid music app in 5 countries * SonicTouch (www.sonicstate.com) gold award Impaktor is a drum synthesizer with a vast sonic palette, that turns any surface into a playable percussion instrument. You just slap your desk like you would a real drum. The real acoustical impulses from the built-in microphone are used as an excitation source for advanced sound modules that simulates behavior of membranes, cymbals, metallophones or strings. This makes Impaktor a highly responsive and expressive instrument. With semi-modular architecture and several types of synthesis, Impaktor can produce a wide range of tones, from acoustic, like Tabla, Djembe, Marimba, Cymbals, Metal bars to electronic or industrial sounds. We strongly recommend using the app with wired headphones to avoid acoustic feedback and ensure ultra-low latency. (USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, USB-C headphones or an audio interface). You can use the Impaktor app with a contact microphone or analog drum pad to achieve isolated and sensitive input, reducing ambient noise and enhancing trigger accuracy. Enjoy the most realistic virtual drumming experience available for mobile devices! SYNTHESIZER - Synthesis: physical modeling, frequency modulation, noise shaping - Semi-modular architecture; 2 modules with configurable routing - 2 modulation sources: velocity and lfo-envelope. Almost every parameter can be modulated - Multimode filter, harmonic exciter and several types of amplifiers - Over 90 presets available, more coming soon - No samples used - Ultra low latency  RECORDER - 6 tracks audio recorder - True 3d panning - Auto-quantization with configurable time-signature - Reverb and Delay effects - Audio-copy and wave export

About

FW Radar

Read full description

Never miss a firmware update for your studio gear again. FW Radar tracks firmware releases for 1,600+ hardware products — synths, drum machines, eurorack modules, audio interfaces, effects — and tells you the moment something in YOUR rig gets an update. BUILD YOUR RIG Add your gear and see everything at a glance: current firmware, your installed version, full version history with changelogs, manuals, and used market prices. GET NOTIFIED Enable notifications and get a push the moment a new firmware is detected for one of your devices — tap it and you're on the product page. Telegram and email alerts are available too. EXPLORE THE COMMUNITY Browse public rigs from other electronic musicians, discover new setups, and share your own — photos included. ALWAYS UP TO DATE 1,600+ products from 270+ brands, monitored around the clock. Community-powered: if something's missing, request it from the app and it gets added. Free. No subscription. Sign in with Apple or Google. FW Radar does not host firmware files — all downloads link to the manufacturer's official pages. This application uses the Reverb API but is not endorsed, created by or certified by Reverb.com, LLC.

Screenshots

Impaktor2 screens
FW Radar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FW Radar at Free against Impaktor's $6.99. On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

FW Radar is free to download; Impaktor costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Impaktor versus FW Radar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterImpaktorFW Radar
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (53 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings53 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeepStreetVincenzo Risi

Bugs and requests

Impaktor

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes with Inter-App Audio
  • Issues with WAV exports
  • Latency problems on certain devices
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates
  • Unreliable saving functionality

Requested features

6 requests
  • MIDI support
  • Audio import functionality
  • Ableton Link sync
  • More quantization options
  • Multitrack export
Show 1 more
  • Landscape mode for iPad

FW Radar

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Impaktor

No in-app purchases

None

FW Radar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Impaktor free?
Impaktor costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FW Radar free?
FW Radar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Impaktor or FW Radar have ads?
Neither Impaktor nor FW Radar shows ads.

Other comparisons