Comparison

Nave vs Nambu

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

Head to head
About

Nave

This app is a powerful wavetable synthesizer for creating complex and evolving sounds. It features advanced oscillators, a versatile filter, and extensive modulation options. Users can craft unique wavetables from audio files or speech synthesis, and record their musical ideas.

Highlights
  • Advanced Wavetable Oscillators
  • Überwave Oscillator Module
  • Multimode Filter
  • Extensive Modulation Matrix
  • Speech and Audio File Wavetable Creation
  • 4-Track Recorder
  • Blades for Polyphonic Modulation
Features
Read full description

Nave - next generation Wavetable Synthesis Nave is Waldorf’s first synthesizer App development – created by chief engineer and 
director Stefan Stenzel, NLog mastermind Rolf Wöhrmann and Design Guru Axel Hartmann. The Nave sound engine includes two novel Wavetable oscillators, leaving every previous attempt in wavetable synthesis far behind. The spectrum of a sound can be transposed independently of its pitch. The waves are being rendered periodically to noisy. Especially sounds with an accent on formants can be reproduced easily, which made us integrate a speech synthesizer for the easy creation of wavetables. The clearly structured UI invites both beginners and advanced users to experiment, and the large display of 
the iPad makes Wavetable creation and editing a blast. Besides Speech Synthesis, Wavetables can also be made by analysing audio files. Further stretching, rotating and shifting in spectral domain allows Wavetables to be further refined or distorted. All factory Wavetables from Microwave, Wave and Blofeld are included, complemented by new ones that make extensive useof the enhanced possibilities. In addition to the Wavetable Oscillators, Nave offers an oscillator module featuring the novel Überwave that can fatten your sound by up to eight detuned oscillators. The filter offers the familiar outstanding Waldorf sound, featuring lowpass, bandpass and highpass with either 12dB or 24dB slope. The Drive section offers different characteristics, and it can be positioned in the signal path: before or after the filter, or as a summing overdrive before or after the equalizer - for those who prefer harsh screaming sounds over delicate Wavetable sweeps. An extended modulation matrix and diverse real time control functionality is waiting for animating Nave sounds in any desired direction. Besides the classic virtual chromatic keyboard, Nave can be played with the “Blades” that allow for dynamic triggering of polyphonic modulation by sliding the fingers in x or y direction. The 4-track recorder can be used to build your own Nave songs or to simply sketch your music, inspired by the sounds of Nave. Audio Demos: nave.waldorfmusic.de/sound Nave Specifications per Voice: · Two independent advanced Wavetable Oscillators · Osc module with up to 8 oscillator Überosc with sawtooth, triangle, PWM, white or pink noise · Two Ring Modulators · Multimode Filter with LP,BP and HP, each either 12 dB or 24 dB · 3 Envelopes · 2 LFO · 10 Modulation Matrix Entries · Drive with adjustable curve, depth and position Effects: · Modulation Effect with either Chorus, Flanger or Phaser · Modulation Delay · High Quality Reverb · Three band parametric Equalizer · Compressor Additional Features: · Keyboard with adjustable size, scrolling and glissando modes · Blades with musical scales and optional chord mode · Polyphonic X/Y finger modulation on keyboard and blades · Modulation Wheel and Pitch Bender · Up to 3 X/Y Control Pads · Four Track Recorder with clip based editing · Core MIDI in / out support · MIDI device manager for external hardware and virtual connections · Sync to MIDI Clock or WIST · MIDI Learn · Audiobus compatible · Background Audio · Arpeggiator · Polyphonic Unisono · Speech Synthesizer for Wavetables · 3D Wavetable Editing · Generation of Wavetables from external audio files · Audio Copy / Paste Support · Patch Management with unlimited user banks and categories · Import / Export audio and sound patches from iTunes

About

Nambu

This app is a semi-modular FM synthesizer offering a unique sound design experience. It combines traditional FM operators with six distinct operator types, including analog-style oscillators, noise, filters, and resonators.

Highlights
  • Semi-modular FM synthesis
  • Six operator types
  • Analog synth-style oscillators
  • AM synthesis
  • Noise generator
  • Filters and resonators
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

NAMBU is a semi-modular FM synthesizer that allows you to create sounds by combining not only typical FM operators but also six different types of operators: analog synth-style oscillators capable of AM, noise, texture particles, filters, and resonators. For more detailed information about the product, please visit the website. The website offers detailed product descriptions, manuals and videos, as well as important notices. https://icegear.net/

Screenshots

Nambu4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nambu at fortnightly against Nave's every 3 months. Nambu also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and price ($16.00 vs $19.99). Nave's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 vs 12.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Nave costs $19.99 and Nambu $16.00 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nambu holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 78 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Nave's written reviews are positive against 92% of Nambu's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nave ships an update every 3 months, Nambu fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Nave versus Nambu: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNaveNambu
Price$19.99$16.00 — better
Rating4.6 (78 ratings)4.8 (48 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.2% of reviews92.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings78 — better48
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#198 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10.3 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size198 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWaldorf MusiciceWorks, Inc.

Customer experience

Nave

All ratings77 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral6.5%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews288 reviews
Positive87.2%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.6%

Nambu

All ratings48 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.0%

Bugs and requests

Nave

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Audio dropouts and glitches when used with other apps
  • Presets not saving correctly
  • Keyboard issues like lack of lock function

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add AUv3 support for better integration with other apps
  • Improve preset management and organization
  • Implement a basic sequencer or MIDI recording
  • Add more modulation options and deeper sound design capabilities

Nambu

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Nave

No in-app purchases

None

Nambu

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nave free?
Nave costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nambu free?
Nambu costs $16.00, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nave or Nambu?
Nambu is rated higher. Nave averages 4.6 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while Nambu averages 4.8 from 48 ratings.
Do Nave or Nambu have ads?
Neither Nave nor Nambu shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nave or Nambu?
Nave ships an update every 3 months, and Nambu fortnightly. Most recently, Nave was updated on October 22, 2026 and Nambu on October 24, 2026.

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