Comparison

Dawnbeat vs SHINOBI DJ

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

Head to head
About

Dawnbeat

This app lets you create music by sampling and sequencing audio. It offers advanced features like multi-touch pads, an always-recording buffer, and flexible routing for creative sound manipulation. Integrate with external MIDI devices and apply a wide range of built-in and AUv3 effects.

Highlights
  • Multi-touch and draggable pads
  • Always-recording buffer (Memorizer)
  • Advanced loop manipulation (BRIIKS)
  • Flexible mixer with assignable busses
  • Polyphonic pads for chords
  • MIDI IN/OUT for external control
  • AUv3 effects and instrument support
  • Auto-slicer for audio chopping
Features
Read full description

Dawnbeat inherits the best part of the classic hardware samplers and takes it further by adding features only possible on a multi-touch device.  Create more natural patterns by tapping and swiping pads.  Focus on creativity, you don't need to select a tempo before hit record to finally play a pattern until you get the right take, just play and forget about to record! Dawnbeat is always recording! Multi-touch and draggable pads: - Pads are multi-touch, play a single pad with two fingers at the same time! - Pads are individually configurable, allowing re-triggering when dragging for amazing fills, tone variations . - Mute and Solo buttons for pads available. - Mute groups. Memorizer: - DawnBeat is always recording pad events, you'll never miss a beat, play and experiment and when you hear something you like, it's already recorded! simply go to Memorizer and select the desired events. BRIIKS sampler: - Advanced loop manipulator. Rearrange and combine your loops. Also available as standalone, AUv3 and MacOS. Mixer: - 4 assignable BUSSES and one MAIN BUS. Assign pads to busses, assign internal effects or AUV3 effects to busses.  - Mute and Solo buttons. Polyphonic pads: - Pads can be turned polyphonic, import a piano-like sample and play and sequence chords with a single pad. MIDI IN and MIDI OUT: - Trigger samples from a MIDI controller, play melodies from a MIDI piano. - Sequence hardware drum machines and synths from Dawnbeat. - Use Dawnbeat as an intermediary between a midi keyboard and a synth, save the sequences you are playing. Dawnbeat can save poliphonic sequences! Pattern sequencer with piano editor. - Swing, count-in, metronome. Audio Units: - Dawnbeat support AUv3 effects and instruments! Built in Effects: - Reverb, Delay, Compressor, Flutter, Gate, Tremolo, Noise, Filter, Chorus, Equalizer, Stutter and Tape slow motion. - Effects can be rearranged. Built-In sample browser: - 6 drum kit sample libraries, and 1 bass sample library. Selectable internal sample rate: - Internal sample rate can be changed, choose between HI-FI and LO-FI sample rates. AUTO-SLICER: - AutoSlicer detects hit points and slices audio into individual files minimizing the need for manual editing. Chop up any audio file in a few seconds. Recording sample rate can be selected. Export movies with images and animated GIFs .

About

SHINOBI DJ

This app provides professional-level DJ scratching with intuitive features for a customized experience. It offers extensive cue point management, pitch control, audio effects, and recording capabilities. Enhance your performance with additional in-app purchases for skins, video scratching, and looping functions.

Highlights
  • Up to 10 cue points
  • Pitch control and Edit mode
  • Audio effects (Reverb, delay)
  • Recording sampler
  • Library access for local media
  • Skin & Video Scratch Function (IAP)
  • SHINOBI LOOPER Function (IAP)
Features
Read full description

SHINOBI DJ App offers all essential scratch functions and requirements for professional-level performance. Its intuitive features are readily accessible, allowing for a seamless and customised DJ scratching experience. 1. Up to 5 - 10 cue points 2. Pitch control, Pitch Synth and Edit mode 3. Volume control 4. Waveform display 5. Audio effect (Reverb, delay) 6. Recording sampler 7. Output setting 8. Sound output (Reverse mode/hamster switch, A/B deck activation) 9. Flip mode 10. Transformer button 11. Library access (Local media files) 12. Virtual fader​ simulation for screen recording 13. Fader calibration and re-calibration 14. Fader Start mode 15. Cut lag adjustment (SHINOBI FADER M only) 16. Skin & Video Scratch Function (In-app purchase) 17. SHINOBI LOOPER Function (In-app purchase) 18. Training mode

Screenshots

Dawnbeat4 screens
SHINOBI DJ4 screens

Verdict

The call

Dawnbeat and SHINOBI DJ both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of Dawnbeat's written reviews are positive against 44% of SHINOBI DJ's. Dawnbeat also leads on ratings volume (115 vs 16). SHINOBI DJ's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, 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

Both are free to download. Dawnbeat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SHINOBI DJ sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Dawnbeat against 4.3 for SHINOBI DJ. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dawnbeat has 115 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Dawnbeat's written reviews are positive against 44% of SHINOBI DJ's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dawnbeat ships an update every 3 weeks, SHINOBI DJ every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Dawnbeat versus SHINOBI DJ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDawnbeatSHINOBI DJ
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (115 ratings)4.3 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.3% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings115 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size504 MB138 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuis RivasWhitney Ching

Customer experience

Dawnbeat

All ratings112 ratings
Positive75.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews128 reviews
Positive70.3%
Neutral18.8%
Negative10.9%

SHINOBI DJ

All ratings16 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral14.8%
Negative40.7%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dawnbeat

One-time1
  • Dawn Beat Complete$5.99
8 purchases

SHINOBI DJ

One-time8
  • SHINOBI DJ Loop Pack Vol.1$4.99
  • SHINOBI DJ Loop Pack Vol.2$4.99
  • SHINOBI DJ Loop Pack Vol.4$4.99
Show 5 more
  • SHINOBI DJ Loop Pack Vol.5$4.99
  • SHINOBI DJ Loop Pack Vol.3$4.99
  • Invader Video Breaks$5.99
  • SHINOBI LOOPER Function$5.99
  • Skin Function$7.99

Questions

Is Dawnbeat free?
Dawnbeat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SHINOBI DJ free?
SHINOBI DJ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dawnbeat or SHINOBI DJ?
SHINOBI DJ is rated higher. Dawnbeat averages 4.2 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while SHINOBI DJ averages 4.3 from 16 ratings.
Do Dawnbeat or SHINOBI DJ have ads?
Neither Dawnbeat nor SHINOBI DJ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dawnbeat or SHINOBI DJ?
Dawnbeat ships an update every 3 weeks, and SHINOBI DJ every 8 days. Most recently, Dawnbeat was updated on November 3, 2026 and SHINOBI DJ on November 3, 2026.

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