Comparison

Async Sampler vs Ridgewalk

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

Head to head
About

Async Sampler

Create captivating sound collages, dynamic textures, and rhythmic patterns with this powerful musical instrument. It offers asynchronous and synchronous playback modes, a versatile LFO, and an effects processor to elevate your sound design.

Highlights
  • Standalone and AUv3 versions
  • Three independent samplers
  • Extensive sample library
  • Upload your own samples
  • Asynchronous and synchronous playback
  • Flexible LFO system
  • Effects processor
Read full description

Async Sampler, a powerful musical instrument designed to bring your soundscapes to life. This flexible tool is dedicated to crafting captivating sound collages, dynamic asynchronous textures, rhythmic patterns, and rich sound designs. It opens up a world of creative possibilities, making it the perfect companion for music producers, sound designers, ambient, and noise enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a curious explorer, Async Sampler is here to inspire and elevate your musical journey. App comes with a rich library of unique samples, and you can easily upload and use your own sounds. Async Sampler fundamentally consists of three samplers that can reproduce sound asynchronously, meaning they can operate without being tied to a specific BPM, or synchronously, using an external MIDI clock source or the tempo of your project if you're using Async Sampler as an AUv3 plugin. The instrument features a versatile LFO that allows you to control any parameter. Async includes an effects processor and a master bus section. Also, you have the option to use external MIDI controllers, save and load your custom presets and samples, among other features. Key features: — Standalone and AUv3 versions — Three independent samplers — Extensive sample library out of the box — Ability to upload your own samples — Asynchronous and synchronous playback modes for each sample — Flexible LFO system that can control almost any parameter — Effects processor — Ability to save presets — And much more

About

Ridgewalk

Explore sound with a granular looper and AUv3 plugin. Create infinite soundscapes by manipulating microscopic audio moments in real-time. Record, overdub, and reimagine audio with flexible microloopers and advanced controls.

Highlights
  • Granular looping engine
  • Real-time audio manipulation
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Infinite soundscape creation
  • Advanced recording and overdubbing
  • Microlooper control
  • Sample import
Features
Read full description

Ridgewalk is a standalone app and AUv3 plug-in. Ridgewalk lets you explore sound in unique ways not possible before. Meander between microscopic moments in a sample to create an infinite soundscape, or stretch or compress audio in realtime, all while recording and reacting to new input instantly. Ridgewalk is both a looper and a granular engine. Output is generated by a set of independent microloopers that traverse a single buffer of audio. The audio buffer can be freely recorded to, overdubbed over, and reverted to a previous version, and the microloopers will transition smoothly and instantly. With control over the microloopers’ size, behavior, and movement throughout the buffer over time, you’re free to reimagine and reinterpret audio like never before - all in realtime. Ridgewalk is designed as a modular tool for flexible usage. It is equally comfortable at the heart of your composition, collaborating with you as you perform, or as a finishing touch to provide a unique complementary atmosphere to deepen your mix. Ridgewalk is fully compatible with modulators such as Ableton CV or Bitwig LFOs to broaden horizons even further. Ridgewalk has the following controls available: Recording: Record via your choice of two unique techniques. Choose between automatic recording via input volume detection and a classic latching recording technique that can record infinitely. Buffers can be up to 60 seconds or 16 bars. Overdubbing: Freely overdub on top of existing audio with two methods. Choose between a traditional feedback dub or a unique sidechain dub which compresses existing audio against new input. Playback will smoothly transition to new recordings instantly. Layers: Each overdub creates a new layer, which you can then move between smoothly and revert to previous versions of audio. Full recall: All recorded audio will be saved and reloaded when reopening a project. Sample importing: Rather than record, Ridgewalk can import samples directly. Volume controls: Independent volume trim controls for dry and wet volume. Playback: Looper playback can be played and paused independently of input and recording. Playback will instantly reflect any changes to recorded audio. Hold time: Looper playback can be automatically paused after a defined time since starting. This allows Ridgewalk to act like a strange reverb or delay. Reverse: Playback can be reversed and audio can be recorded in reverse as well. Looper size: Loopers can span from microscopic fragments of the buffer to the full size, and can be synchronized with your BPM. Looper amount: Up to 7 microloopers are available, which move together in concert with one another. Drift: Looper size and positioning can be randomly and independently desynchronized to add variations and unpredictability. Blur: A one-stop-shop for increasing ambience: this controls looper crossfading as well as introduces reverb. Repitch: Playback can be repitched from ±2 octaves. Random movement (Wander): Looper positioning can be set to randomly wander the sample over time via Brownian motion. Sequential movement: Looper position can move linearly through a sample over a time defined in seconds or synchronized to your BPM. Manual looper positioning: Loopers can be positioned manually via tap or click, turning Ridgewalk into a performative instrument. Instant playback: Ridgewalk can start playing back from recorded audio as soon as it is able, turning its granular looping algorithm into a live effect. Transport syncing: Ridgewalk can be synced with your DAW’s transport to automatically start/stop playback or recording.

Screenshots

Async Sampler3 screens
Ridgewalk2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ridgewalk at $9.99 against Async Sampler's $14.99. Ridgewalk also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

Async Sampler costs $14.99 and Ridgewalk $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ridgewalk holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Async Sampler's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ridgewalk's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Async Sampler ships an update every 2 weeks, Ridgewalk fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 4, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Async Sampler versus Ridgewalk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAsync SamplerRidgewalk
Price$14.99$9.99 — better
Rating4.5 (18 ratings)4.8 (25 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1825 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSergei ZhulkovAqeel Aadam

Customer experience

Async Sampler

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

Ridgewalk

All ratings25 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Async Sampler

No in-app purchases

None

Ridgewalk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Async Sampler free?
Async Sampler costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ridgewalk free?
Ridgewalk costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Async Sampler or Ridgewalk?
Ridgewalk is rated higher. Async Sampler averages 4.5 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Ridgewalk averages 4.8 from 25 ratings.
Do Async Sampler or Ridgewalk have ads?
Neither Async Sampler nor Ridgewalk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Async Sampler or Ridgewalk?
Async Sampler ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ridgewalk fortnightly. Most recently, Async Sampler was updated on August 4, 2026 and Ridgewalk on September 18, 2026.

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