Marimba vs ab Astrometry X
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Marimba
This app offers a high-quality sampled marimba instrument for iOS devices. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 plugin, featuring adjustable keyboard settings and built-in effects like reverb and delay. It supports external MIDI input for enhanced musical expression.
- Standalone app and AUv3 plugin
- High-quality sample-based marimba
- Configurable keyboard
- Reverb and delay effects
- MIDI input support
- Mac support
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Marimba is a polyphonic sampled AUv3 instrument and standalone app for iPhone and iPad. It features a configurable keyboard, reverb and delay effects. It can be played using an external midi keyboard over Wifi or Bluetooth, or loaded in your favourite AUv3 compatible DAW, such as Garageband. Features • Standalone app and AUv3 • High quality sample based marimba instrument • Configurable keyboard key count • Reverb • Delay • Midi input support • Mac support System Requirements: iOS 15.0 or later
ab Astrometry X
This advanced audio effect offers dynamic multitap delay with randomized tap positioning around the listener. Control tap viscosity, time, and loudness intuitively via an XY pad. Create custom delay lines by syncing to your DAW or using free time, in serial or parallel modes.
- Random tap positioning
- Viscosity, Time, and Loudness control
- Intuitive XY Pad design
- DAW sync or free time
- Serial or parallel mode
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ab Astrometry X is an Advanced Multitap Delay with random positioning of each tap around the listener's head. Each tap comes with a variables Viscosity, Time and Loudness controllable through an intuitive XY Pad Design. Each tap's time can be set to be synced to the DAW or with free time, in serial or parallel mode - allowing users to create custom and creative Delay lines.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Marimba at $2.99 against ab Astrometry X's $12.99. ab Astrometry X's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On rating, 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
Marimba costs $2.99 and ab Astrometry X $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Marimba against 5.0 for ab Astrometry X. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively.
Marimba ships an update every 10 months, ab Astrometry X every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Marimba | ab Astrometry X |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 92 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mellowmuse Ltd | Alejandro Cabrera Zuniga |
Customer experience
Marimba
ab Astrometry X
In-app purchases
Marimba
No in-app purchases
ab Astrometry X
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Marimba free?
Is ab Astrometry X free?
Which has better reviews, Marimba or ab Astrometry X?
Do Marimba or ab Astrometry X have ads?
Which is updated more often, Marimba or ab Astrometry X?
Other comparisons
