Comparison

VAMonoMkII vs Ancient Drums

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

Head to head
About

VAMonoMkII

This app is a virtual analog bitimbral synthesizer for iOS and macOS. It offers two 8-voice synthesizers with extensive modulation, classic analog filter models, and built-in effects. Create and export music with its sequencer and audio visualization tools.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog bitimbral synthesizer
  • Dual oscillators with variable waveforms
  • Transistor Ladder and Sallen-Key filter models
  • Built-in effects suite (delay, reverb, chorus, etc.)
  • 16-bar sequencer with piano roll and automation
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Ableton Link and MIDI 2.0 compatibility
Features
Read full description

VAMonoMkII is a virtual analog bitimbral synthesizer for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It features two 8 voice synthesizer, effects, sequencer and audio visualization tools. It operates as a stand alone or as an AudioUnit Extension (AUv3). Stand Alone supports Ableton Link, MIDI and audio file export. The bitimbral synthesizer consists of two synthesizer, which features two oscillators, two ADSR envelopes, resonant high pass and low pass filter and an amplifier per voice. The oscillators features continuously variable wave shape and wide variety of modulation. The filters are modeled on Transistor Ladder filter circuit and the Sallen-Key filter circuit for classic analog sound. The Effects include delay, chorus, flanger, reverb, eq and compressor. The sequencer features piano roll and parameter automation editor to program 16 bar pattern per clip. Project files can be saved in iCloud Drive, so that the project can be accessed from iPhone, iPad or Mac. - Main Features - Virtual analog bitimbral synthesizer Two type of Lowpass filter, Transistor Ladder model and Sallen-key model. Maximum 8 voice polyphony. it depends on performance of the device it is running. Operate as monophonic or polyphonic. Patch points for modulation. Support MIDI 2.0 User Interface built by SwiftUI for improved performance. Built-in Sequencer. 16 bar patterns per clip. Total 8 clips. Piano Roll and Parameter automation. Support Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Support iCloud Drive to share project files between the platforms. Audio Export. Linear PCM format (AIFF, WAV and CAF) and compressed format (AAC) Support Ableton Link, Bluetooth MIDI, MIDI In / Out. 360 bitimbral presets and more. - System Requirements - A13 Fusion or above is recommended. AudioUnit Extension (AUv3) requires host application which support AudioUnit Extension. AudioUnit Extension is supported by Apple Logic and Apple Garage Band on iOS and macOS. For any other DAW, it depends on the application and some of them don’t support AudioUnit Extension. Sound may be distorted if CPU of the device doesn't have enough power. If it happens reduce number of voices.

About

Ancient Drums

Explore a diverse collection of 32 authentic world percussion instruments with concert-quality sound and zero latency. Create rhythms with loop recording, adjustable BPM, and multiple time signatures. Features a random beat generator and haptic feedback for an immersive experience.

Highlights
  • 32 authentic world percussion instruments
  • Concert-quality audio samples
  • Zero-latency response
  • Loop recording with adjustable BPM
  • Multiple time signatures
  • Random beat generator
  • Haptic feedback
Features
Read full description

Ancient Drums puts 32 authentic percussion instruments from around the world at your fingertips. From West African djembes to Japanese taiko, Middle Eastern darbukas to Brazilian surdo — every drum delivers concert-quality sound with zero latency, making it a real instrument you can perform with live. FEATURES: 32 Drum Pads across 2 pages featuring traditional percussion from West Africa, Japan, India, Middle East, Ireland, Native America, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Central Asia, and North Africa Concert-quality CC0 audio samples recorded from real instruments Zero-latency response — feels like playing a real drum Loop Recording with adjustable BPM (40-200) and bar length (1-8 bars) Quantize mode for tight, on-beat recordings 5 Time Signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, 7/8, and 5/4 Random Beat Generator with culturally authentic rhythm patterns 3 Complexity Levels: Simple, Medium, and Complex Drum Selection Filter to choose which drums participate in generated beats Per-drum volume control for balanced playback Haptic feedback for tactile response Beautiful forest-themed atmospheric design DRUMS INCLUDED: West Africa: Djembe Bass, Djembe Tone, Djembe Slap, Dundun, Talking Drum, Shekere Japan: Taiko, Taiko Deep Middle East: Darbuka, Doumbek Tek, Doumbek Bass, Bendir, Frame Drum Ireland: Bodhrán India: Dholak, Tabla Native America: Pow-wow, Hand Drum, Hoop Drum, Rattle Brazil: Cajon, Surdo, Pandeiro, Repinique, Tambor Cuba: Bongo Hi, Bongo Lo, Conga, Tumba Africa: Udu, Log Drum Central Asia: Nagara Whether you're a musician exploring world rhythms, a producer looking for authentic percussion, or someone who just loves drums — Ancient Drums is your portable percussion studio. Made with care by Coyote Song Productions LLC.

Screenshots

VAMonoMkII4 screens
Ancient Drums2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ancient Drums at $4.99 against VAMonoMkII's $14.99. Ancient Drums also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 months). VAMonoMkII's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

VAMonoMkII costs $14.99 and Ancient Drums $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VAMonoMkII holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 0% and 0% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VAMonoMkII ships an update every 11 months, Ancient Drums every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VAMonoMkII versus Ancient Drums: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVAMonoMkIIAncient Drums
Price$14.99$4.99 — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyo TogawaCoyote Song Productions LLC

Customer experience

VAMonoMkII

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Ancient Drums

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

VAMonoMkII

No in-app purchases

None

Ancient Drums

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VAMonoMkII free?
VAMonoMkII costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ancient Drums free?
Ancient Drums costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VAMonoMkII or Ancient Drums?
VAMonoMkII is rated higher. VAMonoMkII averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Ancient Drums averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do VAMonoMkII or Ancient Drums have ads?
Neither VAMonoMkII nor Ancient Drums shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VAMonoMkII or Ancient Drums?
VAMonoMkII ships an update every 11 months, and Ancient Drums every 5 days. Most recently, VAMonoMkII was updated on November 4, 2026 and Ancient Drums on October 31, 2026.

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