Comparison

iSEM Synthesizer vs Ruismaker

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

Head to head
About

iSEM Synthesizer

This app is a touch-based emulation of the classic 1974 Oberheim SEM synthesizer, known for its warm analog sounds. It offers a wide range of sonic possibilities, from fat basses to lively leads, and includes over 500 preset sounds.

Highlights
  • Classic Oberheim SEM emulation
  • Two oscillators with PWM
  • 12dB/oct multi-mode filter
  • Added LFO, Noise, Sub oscillator, Arpeggiator, Portamento
  • Polyphonic playability
  • 500+ preset sounds
  • MIDI and AudioUnit v3 support
Features
Read full description

COMPATIBILITY Apple’s AudioUnit v3, Inter-App Audio connectivity, AudioBus 3, Korg’s WIST and Apple’s CoreMIDI are all supported. Furthermore, iSEM is fully compatible with the Audio Unit Extension format. It can be directly launched in any Audio Unit host applications. DESCRIPTION iSEM is a recreation of the classic 1974 Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module), one of the world's first self-contained synthesizer modules and the first to bear the "Oberheim Electronics" name. The Oberheim SEM was made famous by artists and bands such as Lyle Mays, Jan Hammer, Joseph Zawinul, Supertramp, 808 State, Vince Clarke and Depeche Mode. Based on the TAE® technology found in our Oberheim SEM V software, iSEM brings back the sound and special characteristics of this iconic synth in an sonically accurate and expanded touch-based emulation. What you can do with the iSEM? The iSEM is a powerful instrument capable of producing a wide range of warm analog sounds.  Reproducing the unique SEM architecture, with its oscillator sync, characteristic filter shape and specific envelope response, the iSEM is able to generate the fat basses that have made the Oberheim brand so popular. Thanks to its simple and clever PW and pitch modulations, it is also very easy to produce moving and lively leads. Its remarkable 12 dB/oct multimode filter is a real blast from the past, becoming an awesome weapon in the context of current electronic music. This unique module can instantly tailor your sound to fat, crisp, or spectral textures with access to all the nuances in between… iSEM comes with over 500 sounds that you can browse through and play. You can also easily create your own sounds with the easy to use interface. Play iSEM's numerous sounds from the iPad keyboard or control iSEM from a MIDI keyboard or other app via CoreMIDI and integrate it into your studio or live performance. If you are an owner of of the Arturia SEM V software on your Mac or PC, you can even import and export sounds between your laptop or desktop SEM V and iSEM. FEATURES All the original parameters of the Oberheim SEM: two oscillators, each offering sawtooth wave and variable-width pulse wave with PWM, sine wave LFO, 12dB/oct multi-mode Filter with low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch, two ADS envelope generators. Added functionalities: New LFO, Noise, Sub oscillator, Arpeggiator, Portamento. Polyphonic playability 8 Voice Programmer module allows each voice to have different settings HOLD and CHORD modes. Virtual Analog Chorus. Virtual Analog Delay. Full user MIDI mapping of panel controls. Supports WIST sync to other iOS devices. Support of AudioUnit Extension, AudioBus 3 and Apple’s Inter-App Audio connectivity. The Oberheim™ name used here is a trademark of the Gibson Guitar Corp. The trademark is used by license to Arturia.

About

Ruismaker

This app is an analog drumsynth that creates sounds using authentic synthesis algorithms, not samples. It features a creative Euclidean sequencer for pattern programming and integrates seamlessly with AUv3 hosts like Garageband. It offers customizable sound models and MIDI control for flexible music production.

Highlights
  • Analog and FM synthesis sound modeling
  • Sample-free sound generation
  • Euclidean sequencer
  • AUv3 compatibility
  • MIDI CC control
  • WAV and MIDI export
  • Ableton Link sync
Features
Read full description

What the reviews say: "A must-have drum synth for electronic music lovers on iOS" - Keyboard Mag "All of this comes together in a vision that’s really playable [...] this is another excellent choice for the iPad." - CreateDigitalMusic "Small, compact and easy to use, Ruismaker is both inexpensive and a perfectly credible choice if you are after solid drum synth sounds." - MusicAppBlog -- Ruismaker is a unique drumsynth plugin (i.e. it does not use samples), which is coupled with a creative Euclidean sequencer when run in standalone mode. The plugin is fully AUv3 (Audio Unit) compatible: - Seamless integration with Garageband and other AU hosts - Audio Unit Instrument: making music on iOS doesn't get more convenient - Supports Multi-Output AUv3 in AUM and ApeMatrix! - Each sound is modeled using authentic analog and FM algorithms; - Comes with dozens of unique customizable models - Does not use any samples; all sounds are synthesized in realtime, on the fly - Emulates analog components, introducing subtle, natural fluctuations in the sound - Light on the CPU, so you can run lots of Ruismakers simultaneously - Fully automatable parameters (requires host support) and MIDI CC controllable - Has its own preset manager The standalone sequencer is refreshingly different: - Program patterns using Euclidean algorithms - Powerful random feature and mutation probability settings per channel - Syncs with Ableton Link or MIDI Clock - Exports WAV and MIDI - Compatible with Audiobus 3 (including MIDI IN/OUT mode) - CoreMIDI In and Out - AU MIDI output for the on-screen pads User manual available on Ruismaker.com

Screenshots

Ruismaker2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ruismaker at 4.8 against iSEM Synthesizer's 4.1. Ruismaker also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). 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

iSEM Synthesizer costs $9.99 and Ruismaker $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ruismaker holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 58 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 74% and 74% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSEM Synthesizer ships an update every 5 months, Ruismaker every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
iSEM Synthesizer versus Ruismaker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSEM SynthesizerRuismaker
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.1 (60 ratings)4.8 (58 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.7% of reviews74.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings60 — better58
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.111.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size80 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArturiaBram Bos

Customer experience

iSEM Synthesizer

All ratings60 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews243 reviews
Positive73.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative17.3%

Ruismaker

All ratings57 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive74.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative20.4%

User reviews

iSEM Synthesizer

From 60 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎹 Fantastic sound quality
  • 💯 Faithful to the original Oberheim SEM
  • 🎨 Versatile sound design capabilities
  • 🎚️ Intuitive and responsive interface
  • 🔊 Rich, warm, and analog-like tones

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🔌 Poor integration with DAWs and MIDI controllers
  • 🕰️ Slow preset loading times
  • 🔇 Limited modulation options compared to hardware
  • 🤔 Uninspiring factory presets

Ruismaker

From 58 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎵 Great analog drum sounds
  • 🔌 AUv3 support
  • 💻 Standalone and AUv3 use
  • ✨ Flexible sound design
  • 📱 User-friendly interface

Room to improve

  • ❌ No sound and crashes
  • 🐛 Crashes on drum pad press
  • 🐛 Empty screen on iPhone
  • 🐛 Interface portions cut off
  • 🐛 Delay and reverb missing in plugin mode

Bugs and requests

iSEM Synthesizer

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Preset loading issues
  • MIDI connectivity problems
  • Unexpected crashes when switching between presets
  • Envelopes causing clicks and pops in some patches
  • Unresponsive controls when used as an AUv3

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add MIDI program change support
  • Improve preset management and organization
  • Implement a global tuning option
  • Enhance MIDI mapping and automation capabilities
  • Provide more comprehensive AUv3 support

Ruismaker

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Crashes when pressing drum pads
  • Empty screen on iPhone 11 Pro
  • Interface cut off in standalone mode
  • Delay and reverb controls missing in plugin mode
  • Plugin mode does not use built-in sequencer
Show 9 more
  • Randomize button not controllable via MIDI
  • Cannot switch active pad without triggering in AU mode
  • Pad labels not visible in AU mode
  • App frequently causes GarageBand to quit
  • App crashes on load as an AU in GarageBand
  • GarageBand crashes on startup until Ruismaker is uninstalled
  • App does not open
  • App does not function on iPad 3
  • App only loads instructions

Requested features

12 requests
  • Randomize button for external MIDI control
  • Patch randomize function for MIDI control
  • Adjust note resolution for Euclidean sequencer
  • Ratchet option for sequencer
  • Manually edit hits on the grid
Show 7 more
  • Apply Randomize to a single sound or selection
  • Switch active pad without triggering in AU mode
  • Replace numbers with abbreviations on pads
  • Map sounds to Cubasis standard pads
  • Larger pitch adjustment range for some sounds
  • Add delay and reverb controls in plugin mode
  • Allow plugin mode to use built-in sequencer

In-app purchases

None

iSEM Synthesizer

No in-app purchases

None

Ruismaker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iSEM Synthesizer free?
iSEM Synthesizer costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ruismaker free?
Ruismaker costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iSEM Synthesizer or Ruismaker?
Ruismaker is rated higher. iSEM Synthesizer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Ruismaker averages 4.8 from 58 ratings.
Do iSEM Synthesizer or Ruismaker have ads?
Neither iSEM Synthesizer nor Ruismaker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSEM Synthesizer or Ruismaker?
iSEM Synthesizer ships an update every 5 months, and Ruismaker every 5 weeks. Most recently, iSEM Synthesizer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Ruismaker on November 6, 2026.

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