# iSEM Synthesizer vs Ruismaker

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iSEM Synthesizer | Ruismaker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [4.1 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isem-synthesizer/id673921187/reviews) | **[4.8 (58 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruismaker/id1122156899/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 58 |
| Positive reviews | 73.7% of reviews | **74.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 80 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Arturia](https://appshunter.io/developer/549089551) | [Bram Bos](https://appshunter.io/developer/325340444) |

## What reviewers say

### iSEM Synthesizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isem-synthesizer/id673921187)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruismaker/id1122156899)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*