Comparison

Echo Beach vs Perc8

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

Head to head
About

Echo Beach

This app transforms your iPhone into a powerful sampler and sequencer, allowing you to capture, chop, and arrange audio with a modern workflow. Easily export your creations as stems, MIDI, or a full mix to any Digital Audio Workstation.

Highlights
  • 8-Pad Sampler
  • Smart Slice Detection
  • Built-In Step Sequencer
  • Groove Engine
  • Studio FX Suite
  • DAW Export (Stems, MIDI)
  • Offline Operation
Read full description

Sample anything. Sequence anything. Play anywhere. Echo Beach turns your iPhone into a professional-grade sampler and AUv3 Instrument plugin. Inspired by the tactile workflow of classic hardware like the SP-1200 and MPC, Echo Beach lets you capture, chop, and sequence ideas in seconds as a standalone or directly inside your favorite DAW. AUV3 PLUGIN POWER Echo Beach is now a full AUv3 Instrument. Host it inside Logic Pro, Ableton, Cubasis, or GarageBand. - Seamless Integration: Follows host transport, BPM, and timeline. - Deep Automation: Every knob, fader, and effect is exposed as an AUParameter for smooth DAW automation. - Shared Library: Samples recorded in standalone are instantly available in the plugin via a shared App Group. CORE FEATURES - 8-Pad Sampler: Load, trim, loop, and play with high-fidelity, low-latency performance. - Smart Slice Detection: Auto-chop audio based on transients or edit markers manually. - Built-In Step Sequencer: Program complex rhythms instantly with per-step velocity. - Custom Effects Engine: - Inserts: Reverse, 5-Band EQ, Oberheim inspired Tone filter, Transient Shaper, 2 pitch modes, 5 Distortion models, Stutter, Grain, Room reverb, and Duck. - Sends: Juno-106 inspired Chorus, Stereo Widener, 4 Custom Delay, Plate Reverb, and Lo-Fi. - Master: 5 Distortion models, 2 compressor models (Fet and Opto), Limiter, Master Out fader. - Groove Engine: Interpolate between 8 groove templates, from perfect quantization to human, Dilla-esque swing. - Professional Factory Bank: High-quality sample library included to start making beats immediately. - DAW Export: Send stems, full mix, and MIDI with embedded BPM and time-signature metadata. - MIDI Learn: Full MIDI controller support with a dedicated Map mode to customize your hardware setup. WORKFLOW Record → Slice → Sequence → Automate - Import audio from your library, Files, or even Video files with the new synchronized preview. - Tap the waveform to slice audio or drag slices to any pad. - Sequence your pattern and use P-Locks (Parameter Locking) to automate effects per-step. - Host the plugin in your DAW to add the Echo Beach sound to your full production. WHY ECHO BEACH? Most samplers make you choose: simple or powerful. Echo Beach is both. It breaks the trade-off with features that work like you think: - Musical Timing: Slices become MIDI notes and grooves apply musically, not mechanically. - Real-Time Safety: Hardened for live performance and high-pressure studio sessions. - No Friction: Slices and sequences move with you from standalone sketching to final DAW mixing. TECH SPECS - Supports WAV, AIFF, MP3, M4A, CAF. - Export stems, full mix, and MIDI. - Professional-grade DSP with near-zero latency. - Fully offline operation. Stop scrolling YouTube for 'how to make beats.' Start making them with Echo Beach.

About

Perc8

Create complex electronic music with a professional drum synthesizer and step sequencer. Design unique sounds with multiple engines, filters, and effects. Build intricate patterns and full arrangements with advanced sequencing features.

Highlights
  • 8 independent synthesizer voices
  • Multiple percussion engine families
  • Advanced filters and distortion
  • Step sequencer with probability and p-locks
  • Pattern chaining for full arrangements
  • AUv3 and standalone app support
  • Professional effects: delay, reverb, chorus
Features
Read full description

Perc8 is a professional drum synthesizer and step sequencer designed for techno, acid, industrial, and experimental electronic music. Build anything from tight loops to complete arrangements with eight independent synthesizer voices, deep per-step control, flexible effects, and a dedicated master bus. SOUND DESIGN Choose from a broad collection of kick, snare, clap, cymbal, hat, percussion, noise, tonal, and synth engines. Five purpose-built FM engines cover FM Kick, Snare, Hat, Perc, and Tone. Digital Perc adds a 16 × 16 WAVE × SHAPE sound space for animated digital percussion. Start quickly with 40 curated factory voice presets, then reshape them through Perc8’s complete synthesis and processing architecture. Every voice provides eight expressive engine macros plus resonant filters, EQ, drive, amplitude shaping, dual LFOs, effects sends, and output routing. Optional Drive Match on each voice and the master bus helps you judge saturation character without added loudness dominating the comparison. SEQUENCING & ARRANGING Program beats with probability, trigger conditions, fills, retriggering, ties, variable pattern lengths, and up to 16 parameter locks per step. Arrange pattern entries into Blocks, set repeats and Fill behavior, mute voices independently per entry, and draw long-form parameter automation with multiple interpolation shapes across the chain. ADAPTIVE WORKSPACE Perc8 adapts its editor to the available space. Work quickly in the compact iPhone and AUv3 layouts, or use dedicated full-screen Pattern, Chain, FX, and Master workspaces on iPad. Controls remain direct and touch-focused across standalone and hosted use. EFFECTS & MIXING Process voices through a dub-style stereo delay, algorithmic reverb, and chorus/flanger modulation, all with sequencer automation. Mix all eight voices with level, pan, mute, solo, EQ, sends, and flexible bus routing. Finish the kit with stereo image controls, master EQ, drive, Drive Match, trim, and limiting. STANDALONE & AUV3 Use Perc8 as a standalone instrument or as an AUv3 plug-in in hosts such as AUM. Route voices to individual outputs, synchronize to host transport, automate parameters, control voices over MIDI, and save complete projects, kits, or individual voice presets. KEY FEATURES • Eight independent drum-synth voices • FM Kick, FM Snare, FM Hat, FM Perc, and FM Tone • 16 × 16 Digital Perc WAVE × SHAPE sound space • Broad analog-inspired, digital, metallic, noise, and tonal engine collection • Eight musical macros per engine • Resonant filters, EQ, drive, amplitude shaping, and dual LFOs per voice • Optional voice and master Drive Match • Probability, conditions, fills, ties, retriggering, and up to 16 parameter locks per step • Block-based arrangements, per-entry voice mutes, and timeline automation • Delay, reverb, and chorus/flanger effects • Eight-channel mixer and complete master bus • Multiple audio outputs and MIDI routing • Standalone and AUv3 operation • Adaptive iPhone, iPad, and hosted layouts MANUAL & TUTORIALS See the Help page in Perc8 for the full manual and guided workflows, or visit terrarum.net/perc8.html.

Screenshots

Echo Beach4 screens
Perc84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Perc8 at 100% against Echo Beach's 55%. Perc8 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($6.99 vs $9.99). Echo Beach's advantage is rating (3.8 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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

Echo Beach costs $9.99 and Perc8 $6.99 up front. Echo Beach sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Perc8 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Echo Beach holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Echo Beach's written reviews are positive against 100% of Perc8's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Echo Beach ships an update every 5 days, Perc8 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Echo Beach versus Perc8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEcho BeachPerc8
Price$9.99$6.99 — better
Rating3.8 (12 ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews54.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJeremiah KleinJoe Topjian

Customer experience

Echo Beach

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative36.4%

Perc8

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Echo Beach

One-time1
  • Echo Beach Pro$9.99
None

Perc8

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Echo Beach free?
Echo Beach costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Perc8 free?
Perc8 costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Echo Beach or Perc8?
Echo Beach is rated higher. Echo Beach averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Perc8 averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Echo Beach or Perc8 have ads?
Neither Echo Beach nor Perc8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Echo Beach or Perc8?
Echo Beach ships an update every 5 days, and Perc8 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Echo Beach was updated on September 19, 2026 and Perc8 on October 2, 2026.

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