Comparison

LinkEffekt vs S

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

Head to head
About

LinkEffekt

Features
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LinkEffekt brings Ableton Link Audio to every AUv3 host. New in 2.0: it receives as well as sends. Stream any track between iPad and iPhone, from app to app on one device, into Ableton Live and back, or to a friend over the internet. Your host doesn't need to support Link Audio itself. ONLY IN LINKEFFEKT • Right on the beat across devices. Other streaming plugins leave the network delay to the receiving side: either the whole receiving app plays later, or the stream arrives behind the beat. LinkEffekt Send plays its track ahead instead, by exactly the trip over the network, using the delay compensation of AUM and Logic Pro for iPad. The audio lands right on the beat on the other device, in both directions at once, from the first play, with nothing to set. • Bar Sync for every other host. With any other sending app, and with Ableton Live, incoming audio locks to your bar: one bar late, but perfectly tight. Better late than never. • Link Audio over the internet. Share a room code and jam with a friend anywhere, locked to your bars, peer-to-peer and encrypted. If the connection drops, it comes back by itself. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Jam across devices: iPad and iPhone stream to each other over Wi-Fi, both ways at once • Route audio between apps on one device: AUM into Cubasis, or track to track inside one host. No network: on this direct path LinkEffekt adds under 1 ms, plus one audio buffer when iOS runs the receiving app first. Want it right on your metronome? Switch on Bar Sync, one bar later • Record in Ableton Live: every iOS track arrives in Live 12.4 as its own input, no interface, no cables. Live sends back, too. • Record Ableton Move and Note: both stream over Link Audio, so LinkEffekt Receive plays them in any host, ready to record in Logic Pro, AUM or Cubasis. • Monitor a band: sum several channels in one Receive, or give each its own track FEATURES • Three plugins: Send, Receive as an audio effect, Receive as an instrument • Local network over Wi-Fi, or by cable with Personal Hotspot for the steadiest connection • Ableton Live 12.4 and later in both directions • Ableton Move and Note 2.0 and later as sources • Send at 48 kHz for receivers that need it, like Ableton Live • Adjustable buffer against Wi-Fi gaps • Gain, stereo pan and click-free mute on every channel • Stereo level meters • Channel names carry the device, like "Channel 1 · iPad", and update live on every receiver • Mute Local Output, so a sent track isn't heard twice • Bypass all LinkEffekt Sends with one switch: your session plays on the device instead of streaming • Live Mode for playing live on the sending device • Nudge and Link Offset for fine timing • Ableton Link settings in every plugin • iPhone and iPad FREE TO START One Send and one Receive are free with no time limit: full quality, on the beat, Bar Sync included. A single in-app purchase unlocks unlimited Sends and Receives, several channels in one Receive, and Online mode. No subscription. IMPORTANT: OPEN THE APP ONCE After installing, open the LinkEffekt app once and allow Local Network access. Without it the plugins can't find each other and stay silent. REQUIREMENTS • An AUv3 host such as AUM, Cubasis, Loopy Pro, Drambo, GarageBand or Logic Pro • iOS 17 or later • For Ableton Live, Move or Note: Live 12.4, Move 2.0 or Note 2.0 or later on the same network • For Online mode: the in-app purchase on both sides

About

S

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer that works with specific hardware. It offers a variety of sound engines, filters, and effects for creating unique audio textures. Advanced modulation options and a flexible routing system allow for deep sound design.

Highlights
  • Dual engine slots per voice
  • Multiple sound flavors (analog, wavetable, FM, speech)
  • Classic and Modern filter modes
  • Advanced FX rack
  • Two free-routing LFOs
  • Unified mod matrix
  • Standalone, AU, and AUv3 formats
Features
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s-2 is a polyphonic synthesizer designed to work with the Roland AIRA Compact S-1. ENGINE Each voice runs two parallel engine slots that mix together. Pick a sound flavor per slot, including: • Classic analog — saw, square, sub, noise, pulse-width • Wavetable • FM • Speech • Chord • Plucked string FILTER AND FX Classic mode runs a vintage-style ladder filter into a simple Delay → Chorus → Reverb chain. Modern mode swaps in a multi-mode SVF (LP / BP / HP) followed by a 3-slot Advanced FX rack with Bitcrusher, Drive, Flanger, Phaser, Auto-Filter, Tape Delay, Plate Reverb and Chorus. MODULATION Two free-routing LFOs (sine / triangle / saw / square / random / noise, with optional clock-sync), a dedicated filter envelope with two destination slots, and a unified mod matrix dialog that visualizes every routing in one place. Click any knob in Learn mode to assign — no digging through menus. FORMATS • Standalone for iOS • Audio Unit (AU) for Logic Pro and other AU hosts • AUv3 plugin for iPad / iPhone in AUM, GarageBand, Cubasis and more - s-2 is an independent third-party application. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Roland Corporation. "Roland", "AIRA", "AIRA Compact", and "S-1" are trademarks of Roland Corporation, used here only to describe MIDI compatibility between this app and that hardware.

Screenshots

LinkEffekt4 screens
S3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: S at none against LinkEffekt's 1. LinkEffekt's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, 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

Both are free to download. LinkEffekt sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. S asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LinkEffekt ships an update daily, S every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
LinkEffekt versus S: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLinkEffektS
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander JoannouMathias Kirkerød

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LinkEffekt

One-time1
  • Unlimited Channels$12.99
None

S

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LinkEffekt free?
LinkEffekt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is S free?
S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LinkEffekt or S have ads?
Neither LinkEffekt nor S shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LinkEffekt or S?
LinkEffekt ships an update daily, and S every 6 weeks. Most recently, LinkEffekt was updated on October 24, 2026 and S on October 12, 2026.

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