Comparison

Perc8 vs EchoSketch

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

Head to head
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
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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.

About

EchoSketch

Shape delay and reverb effects in real-time with a playable X/Y performance surface. Explore four distinct delay types and multiple reverb options, with extensive parameter control for unique sound morphing. Works as a standalone app or an Audio Unit plugin.

Highlights
  • X/Y performance surface for real-time sound shaping
  • Four distinct delay types: digital, analog, reverse, ping-pong
  • Spring, plate, and hall convolution reverb
  • Modulation and tone control for echoes
  • HOLD, LIFT, FREEZE, and MOTION performance gestures
  • Standalone app and AUv3 plugin compatibility
Features
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EchoSketch turns delay and reverb into a live, playable instrument. Shape your sound in real time using a responsive X/Y performance surface designed for intuitive touch expression. At its core are four great-sounding delays: digital, analog, ping-pong, and reverse. The range for each parameter and the XY axes direction can be set independently, allowing you to easily morph between sounds. It works as an Audio Unit plugin or standalone — iOS or Mac. Comprehensive Delays • Digital (patterned after a legendary '80s rack delay), Analog (warm, with tape-style pitch glide), Reverse, and Left/Right Ping-Pong • Delay times can sync to tempo or be set in milliseconds • Feedback features delay-dependent tone shaping — bright for short delays and darker for long ones Convolution Reverb • Stereo or mono Spring, Plate, and Hall • Reverb path is separate from the delay (same as vintage tape echo units), so repeats don’t get washed out Modulation and Filter • Analog-style modulation for chorused, warbly pitch echoes • Tone control — darken or brighten delays, with a center detent for flat Designed for Hands-On Performance • HOLD / LIFT — leave the XY cursor in place, or touch the pad for momentary delay sounds • FREEZE — set the current feedback into an infinite loop and play over it • MOTION — record a gesture on the XY pad and loop it Presets and More • Presets are transferable between hosts • Two looks — light "Trail" and dark "Glow" • Works standalone with live audio or as an AUv3 plugin • Universal — iPad/iPhone also gets you the Mac version — one purchase • Mac: after installing, open EchoSketch once to use it as a plugin in your DAW • Works in AUM, AudioBus, GarageBand, Logic, and other AUv3 hosts

Screenshots

Perc84 screens
EchoSketch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: EchoSketch at 5.0 against Perc8's 3.3. EchoSketch also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Perc8's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $7.99). On ratings volume, 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

Perc8 costs $6.99 and EchoSketch $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EchoSketch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Perc8 ships an update every 3 weeks, EchoSketch every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Perc8 versus EchoSketch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPerc8EchoSketch
Price$6.99 — better$7.99
Rating3.3 (3 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.617 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoe TopjianAvi Bortnick

Customer experience

Perc8

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

EchoSketch

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Perc8

No in-app purchases

None

EchoSketch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Perc8 free?
Perc8 costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is EchoSketch free?
EchoSketch costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Perc8 or EchoSketch?
EchoSketch is rated higher. Perc8 averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while EchoSketch averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Perc8 or EchoSketch have ads?
Neither Perc8 nor EchoSketch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Perc8 or EchoSketch?
Perc8 ships an update every 3 weeks, and EchoSketch every 2 days. Most recently, Perc8 was updated on October 2, 2026 and EchoSketch on September 29, 2026.

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