SimpleTone vs GRAB EM Field Synth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SimpleTone
This application provides a straightforward virtual tuning fork. Simply select your desired pitch to tune your instrument. It aims to offer a no-nonsense, ad-free experience for musicians.
- Virtual tuning fork
- Pitch selection
- Ad-free experience
- Simple interface
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It's a virtual tuning fork. Select the pitch you want to tune to. That's it. I got tired of all the BS tuning apps that have ads and purchases built in. C'mon, we're better than this.
GRAB EM Field Synth
This experimental synthesizer uses your iPhone's magnetic sensor to capture ambient electromagnetic waves and transform them into sound. Explore unique soundscapes by "playing" the electromagnetic noise from everyday electronics like power adapters and Wi-Fi routers.
- Electromagnetic wave to sound conversion
- Multi-layered sound engine
- Sensor-linked synth voices
- Camera-driven tremolo effect
- Bitcrush, comb filter, reverb, stutter effects
- Ableton Link tempo synchronization
- 3D point cloud frequency spectrum visualization
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GRAB uses the magnetometer in your iPhone as an antenna. It receives the electromagnetic noise around you and turns it into sound in real time. Power adapters, motors, displays, Wi-Fi routers — the invisible field they radiate becomes the source material, and you play it the way you would play a field recording. Move to a different room and the instrument sounds different. SOUND ENGINE • Five ETHER-inspired layers: mains hum / PWM buzz / static hiss / high squeal / pulse train • Three sensor-driven synth voices: saw / square / noise • With the camera on, light falling on the lens drives a tremolo across level and timbre EFFECTS • CRUSH — bit crusher with sample-rate reduction • COMB — comb filter with feedback • REVERB — multi-tap reverb with shimmer • STUTTER — BPM-synced gate • MUTE — momentary kill switch; tap it repeatedly to articulate a tremolo by hand • HOLD latch on every effect pad, from the button or a second finger ABLETON LINK • Automatic tempo sync with Live, Logic and other iOS music apps • STUTTER locks to the Link tempo at 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32 • Uses Ableton's official Link settings panel • Plays alongside other audio apps rather than interrupting them VISUALS • 3D point-cloud frequency spectrum • Spectrum bar mode • With the camera on, a grayscale image sits behind the field in depth WAYS TO PLAY • A field-sound tool: walk it past appliances and hear the timbre shift • An atmospheric noise source to drop into a live set • A platform for experimenting with electromagnetic noise music PRIVACY All audio is processed on the device. Nothing is recorded and nothing is sent anywhere. Ableton Link communicates only within your local Wi-Fi network.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SimpleTone at Free against GRAB EM Field Synth's $3.99. GRAB EM Field Synth's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.1). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
SimpleTone is free to download; GRAB EM Field Synth costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | SimpleTone | GRAB EM Field Synth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | — | Daily |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Evan Brass | Hiroya Tanaka |
Customer experience
SimpleTone
GRAB EM Field Synth
In-app purchases
SimpleTone
No in-app purchases
GRAB EM Field Synth
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SimpleTone free?
Is GRAB EM Field Synth free?
Do SimpleTone or GRAB EM Field Synth have ads?
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