GranSample vs BeatRepeat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GranSample
This app offers a 16-pad sampler with a powerful granular engine for sculpting unique audio textures and sequencing patterns. It functions as a standalone application and an AUv3 plugin for popular DAWs. Unlock advanced features with a one-time purchase.
- 16-pad granular sampler
- AUv3 plugin support
- Step sequencer
- Modulation matrix
- Sample chopping
- Kit sharing
- Per-pad effects
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A 16-pad sampler with a granular engine underneath. Standalone app + AUv3 plugin for GarageBand / Logic / AUM / Drambo / Loopy Pro. Tap pads, sculpt textures, sequence patterns, chain songs. Same instrument either way. Free to try. One purchase unlocks GranSample Pro — everything listed at the bottom. No subscription, no ads, no telemetry. NEW IN 1.4.3 Eight free pads, not four — drums and melody, enough to finish a track. Load your own samples inside the AUv3 plugin; app and plugin now share one library. Switch a pad to granular and watch the grain cloud fire, live. PATTERN BANK & SONG MODE Eight patterns per project (A–H). Switch live — the change waits for the bar end so the groove never stumbles. Then chain them into a song: tap letters to build, set repeats per section, loop or play once (song mode is Pro). Patterns, song and BPM save with the project. MODULATION MATRIX (PRO) LFO + ADSR envelope on 8 destinations per pad: grain position / size / pitch / density, volume, pan, pitch, playback start. Drag the envelope chart, set depth per lane — host-automatable in AUv3. SAMPLE CHOP (PRO) Slice any sample across the pads — equal grid, transient detection, or manual markers you drag. Audition before you commit; the grid shows where every slice lands. KIT SHARING Export any kit as a single .gskit file — samples, settings, effects, patterns. Send it anywhere. Importing is free for everyone; exporting is Pro. PAD NAMES & COLORS Name your pads, pick from 8 colors. AUv3 PLUGIN Load "nono.today: GranSample" under AU Instruments in any AUv3 host. Same 4×4 grid, same Kits, same engine. 900 host-automatable parameters. Load your own samples without leaving the host. Sequencer locks to host transport; everything persists in the host project. LIBRARY Factory Kits + your Projects in one place — load, tweak, save, share as .gskit. GRANULAR ENGINE Eight knobs per pad. Position scans the sample; grain size + density set the texture from pebbles to glass. Pitch + jitter, spray + stereo spread, four window shapes, an ADSR cloud envelope, Freeze for infinite sustain. 128 grains per voice — and you can watch them fire. CHROMATIC MODE Any pad becomes the root; the grid plays chromatically. STEP SEQUENCER Per-pad patterns at 16/32/64 steps, per-step velocity, drag-to-paint. Standalone runs its own clock; AUv3 syncs to host transport. SAMPLE EDITOR Waveform view — drag the grain region, trim playback range, loop, reverse, normalize per pad. LINEAR or GRAN preview. Works inside the plugin too. EFFECTS Per-pad AND master bus. Reverb, Delay, Distortion, EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Filter — up to 8 per chain, automatable from any DAW. Hand-tuned presets; save your own. EQ + Filter draw their curves live. IPAD Pads bigger than a hardware MPC; recorder, properties and sequencer get their own right column. MIDI USB, Bluetooth (built-in browser), or virtual MIDI. MIDI Learn on every knob standalone, per-pad channel routing. The plugin routes MIDI in through the host and emits MIDI out for pad taps. RECORDING 60 seconds from the mic straight into a pad with a live waveform. Master bounces to WAV/M4A (Pro). 10 FACTORY KITS, 16 SAMPLES Late Night Room, Outer Space, Neon City, Midnight Dub, Tape Machine, Crystal Cave, and more — each with bespoke granular settings. FREE TIER Pads 1–8 — drums and melody, enough to finish a track — with the full granular engine, effects, pattern bank, mixer, MIDI in/out. Same in standalone and AUv3. Kit import (.gskit) is free too. GRANSAMPLE PRO — ONE PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTION All 16 pads unlocked everywhere — standalone AND AUv3 plugin Song mode — chain patterns into an arrangement Modulation matrix — LFO + envelope on 8 destinations per pad Sample chop to pads Kit export (.gskit) Per-pad ADSR envelope editor Custom backgrounds — wallpapers or your own photo, with dim and pad-opacity WAV / M4A export Made by one person who wanted a granular beat pad that fit on a phone — and in their DAW.
BeatRepeat
This app is a real-time drum repeat instrument and MIDI effect designed for live performance. It allows users to tap pads to trigger repeating drum hits synced to tempo, and swipe to create evolving rhythms with layered patterns. It offers extensive control over rhythmic elements and generative patterns.
- 8 velocity-sensitive pads
- Repeat presets for instant rhythms
- Per-pad control over rhythm parameters
- Euclidean rhythm masks
- Evolve modifier for parameter shifts
- Fill patterns for multi-pad sequences
- MIDI input and output
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Beat Repeat is a real-time drum repeat instrument and MIDI effect built for live performance. Tap a pad to trigger repeating drum hits synced to your tempo. Swipe to latch patterns, stack layers, and build evolving rhythms. Core Features - 8 velocity-sensitive pads - Repeat presets: instant rhythmic patterns (Straight 8th, Triplet, Flam, Ghost Roll, and more) - Per-pad control over division, gate, offset, ratchet, trigger conditions, and probability - Euclidean rhythm masks for generative patterns - Evolve modifier: parameters shift over time using mathematical shapes (sine, ramp, random walk) - Fill patterns: multi-pad sequences triggered from a single pad - Ghost notes with adjustable intensity and offset - Accent patterns for dynamic variation Works Everywhere - Standalone app with internal drum sounds - AUv3 plugin for GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, and other hosts - VST3/AU for desktop DAWs - Full MIDI input and output - Ableton Link support for wireless sync - Drift quantization for natural-feeling timing
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BeatRepeat at 100% against GranSample's 33%. BeatRepeat also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). GranSample's advantage is ratings volume (16 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. GranSample sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BeatRepeat asks for nothing beyond the download.
BeatRepeat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GranSample has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of GranSample's written reviews are positive against 100% of BeatRepeat's.
GranSample ships an update every 4 days, BeatRepeat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GranSample | BeatRepeat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (16 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chih Han Lin | Mathias Kirkerød |
Customer experience
GranSample
BeatRepeat
In-app purchases
GranSample
- GranSample Pro$3.99
BeatRepeat
No in-app purchases








