Comparison

GranSample vs Splitonic

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 16-pad granular sampler
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Step sequencer
  • Modulation matrix
  • Sample chopping
  • Kit sharing
  • Per-pad effects
Features
Read full description

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 engine either way. Free to try. One purchase unlocks GranSample Pro — everything listed at the bottom. No subscription, no ads, no telemetry. NEW IN 1.7 Your Projects in the plugin: open them from the host's preset menu or the plugin's library, save new ones. Free. Export to Files: a free .gskit copy of any project. PATTERN BANK & SONG MODE Eight patterns per project (A–H). Switch live; the change waits for the bar end. Then chain them into a song with repeats per section, looped or played 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. 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. KIT SHARING One .gskit file holds a project — samples, settings, effects, patterns, song. Import and Export to Files are free; sharing is Pro. PAD NAMES, COLORS & CHOKE GROUPS Name your pads, pick from 8 colors, set one of 8 choke groups. AUv3 PLUGIN Load "nono.audio: GranSample" under AU Instruments in any AUv3 host. Same grid and engine, the 10 Scenes and your Projects, Sound, Grain and Sequence tabs. 900 host-automatable parameters. Load your own samples without leaving the host. Sequencer locks to host transport; everything persists in the host project. LIBRARY Scenes + your Projects, shared with the plugin — load, tweak, save. 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. 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, swing. TRACKS shows every track in one grid; tracks 9–16 need Pro. INT SEQ lets MIDI alone play the pads. SAMPLE EDITOR Waveform view — drag the grain region, trim playback range, loop, reverse, normalize per pad. LINEAR or GRAN preview. Trim works in the plugin too. EFFECTS Per-pad AND master bus. Reverb, Delay, Distortion, EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Filter — up to 8 per chain. Hand-tuned presets; save your own in the app. IPAD Pads bigger than an MPC; recorder, properties and sequencer get their own column. MIDI USB, Bluetooth (built-in browser), or virtual MIDI. MIDI Learn on every knob standalone, per-pad channel routing. Background Audio plays on in other apps. 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. Resample the master onto a pad, free or locked to 1–8 bars (Pro). Master bounces to WAV/M4A (Pro). 10 FACTORY SCENES, 16 SAMPLES Late Night Room, Outer Space, Neon City, Midnight Dub, 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. Free pads work in AUv3 too. Kit import and Export to Files (.gskit) are free as well. GRANSAMPLE PRO — ONE PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTION All 16 pads and tracks 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 Resample to pads Kit sharing (.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.

About

Splitonic

This audio unit plugin for iOS and macOS splits sound into harmonic and percussive components using spectral decomposition. It's ideal for remixing when stems aren't available, offering real-time processing and adjustable filters.

Highlights
  • AUv3 Plugin for iOS & macOS
  • Spectrogram decomposition
  • Real-time processing
  • Adjustable median filter sizes
  • Configurable separation threshold
  • Three-way separation
  • Preset system
Features
Read full description

Splitonic is an AUv3 audio unit for iOS and macOS. It is a filter based on the Fourier spectrum of the input signal and can be used to split the sound in a harmonic and a percussive component. Ideal for remixing when no separate stems are available. Features: - AUv3 Plugin for iOS & macOS. - Spectrogram decomposition: Splits an audio signal into controllable pitched and transient energy layers. - Real time processing: Low-latency controllable by the user. - Kernel dimensions: Adjustable horizontal (time) and vertical (frequency) median filter sizes. - Separation threshold: Configurable threshold to trade off separation isolation against musical artifacts. - Three-Way Separation: Isolates an additional "residual" or noise component to capture background hiss, vocals, or applause. - Preset system: with factory and user presets, plus import/export. - Demo mode available: purchase to unlock full version. - Optimized layout: for portrait and landscape orientations.

Screenshots

GranSample4 screens
Splitonic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Splitonic at 5.0 against GranSample's 4.6. Splitonic also leads on device support (4 vs 2). GranSample's advantage is ratings volume (16 vs 2) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. GranSample sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Splitonic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Splitonic 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 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GranSample ships an update every 5 days, Splitonic every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
GranSample versus Splitonic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGranSampleSplitonic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (16 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB10 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperChih Han LinJan Maes

Customer experience

GranSample

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Splitonic

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

GranSample

One-time1
  • GranSample Pro$3.99
1 purchases

Splitonic

One-time1
  • Splitonic Activation$4.99

Questions

Is GranSample free?
GranSample is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Splitonic free?
Splitonic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GranSample or Splitonic?
Splitonic is rated higher. GranSample averages 4.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Splitonic averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do GranSample or Splitonic have ads?
Neither GranSample nor Splitonic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GranSample or Splitonic?
GranSample ships an update every 5 days, and Splitonic every 2 weeks. Most recently, GranSample was updated on October 31, 2026 and Splitonic on October 24, 2026.

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