Comparison

GranSample vs Melodic Sampler

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 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.

About

Melodic Sampler

Features
Read full description

Turn any sound into something you can play. The Sampler is built for capturing, shaping, and performing sounds in a fast and direct way. Start by bringing in a sound - Record it, import it, or capture it in the moment. The app automatically detects slices and spreads them across pads, giving you an instant playable layout. It gives you control over how audio is sliced, mapped, and played, so you can turn raw material into something musical. Each slice can be adjusted, You can edit the timing, trim edges, and control how the sample behaves. This makes it easy to clean up recordings or reshape them into something new. The pad interface keeps everything simple. Tap to trigger sounds, build rhythms, and experiment freely. It’s designed for quick interaction, so ideas come together quickly. The Sampler also helps you easily create advanced rhythms - use note repeat to create rolls, patterns, and rhythmic variations in real time. Layer multiple samples to build depth and texture. Effects are built in. Shape your sound with tools like EQ, compression, delay, reverb, distortion, and more. Apply them directly and hear the result instantly. This lets you move from raw audio to a polished sound without leaving the app. Recording is part of the workflow. Capture your performance, layer ideas, and build something more complete over time. Each take can be refined and reused. Everything stays organized and ready to use. You can export your samples, recordings, or full ideas and move them into other tools or share them. The experience stays focused from start to finish - You bring in a sound, shape it, play it, and build on it. Key Features: • Automatic sample slicing and pad mapping • Record, import, and capture sounds instantly • Edit and refine each slice • Play sounds on an intuitive pad interface • Note repeat for rhythmic control • Layer samples to build depth • Built-in professional effects • Record and export your ideas Sampler works for beat making, sound design, and experimentation - It gives you a direct way to turn sound into music. You explore, listen & create - That’s the core idea behind Melodic Mind. Let music feel natural again. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://melodic-mind.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

GranSample4 screens
Melodic Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GranSample at every 4 days against Melodic Sampler's fortnightly. On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. GranSample sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Melodic Sampler sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GranSample ships an update every 4 days, Melodic Sampler fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
GranSample versus Melodic Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGranSampleMelodic Sampler
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChih Han LinSean Ray Dvir

In-app purchases

1 purchases

GranSample

One-time1
  • GranSample Pro$3.99
2 purchases

Melodic Sampler

Subscriptions2
  • Sampler - No Ads$1.991 Month
  • Sampler: Full Access$4.991 Month

Questions

Is GranSample free?
GranSample is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Melodic Sampler free?
Melodic Sampler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GranSample or Melodic Sampler have ads?
Neither GranSample nor Melodic Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GranSample or Melodic Sampler?
GranSample ships an update every 4 days, and Melodic Sampler fortnightly. Most recently, GranSample was updated on September 29, 2026 and Melodic Sampler on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons