Gecko Drums vs Ring Modulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gecko Drums
This app is a smart practice partner for drummers, offering a precision metronome with adjustable tempo and an exercise library. It helps users improve timing, speed, and focus with features like auto-advance and real-time accuracy feedback.
- Smart metronome with adjustable tempo
- Extensive exercise library with visual notation
- Smooth exercise transitions with preview
- Auto-advance to next exercise
- Real-time timing accuracy feedback
- Offline functionality
- Lock screen and AirPods controls
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Gecko Drums is the smart practice partner for drummers of all levels. Whether you're drilling rudiments, working through stick control patterns, or building up tempo — Gecko Drums keeps you focused and on time. SMART METRONOME A precision metronome built for serious practice. Tap tempo, adjust BPM on the fly, and let Gecko Drums automatically raise the tempo when you're ready. Set a start and end BPM, choose the step size, and watch your speed grow bar by bar. EXERCISE LIBRARY A full library of drum exercises across three categories: • Paradiddles — classic rudiments with visual notation • Snare Chops — advanced single-hand patterns • Stick Control — hundreds of patterns from the classic book • Favorites — pin your most-used patterns for quick access SMOOTH EXERCISE TRANSITIONS Swipe left or right to browse exercises. The next pattern is always visible as a preview — fly through your practice routine without breaking your flow. AUTO-ADVANCE Set Gecko Drums to automatically switch to the next exercise after a set number of bars, or when you reach your target BPM. Practice moves forward on its own. TIMING CHECK (PRO) Use your device's microphone to measure how accurately you're hitting. Real-time accuracy feedback in milliseconds — so you know when your timing is truly locked in, not just fast. TEMPO TEST / SILENT BARS (PRO) Mute the click for a set number of bars and keep the groove. The ultimate internal timing challenge — the metronome comes back to check if you stayed on beat. SESSION TIMER (PRO) Set a practice duration and Gecko Drums will alert you when time is up. Stay consistent, practice smarter. EXTRA CLICK SOUNDS (PRO) Choose from classic electronic click, warm wood block, or crisp rim shot. Pick the tone that helps you focus. AIRPODS & LOCK SCREEN Control playback from your AirPods or lock screen. Squeeze to play/pause, double-tap for next/previous exercise — keep playing without touching your phone. DESIGNED FOR PRACTICE • Dark, distraction-free interface • Works on iPhone and iPad • No account required — open and play • Fully offline, no internet needed • Free to use; Pro features unlock with a single purchase PRO UNLOCK — €2,99 One purchase unlocks all Pro features permanently: Timing Check, Tempo Test (Silent Bars), Session Timer, and Wood & Rim click sounds!
Ring Modulator
This app creates unique metallic and bell-like timbres by multiplying two audio signals. It offers three modes for versatile sound design, from internal oscillators to sidechaining external audio.
- Ring modulation effect
- Dual input capability
- Three distinct modes (OSC+OSC, INPUT+OSC, INPUT+SIDECHAIN)
- Mono and stereo input support
- Adjustable carrier and modulator frequencies
- Mix and output gain controls
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Ring modulation multiplies two signals together sample by sample. The result contains the sum and difference of their frequencies, the sidebands, while the original carrier and modulator tones are suppressed. This produces the metallic, bell-like, and clangorous inharmonic timbres associated with classic ring modulators, from robot voices to detuned percussion. Signal path: the carrier is multiplied by the modulator to form the wet signal, Mix blends that against the dry carrier, and Output applies a final makeup gain. Ring Modulator is usable in three modes and can take either mono or stereo inputs. The host app must support mixing to bus inputs or sidechaining in order to use Ring Modulator with dual input. Outputs mono signal. OSC + OSC Both carrier and modulator are internal sine oscillators, set by Car Freq and Mod Freq. Produces classic two-tone ring modulation with no input required, good for bell tones and metallic drones. INPUT + OSC The carrier is your track's audio and the modulator is the internal sine at Mod Freq. This is the standard ring-mod effect: it turns voices and instruments metallic or robotic and adds inharmonic sidebands. This is the default mode. INPUT + SIDECHAIN The carrier is the main input and the modulator is a second, independent input routed into the plugin's sidechain bus. Use it to ring-modulate one track by another, for example a vocal shaped by a drum loop or synth pad. This requires a host that supports sidechain routing; if nothing is routed to the sidechain, the input passes through dry. Car Freq and Mod Freq do not apply in this mode.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Gecko Drums at Free against Ring Modulator's $1.99. Ring Modulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On rating, ratings volume, 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
Gecko Drums is free to download; Ring Modulator costs $1.99 up front. Gecko Drums sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ring Modulator asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Gecko Drums against 5.0 for Ring Modulator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | Gecko Drums | Ring Modulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dave Govert Menkehorst | Callback Audio, LLC |
Customer experience
Gecko Drums
Ring Modulator
In-app purchases
Gecko Drums
- Pro Unlock$2.99
Ring Modulator
No in-app purchases









