Comparison

M2DX vs Bruno Drum Synth

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

Head to head
About

M2DX

Create music with a powerful 6-operator FM synthesizer. Explore hand-crafted presets or import classic DX7 banks. Use the on-screen keyboard or connect MIDI controllers for a versatile music-making experience.

Highlights
  • 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesis
  • On-screen keyboard with velocity control
  • DX7-format .syx bank import
  • 6-stage FX chain
  • AUv3 plug-in support
  • Native MIDI 2.0 support
Features
Read full description

M2DX is a 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesizer for iPhone, built from the ground up in pure Swift 6. Open it and play immediately — tap the built-in on-screen keyboard and start making sound with M2DX's own hand-crafted presets. No external hardware or MIDI controller is required. The FM engine is a bit-exact port of the open-source Dexed / msfa DSP, verified sample-for-sample against the reference. It is also compatible with the classic DX7 patch format: bring your own DX7-format .syx banks and play them alongside M2DX's originals. KEY FEATURES - Built-in on-screen keyboard with velocity and octave control — play standalone, no hardware needed - 6-operator, 32-algorithm DX7-style FM synthesis - M2DX's own original FM presets, plus DX7-format .syx bank import (bring your own) - A 6-stage FX chain: EQ, Drive, Chorus, Reverb, Stereo, Maximizer - Low-latency audio with AVAudioSourceNode direct rendering - AUv3 plug-in — use M2DX as an Audio Unit (AUv3) in compatible hosts OPTIONAL MIDI (not required to use the app) - Connect any MIDI controller over Bluetooth or USB if you have one - Native MIDI 2.0 — UMP with 16-bit velocity and 32-bit controllers - MIDI-CI Property Exchange — patch names appear on compatible controllers (for example, KORG KeyStage) - MIDI Learn for hands-on control MIDI 2.0 done natively, classic FM done faithfully. The FM engine is built on Dexed / msfa (Apache License 2.0). M2DX is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Yamaha Corporation. DX7 and Yamaha are trademarks of Yamaha Corporation. iOS 18 or later.

About

Bruno Drum Synth

This app allows users to create layered drum sounds using multiple synthesis engines. It offers intelligent randomization and a context-aware tweak system for effortless sound design, suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Four synthesis engines per drum
  • Six voice types (Kick, Snare, Hat, Clap, Tom, Pluck)
  • Intelligent randomization
  • Context-aware tweak system
  • Master FX bus with multiple effects
  • Deep MIDI mapping and AUv3 plugin support
Features
Read full description

Here is the secret behind every great drum: the professionals build them in layers. A kick is a sub, a click, and a body. A snare is a tone, a crack, and a wash of noise. The traditional way means juggling samples, plugins, and routing to pull it off. Bruno makes that professional technique effortless. Bruno is built around three ideas: • Four synthesis engines per drum, layered in parallel, each with its own complete signal chain • Six voice types that reconfigure all four engines for the right frequency range • Intelligent randomization and a context-aware tweak system The result is punchy kicks, cracking snares, shimmering metal, evolving percussion and twangy plucks. Whether it is your first drum synth or your fortieth, Bruno meets you where you are. Hit the dice for an instant new sound. Roll a single engine or nudge one tab at a time. Or dive deep into per-engine sound design when you are ready. SIX VOICE TYPES • Kick, Snare, Hat, Clap, Tom, and Pluck • Each voice retunes all four engines for its own frequency range and parameters • Parameter values are preserved when you switch voices, so happy accidents carry across • String-model Pluck with pickup comb, stiffness, and modal resonance FOUR INDEPENDENT ENGINES • Analog, FM, Fold, and Resonant, summed in parallel • Every engine has its own tune, decay, and volume plus pitch envelopes • Filters: 8 types with cutoff, resonance, bipolar envelope, and decay • Three LFOs per engine: Cutoff, Pitch, and Character, with sync, gate, phase, and range • Per-engine compressor, drive with 4 saturation types, delay with 4 types, and 3-band EQ • Per-Engine noise, includes independently controlled noise decay, with white, pink and crackle noise. • ON and OFF per engine, so a drum can be one engine or a dense four-layer stack SHAPE THE TRANSIENT • Dedicated Vol Env tab with click amount, click tone, decay curve, and tail • Per-engine Body Peak EQ for tuned resonance and thump • Voice-specific controls like Kick Tick, Snare BP wires, and Pluck stiffness and hum MASTER FX BUS • Saturator, Compressor, Transient Shaper, Reverb, Stereo width, and Limiter • Global 3-band EQ with quick presets • Copy to All across filter, compressor, delay, EQ, and every LFO INTELLIGENT RANDOMIZATION • Musical preset generator tuned per voice for usable drums, not noise • Generate by style and target by category for each of the six voices • Roll a whole preset, a single engine, or one tab at a time • Tweak system for subtle, context-aware variations • 100-entry history you can step forward and back through • One-tap dice for instant inspiration SAMPLE EXPORT • Export Any Sound – Turn your Bruno creations into reusable audio samples. • Single-Sample Export – Quickly export drums, percussion and other non-chromatic sounds as individual samples. • Chromatic Multisample Export – Automatically create complete multisample sets from pitched sounds. • Flexible Multisample Mapping – Choose the root note, octave range, and semitone spacing for your multisample exports. • Flexible Audio Export – Choose sample rate, bit depth, and mono or stereo format to suit your app or hardware. • Instant App Export – Send Bruno sounds directly into Koala or Loopy Pro with no editing required. • Build Your Own Sample Libraries – Export sounds for hardware samplers, drum machines, DAWs and grooveboxes to create custom kits and multisample instruments. EFFORTLESS WORKFLOW • Consistent layout across all four engines • Live scope with per-engine spectrum feedback • Per-tab hints explaining the controls plus production tips BUILT FOR REAL MUSIC • Factory presets including curated Signature sounds • Preset import and export • Master Preset import and export • Deep MIDI: full Note and CC mapping (CC mapping AUv3 only) • Clock-synced LFOs lock to host tempo • AUv3 plugin that works in AUM, Loopy Pro, Drambo, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis, and more

Screenshots

M2DX4 screens
Bruno Drum Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bruno Drum Synth at 100% against M2DX's 25%. Bruno Drum Synth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). M2DX's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

M2DX is free to download; Bruno Drum Synth costs $4.99 up front. M2DX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bruno Drum Synth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bruno Drum Synth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of M2DX's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bruno Drum Synth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

M2DX ships an update every 2 days, Bruno Drum Synth every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
M2DX versus Bruno Drum Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterM2DXBruno Drum Synth
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHakaru HiroseGlenn Vassallo

Customer experience

M2DX

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral75.0%
Negative0.0%

Bruno Drum Synth

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

M2DX

One-time1
  • M2DX Pro Unlock$9.99
None

Bruno Drum Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is M2DX free?
M2DX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bruno Drum Synth free?
Bruno Drum Synth costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, M2DX or Bruno Drum Synth?
Bruno Drum Synth is rated higher. M2DX averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Bruno Drum Synth averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do M2DX or Bruno Drum Synth have ads?
Neither M2DX nor Bruno Drum Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, M2DX or Bruno Drum Synth?
M2DX ships an update every 2 days, and Bruno Drum Synth every 8 days. Most recently, M2DX was updated on October 8, 2026 and Bruno Drum Synth on September 26, 2026.

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