Comparison

Raw Byte Audio Machine vs GRAB EM Field Synth

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

Head to head
About

Raw Byte Audio Machine

This app generates complex musical patterns using a single sawtooth wave and a powerful expression engine. It supports binary and bitwise operations to create rhythms, harmonies, and melodies. Operates as a standalone app or an AUv3 instrument plugin.

Highlights
  • Sawtooth wave synthesis
  • Expression engine for sound design
  • Binary and bitwise operations
  • Rhythm, harmony, and melody generation
  • Standalone app
  • AUv3 instrument plugin
Features
Read full description

The Raw Byte Audio Machine allows the user to operate on a constant sawtooth wave that is calculated against the assigned sample rate and bit-depth. With each sample, the counter "t" increments by 1. Your expression is evaluated and the lowest bits become a PCM audio sample. Expressions allow for binary arithmetic like addition, subtraction, division, and modulo; and bitwise operations like AND/OR/NOT and bit shifting. With these combinations of tools, a single expression can yield tremendous musical results in complex rhythms, harmonies, and melodies, all while operating on a single sawtooth wave. Operates as a standalone app or AUv3 instrument plugin.

About

GRAB EM Field Synth

This experimental synthesizer uses your iPhone's magnetic sensor to capture ambient electromagnetic waves and transform them into sound. Explore unique soundscapes by "playing" the electromagnetic noise from everyday electronics like power adapters and Wi-Fi routers.

Highlights
  • Electromagnetic wave to sound conversion
  • Multi-layered sound engine
  • Sensor-linked synth voices
  • Camera-driven tremolo effect
  • Bitcrush, comb filter, reverb, stutter effects
  • Ableton Link tempo synchronization
  • 3D point cloud frequency spectrum visualization
Features
Read full description

GRAB uses the magnetometer in your iPhone as an antenna. It receives the electromagnetic noise around you and turns it into sound in real time. Power adapters, motors, displays, Wi-Fi routers — the invisible field they radiate becomes the source material, and you play it the way you would play a field recording. Move to a different room and the instrument sounds different. SOUND ENGINE • Five ETHER-inspired layers: mains hum / PWM buzz / static hiss / high squeal / pulse train • Three sensor-driven synth voices: saw / square / noise • With the camera on, light falling on the lens drives a tremolo across level and timbre EFFECTS • CRUSH — bit crusher with sample-rate reduction • COMB — comb filter with feedback • REVERB — multi-tap reverb with shimmer • STUTTER — BPM-synced gate • MUTE — momentary kill switch; tap it repeatedly to articulate a tremolo by hand • HOLD latch on every effect pad, from the button or a second finger ABLETON LINK • Automatic tempo sync with Live, Logic and other iOS music apps • STUTTER locks to the Link tempo at 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32 • Uses Ableton's official Link settings panel • Plays alongside other audio apps rather than interrupting them VISUALS • 3D point-cloud frequency spectrum • Spectrum bar mode • With the camera on, a grayscale image sits behind the field in depth WAYS TO PLAY • A field-sound tool: walk it past appliances and hear the timbre shift • An atmospheric noise source to drop into a live set • A platform for experimenting with electromagnetic noise music PRIVACY All audio is processed on the device. Nothing is recorded and nothing is sent anywhere. Ableton Link communicates only within your local Wi-Fi network.

Screenshots

Raw Byte Audio Machine4 screens
GRAB EM Field Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GRAB EM Field Synth at daily against Raw Byte Audio Machine's every 6 days. Raw Byte Audio Machine's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $3.99). On review sentiment, 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

Raw Byte Audio Machine costs $0.99 and GRAB EM Field Synth $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Raw Byte Audio Machine ships an update every 6 days, GRAB EM Field Synth daily. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Raw Byte Audio Machine versus GRAB EM Field Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRaw Byte Audio MachineGRAB EM Field Synth
Price$0.99 — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCallback Audio, LLCHiroya Tanaka

Customer experience

Raw Byte Audio Machine

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

GRAB EM Field Synth

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Raw Byte Audio Machine

No in-app purchases

None

GRAB EM Field Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Raw Byte Audio Machine free?
Raw Byte Audio Machine costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GRAB EM Field Synth free?
GRAB EM Field Synth costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Raw Byte Audio Machine or GRAB EM Field Synth have ads?
Neither Raw Byte Audio Machine nor GRAB EM Field Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Raw Byte Audio Machine or GRAB EM Field Synth?
Raw Byte Audio Machine ships an update every 6 days, and GRAB EM Field Synth daily. Most recently, Raw Byte Audio Machine was updated on October 13, 2026 and GRAB EM Field Synth on October 11, 2026.

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