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.
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.
- Sawtooth wave synthesis
- Expression engine for sound design
- Binary and bitwise operations
- Rhythm, harmony, and melody generation
- Standalone app
- AUv3 instrument plugin
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | Raw Byte Audio Machine | GRAB EM Field Synth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Callback Audio, LLC | Hiroya Tanaka |
Customer experience
Raw Byte Audio Machine
GRAB EM Field Synth
In-app purchases
Raw Byte Audio Machine
No in-app purchases
GRAB EM Field Synth
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Raw Byte Audio Machine free?
Is GRAB EM Field Synth free?
Do Raw Byte Audio Machine or GRAB EM Field Synth have ads?
Which is updated more often, Raw Byte Audio Machine or GRAB EM Field Synth?
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