Comparison

S vs Degenson

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

Head to head
About

S

This app is a polyphonic synthesizer that works with specific hardware. It offers a variety of sound engines, filters, and effects for creating unique audio textures. Advanced modulation options and a flexible routing system allow for deep sound design.

Highlights
  • Dual engine slots per voice
  • Multiple sound flavors (analog, wavetable, FM, speech)
  • Classic and Modern filter modes
  • Advanced FX rack
  • Two free-routing LFOs
  • Unified mod matrix
  • Standalone, AU, and AUv3 formats
Features
Read full description

s-2 is a polyphonic synthesizer designed to work with the Roland AIRA Compact S-1. ENGINE Each voice runs two parallel engine slots that mix together. Pick a sound flavor per slot, including: • Classic analog — saw, square, sub, noise, pulse-width • Wavetable • FM • Speech • Chord • Plucked string FILTER AND FX Classic mode runs a vintage-style ladder filter into a simple Delay → Chorus → Reverb chain. Modern mode swaps in a multi-mode SVF (LP / BP / HP) followed by a 3-slot Advanced FX rack with Bitcrusher, Drive, Flanger, Phaser, Auto-Filter, Tape Delay, Plate Reverb and Chorus. MODULATION Two free-routing LFOs (sine / triangle / saw / square / random / noise, with optional clock-sync), a dedicated filter envelope with two destination slots, and a unified mod matrix dialog that visualizes every routing in one place. Click any knob in Learn mode to assign — no digging through menus. FORMATS • Standalone for iOS • Audio Unit (AU) for Logic Pro and other AU hosts • AUv3 plugin for iPad / iPhone in AUM, GarageBand, Cubasis and more - s-2 is an independent third-party application. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Roland Corporation. "Roland", "AIRA", "AIRA Compact", and "S-1" are trademarks of Roland Corporation, used here only to describe MIDI compatibility between this app and that hardware.

About

Degenson

Create distorted percussion, hypnotic sequences, and aggressive sounds with this raw virtual analog drum machine. It offers six voices, dual LFOs, and fast hands-on control for electronic music production.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog drum machine
  • Distorted percussion
  • Hypnotic sequences
  • Aggressive sound design
  • Six voices
  • Dual LFOs
  • Hands-on control
Features
Read full description

Degenson is a raw virtual analog drum machine built for distorted percussion, hypnotic sequences and aggressive sound design. Six voices, dual LFOs and fast hands-on control for techno, EBM and experimental production. Now it's also an AUv3 plugin: run Degenson inside your favorite iOS host — GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Drambo and more — perfectly in sync with your project tempo. • Six punchy virtual-analog voices with analogue-style decay — percussive across most of the knob, opening into an infinite drone at the top • Full MIDI: notes trigger the voices, every knob responds to a fixed MIDI CC, and the sequencer can be bypassed to play live from any controller • Melodic mode: each octave maps the six voices and transposes them, so you can play the drums tuned across the keyboard • Fast, tactile step sequencer with per-step control and dual LFOs for evolving, hypnotic patterns • Crunch Verb: a gritty master reverb with Mix, Decay and Crunch — the tail degrades as it fades Free to play. The optional Pro upgrade unlocks the AUv3 plugin for use in your DAW and WAV export for bouncing your patterns.

Screenshots

S3 screens
Degenson3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Degenson at 100% against S's 0%. Degenson also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). S's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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

Both are free to download. Degenson sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. S asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Degenson holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of S's written reviews are positive against 100% of Degenson's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

S ships an update every 6 weeks, Degenson every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
S versus Degenson: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDegenson
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings48 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathias KirkerødFabrizio Alviti

Customer experience

S

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Degenson

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

S

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Degenson

One-time1
  • Degenson Pro Upgrade$7.99

Questions

Is S free?
S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Degenson free?
Degenson is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, S or Degenson?
Degenson is rated higher. S averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Degenson averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do S or Degenson have ads?
Neither S nor Degenson shows ads.
Which is updated more often, S or Degenson?
S ships an update every 6 weeks, and Degenson every 9 days. Most recently, S was updated on October 12, 2026 and Degenson on October 9, 2026.

Other comparisons