Comparison

FretMachine vs Derson DSynth Mobile

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

Head to head
About

FretMachine

This app allows musicians to sketch guitar parts by placing chords on a fretboard and creating strumming patterns. It offers an intuitive alternative to traditional tab workflows, enabling users to build chord progressions and export ideas as MIDI files for DAWs.

Highlights
  • Fretboard chord input
  • Strumming pattern sequencer
  • Chord library with advanced chords
  • Real-time chord analysis
  • MIDI export for DAWs
  • Timeline arrangement
Read full description

Place chords on the fretboard. Sketch guitar parts with strumming patterns. FretMachine is a guitar chord and strumming sequencer for musicians, producers, songwriters, and DAW users. Unlike traditional tab-based workflows, FretMachine provides a more intuitive way to create guitar parts. Place chords on a fretboard-style interface, create strumming patterns in the rhythm sequencer, and arrange your ideas on the timeline. When you place notes on the fretboard, FretMachine analyzes the shape in real time and shows you the chord name. You can also choose chords directly from the chord library and quickly build chord progressions. Once your chords are ready, create strumming patterns on the rhythm grid, arrange them on the timeline, and export your ideas as MIDI files for further production in your DAW. KEY FEATURES • Strum-Based Sequencing Create guitar ideas around chords and strumming rhythms instead of entering notes one by one. • Pattern-Based Sequencer Arrange strumming and rhythm patterns freely on the timeline to structure your song ideas. • Chord Library Supports Basic Triads, 7th chords, tension chords such as 9th/11th/13th, sus/add chords, Altered chords, and a variety of guitar voicings. • Reverse Chord Finder Place notes on the fretboard and see the chord name analyzed in real time. • Fretboard Input Enter and sequence chord shapes while viewing a visual guitar fretboard interface. • Rhythm & Strumming Pattern Editor Design strumming rhythms on a grid using downstrokes and upstrokes. • MIDI Export Export completed guitar parts as MIDI files and bring them into your DAW. FretMachine helps you quickly build guitar-focused ideas, from chord sketches to pattern-based song drafts.

About

Derson DSynth Mobile

Create complex sounds with a polyphonic synthesizer. Build custom patches using multiple oscillators, envelopes, and a flexible effects chain. Practice or perform with responsive on-screen keys and MIDI input.

Highlights
  • Multi-layer oscillators
  • Per-oscillator envelopes and filters
  • Reorderable FX chain
  • Preset browser
  • On-screen keyboard
  • MIDI input
  • Visualizers
Features
Read full description

DSynth Mobile is a low-latency polyphonic synthesizer for sound design, practice, and performance. Build patches with up to 10 oscillator layers, per-layer envelopes, detune, filters, a reorderable FX chain, factory and user presets, MIDI input, and responsive on-screen keys. Features: - Multi-layer oscillators with sine, square, saw, triangle, and noise waveforms - Per-oscillator ADSR, volume, detune, and filter controls - Global filter and master envelope - Reorderable FX chain with distortion, chorus, echo, delay, phaser, and reverb - Preset browser with factory and user presets - On-screen keyboard with octave controls and velocity from touch position - Oscilloscope and spectrum visualizers - Optional background audio

Screenshots

FretMachine4 screens
Derson DSynth Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FretMachine at 5.0 against Derson DSynth Mobile's 3.0. Derson DSynth Mobile'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. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Derson DSynth Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FretMachine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
FretMachine versus Derson DSynth Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretMachineDerson DSynth Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size227 MB6 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperKyuhwa ChoiDERSON PRODUCTIONS, LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FretMachine

One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$4.99
None

Derson DSynth Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FretMachine free?
FretMachine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Derson DSynth Mobile free?
Derson DSynth Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FretMachine or Derson DSynth Mobile?
FretMachine is rated higher. FretMachine averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Derson DSynth Mobile averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do FretMachine or Derson DSynth Mobile have ads?
Neither FretMachine nor Derson DSynth Mobile shows ads.

Other comparisons