GRAB EM Field Synth vs FW Radar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
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 ā 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 ā bit crusher with sample-rate reduction ⢠COMB ā comb filter with feedback ⢠REVERB ā multi-tap reverb with shimmer ⢠STUTTER ā BPM-synced gate ⢠MUTE ā 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.
FW Radar
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FW Radar keeps track of firmware for your studio gear, so you don't have to. It follows firmware releases for more than 1,600 hardware products, from synths and drum machines to eurorack modules, audio interfaces and effects. When something in your rig gets an update, you hear about it. Your rig Add the gear you own and see where each device stands: the latest firmware, the version you have installed, the full version history with changelogs, manuals and used prices from Reverb. Notifications Turn on notifications and you get a push as soon as a new firmware shows up for one of your devices. Tap it and you land on the product page. Telegram and email alerts are there too, if you prefer. Public rigs Look at the setups other electronic musicians share, and publish your own with photos if you like. The catalog More than 1,600 products from over 260 brands, checked around the clock. If your device is missing, request it from the app and it gets added. On iPhone, iPad and Mac. Free, no subscription. Sign in with Apple or Google. FW Radar does not host firmware files: every download link goes to the manufacturer's official page. This application uses the Reverb API but is not endorsed, created by or certified by Reverb.com, LLC.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: FW Radar at Free against GRAB EM Field Synth's $3.99. GRAB EM Field Synth's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
FW Radar is free to download; GRAB EM Field Synth costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GRAB EM Field Synth ships an update daily, FW Radar every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GRAB EM Field Synth | FW Radar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free ā better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | ā |
| Update frequency | Daily ā better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | ā |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad ā better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 ā better |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hiroya Tanaka | Vincenzo Risi |
In-app purchases
GRAB EM Field Synth
No in-app purchases
FW Radar
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GRAB EM Field Synth free?
Is FW Radar free?
Do GRAB EM Field Synth or FW Radar have ads?
Which is updated more often, GRAB EM Field Synth or FW Radar?
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