Comparison

iMPC for iPhone vs Afro Latin Percussion Machine

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

Head to head
About

iMPC for iPhone

Transform your iPhone into a powerful music production studio. Create beats with over 600 samples, editable programs, and sequences. Record, overdub, and apply built-in effects for endless creative possibilities.

Highlights
  • Over 600 samples
  • 47 editable programs
  • 80 editable sequences
  • Built-in sampler with mic, line-in, and turntable recording
  • Built-in effects (delay, bit crusher, compressor)
  • Export to MPC Software and share to social media
  • 16 Levels mode and Note Variation slider
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into an MPC with more than 600 samples, 47 editable programs, 80 editable sequences, and iconic MPC workflow. Need help? Have an issue or question? Please email us at support@retronyms.com. iMPC brings the look and feel of the classic Akai Pro MPC to your iPhone. iMPC includes everything you need to create a beat quickly and easily. With features including built-in effects, plus the ability to create new sequences and record and overdub beats, the possibilities are endless. The app’s built-in sampler can record samples three different ways: using the mic on the iPhone, using the line input on the iPhone, or using the multi-touch turntable interface in iMPC to record samples directly from iTunes or other music libraries. - Exclusive iMPC sound set and classic Akai Professional sound library - "3D Perform" controls -- use your iPhone's motion sensors to control parameters - Export tracks to MPC Software for use with MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio - Share on SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or export to your computer - 16 Levels mode: 16 levels of attack, velocity, length, and tuning - Note Variation slider: adjust attack, velocity, length, and tuning as you play - Trim and categorize samples, undo takes and erase samples - Create new sequences, record and overdub beats - Live Sequence queuing for real-time performance and playback - Simple drag and drop program creation - Effects include delay, bit crusher, master compressor/limiter - Time correct: 1/8 note - 1/32T with variable swing - Note Repeat: 1/8 note - 1/32T timing, with latch - AudioCopy beats and sequences to compatible apps - AudioPaste samples from hundreds of compatible apps

About

Afro Latin Percussion Machine

Explore and create authentic Afro-Latin rhythms with a virtual percussionist. Features include song arrangement, live triggering, and extensive sound options. Offers AUv3 and standalone compatibility for musicians and producers.

Highlights
  • Authentic Afro-Latin rhythms
  • Song arrangement and editing
  • Live pad triggering
  • AUv3 and standalone compatibility
  • Extensive percussion sound library
  • MIDI control and Ableton Link
  • Custom rhythm banks
Features
Read full description

Afro Latin Percussion Machine is your virtual Latin percussionist. Practice, create, and perform authentic Afro-Latin rhythms like never before. Free to download and keep, with the features open for the first 7 days (some actions have a limited number of uses). Designed for musicians, producers, and anyone who loves the rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean, now with AUv3 support. Play hot Latin rhythms with the highest sound quality: son, son montuno, guaguancó, columbia, yambú, bembé, cha-cha-chá, mambo, merengue, bachata, salsa, bolero, songo and bomba, with over 100 rhythms in total. So easy to use, you can edit and create your own in seconds. Key Features: Song Mode: turn your Afro-Latin rhythms into complete arrangements in seconds. Set groove, jam and intensity per part, double-tap to edit, long-press to reorder. Fast and simple. Jamming Tool & Randomizers: add human feel and spontaneity to every groove. No more flat, repetitive loops. Live Pads: trigger fills, switch rhythms and jam in real time with 8 assignable pads, intro and end buttons, and full MIDI control. Share by AirDrop, Mail or Files: send any groove, live pad set or song to another device or to a friend, with no account or cloud service needed. Standalone & AUv3 Compatible: use Afro Latin Percussion Machine inside your favorite DAW or as a standalone app. Latin Percussion Sounds: congas, bongos, timbales, güiros, claves, cowbells, maracas, shakers, shekeres, cajón, pandeiro, agogô, wood blocks and hand claps, all recorded for a true Latin feel. 100+ Authentic Rhythms: from the styles above to traditional Afro-Cuban toques like bembé, abakuá, makuta and yuka, not found anywhere else, all easy to edit or create your own. Groove sharing across Lumbeat apps: exchange grooves, live pads and songs with Pop Drummer, Soft Drummer and iBassist, standalone or in AUv3. Sound Module: use the full kit as a MIDI sampler, standalone or as an AUv3 plugin, triggered from your own MIDI tracks or pads. Percussion Setup View: see your full kit laid out on screen, instrument by instrument. Custom Rhythm Banks: save and organize your own patterns in your own banks. Advanced MIDI Setup: fully customizable MIDI control mapping, shareable MIDI maps, custom note octave naming, MIDI-controllable tempo, and MIDI Clock In/Out. Per-Track Reverb Send: dial in how much reverb each percussion instrument gets, for precise space and depth. Export Effects: export your grooves exactly as they sound, effects included. Ableton Link: sync tempo and transport with other apps and devices over Wi-Fi, and stay in time with the rest of your setup. External Keyboard Support: play, trigger fills, and control tempo from a connected keyboard. Native on iPhone, iPad and Mac: fully optimized for every screen size, with a dedicated vertical layout on iPhone. Try for Free Afro Latin Percussion Machine is free to download and keep, with the features open for the first 7 days. During the trial there are limits on exports, random grooves, sound changes and how long each session plays. After the trial you keep a reduced version, and a single one-time purchase unlocks the Full Version for good. No subscription. Studio Mix is sold separately.

Screenshots

iMPC for iPhone4 screens
Afro Latin Percussion Machine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Afro Latin Percussion Machine at Free against iMPC for iPhone's $6.99. Afro Latin Percussion Machine also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and review sentiment (72% vs 35%). iMPC for iPhone's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Afro Latin Percussion Machine is free to download; iMPC for iPhone costs $6.99 up front. Afro Latin Percussion Machine sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. iMPC for iPhone asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Afro Latin Percussion Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 139 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of iMPC for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 72% of Afro Latin Percussion Machine's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iMPC for iPhone ships an update every 6 months, Afro Latin Percussion Machine every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iMPC for iPhone versus Afro Latin Percussion Machine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMPC for iPhoneAfro Latin Percussion Machine
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating2.8 (84 ratings)4.7 (139 ratings) — better
Positive reviews35.0% of reviews71.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings84139 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAkai ProfessionalLumbeat

Customer experience

iMPC for iPhone

All ratings84 ratings
Positive36.9%
Neutral16.7%
Negative46.4%
Written reviews246 reviews
Positive35.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative50.0%

Afro Latin Percussion Machine

All ratings137 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral1.5%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive71.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative20.5%

User reviews

iMPC for iPhone

From 84 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Classic MPC feel
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 🎨 Good sound quality
  • 💰 Affordable price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🔀 Unreliable sample playback
  • 🚫 Inability to delete samples
  • 🤖 Outdated and unresponsive UI

Afro Latin Percussion Machine

From 139 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Authentic sounds
  • 💡 Great variety of rhythms
  • 🎹 Versatile for practice
  • ✨ Inspiring and functional
  • 👍 Easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🤖 Robotic sound
  • 🔊 Clumpy and harsh sounds
  • 🎚️ Lack of natural dynamics
  • 🎶 Sounds drowned in reverb
  • 😕 Unintuitive interface

Bugs and requests

iMPC for iPhone

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when editing samples
  • Playback issues with iOS 9 and later
  • Bluetooth connectivity problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add song mode to link sequences
  • Implement Audiobus support
  • Improve sample chopping and editing
  • Allow importing samples from cloud storage

Afro Latin Percussion Machine

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Problems with sync
  • MIDI Sync unstable
  • Glitches where song doesn't save
  • App crashes when saving
  • No sound after phone call
Show 13 more
  • App doesn't respond in Audioshare
  • Audiobus not working
  • App gets locked up with Audiobus
  • Rhythms not staying with drum kit
  • Steps not highlighted in groove sequencer
  • iPhone sounds have lower pitch than iPad
  • No sound output (crackling)
  • App keeps crashing
  • Tempo slider unresponsive
  • Plus/minus tempo keys spotty
  • Doesn't connect properly with Audiobus
  • Not controllable from Audiobus 2 and 3
  • Sounds drowned out in reverb

Requested features

22 requests
  • Add swing options from Hip Hop drummer
  • Add export function to Logic Pro X
  • Add tutorial or manual
  • Add piano and horns for true Latin effect
  • Add MIDI control for live pad control
Show 17 more
  • Add export MIDI file option
  • Add export audio option
  • Add a way to activate/deactivate with a pedal
  • Add more instrument sounds and banks
  • Add groove or shuffle effect option
  • Add ability to input own sounds
  • Add salsa templates
  • Add martillos in bongo patterns
  • Add more mixer slots for instruments
  • Add a constant metronome option
  • Add a help file
  • Add more variation to rhythms
  • Add envelope setting for tuning
  • Add Matanzas style guaguanco
  • Add plena preset
  • Add more Bomba presets
  • Add ability to organize user sounds

In-app purchases

None

iMPC for iPhone

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Afro Latin Percussion Machine

One-time2
  • Studio Mix$8.99
  • Afro Latin Full Access$22.99

Questions

Is iMPC for iPhone free?
iMPC for iPhone costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Afro Latin Percussion Machine free?
Afro Latin Percussion Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iMPC for iPhone or Afro Latin Percussion Machine?
Afro Latin Percussion Machine is rated higher. iMPC for iPhone averages 2.8 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Afro Latin Percussion Machine averages 4.7 from 139 ratings.
Do iMPC for iPhone or Afro Latin Percussion Machine have ads?
Neither iMPC for iPhone nor Afro Latin Percussion Machine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iMPC for iPhone or Afro Latin Percussion Machine?
iMPC for iPhone ships an update every 6 months, and Afro Latin Percussion Machine every 6 weeks. Most recently, iMPC for iPhone was updated on November 11, 2026 and Afro Latin Percussion Machine on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons