Comparison

SUS4 Drum Pad vs MACHINE DRUM

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

Head to head
About

SUS4 Drum Pad

Features
Read full description

Tap a groove on 16 pads or program it on a 16-step grid, then export it as audio. 25 synthesized kits, from acoustic and jazz to lo-fi, trap and Latin. Fully on-device: no cloud, no account. Play live on the 4x4 grid. Switch to the sequencer to build a pattern step by step, set the tempo, and save it. The looper records what you play and loops it. • 16 pads, each with level and pan • 25 kits: acoustic, electronic, hip-hop, trap, Latin, jazz, world percussion and more • 16-step sequencer with tempo, save and load • Looper for a pad performance • Export the beat as an audio file For beatmakers sketching on the bus, drummers working out a pattern, and producers who want a quick groove to write over. Two kits and the sequencer are open to everyone. Pro, or SUS4 All-Access across the whole range, adds all 25 kits and unlimited looper recording. Made in the UK by working musicians. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

MACHINE DRUM

This app offers a minimalist drum machine and sound design lab for creating beats and audio. It features a tactile step sequencer, custom kick sound designer, and the ability to record and manipulate custom samples. Professional DSP effects and genre-inspired templates are also included to enhance creativity.

Highlights
  • Tactile 16-pad step sequencer
  • Custom kick sound designer with dual-oscillator engine
  • Record and manipulate custom samples
  • DSP effects including Delay, Reverb, and Bitcrusher
  • Frequency filters (LP, BP, HP)
  • Hardware and genre-inspired presets
Features
Read full description

MACHINE DRUM: Minimalist Drum Machine & Sound Design Lab Experience beatmaking stripped of clutter. MACHINE DRUM combines retro hardware aesthetics with clean, modern minimalism, giving you a distraction-free canvas built purely to support your creativity and professional grade audio expression. Every knob, slider, instrument and effect has been crafted for visual simplicity and self expression, letting you stay locked in the flow whether sketching rhythms on the go or sculpting intricate synthesis in the studio. TACTILE 16-PAD STEP SEQUENCER Build loops instantly with an intuitive, hardware-style pad grid. Tap steps to program rhythms, control tempo (BPM), and fine-tune levels. Solo or mute individual tracks to build dynamic build-ups and drops live. CUSTOM KICK SOUND DESIGNER Stop relying on generic samples. Synthesize your own signature kicks with a dedicated, dual-oscillator sound engine: • Envelope (ADSR): Fine-tune Attack, Decay, Sustain, & Release using a live visual envelope graph. • FM Synthesis: Dial in punchy transients using FM Depth, FM Speed, and Base Pitch controls. • LFO Modulation: Add rich movement and texture. Route the LFO to Pitch, Filter, Level, or Pan RECORD CUSTOM SAMPLES Record real-world sounds instantly using your iPhone's microphone. Pitch, trim, and swap custom samples into any track pad in real time. Perfect for integrating vocal chops, ambient hits, or custom percussion. DSP EFFECTS & FREQUENCY FILTERS Sculpt your final output mix with professional audio processing: • Delay, Reverb and Bitcrusher: Add analog-style warmth, drive, and grit to glue your beats together. • Frequency Filter: Switch between Low Pass (LP), Band Pass (BP), and High Pass (HP) modes with dedicated Cutoff and Resonance sliders. PRESETS & LEGENDARY GENRE TEMPLATES Load instantly playable song templates and legendary drum machine styles to jumpstart your inspiration: • Explore hardware profiles like the TR-808, TR-909, Linn LM-1, and MPC60. • Load curated song setups inspired by Classic Hip Hop, EDM and Synthwave

Screenshots

SUS4 Drum Pad4 screens
MACHINE DRUM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: SUS4 Drum Pad at 16.0 against MACHINE DRUM's 26.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. SUS4 Drum Pad sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and MACHINE DRUM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
SUS4 Drum Pad versus MACHINE DRUM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSUS4 Drum PadMACHINE DRUM
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaul SmithNathan Burazer

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SUS4 Drum Pad

Subscriptions1
  • SUS4 Drum Pad Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
1 purchases

MACHINE DRUM

One-time1
  • MACHINE DRUM PRO$9.99

Questions

Is SUS4 Drum Pad free?
SUS4 Drum Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MACHINE DRUM free?
MACHINE DRUM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SUS4 Drum Pad or MACHINE DRUM have ads?
Neither SUS4 Drum Pad nor MACHINE DRUM shows ads.

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