Comparison

Audio Object vs BackBeat

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

Head to head
About

Audio Object

This pocket-sized instrument turns your iPhone into a portable music creation studio. It features a four-track looper, a three-voice drum machine, and an eight-pad sampler with extensive editing capabilities. Seamlessly integrate with your Mac DAW via USB for professional workflows.

Highlights
  • Four-track looper with bar-quantized recording
  • Three-voice drum machine click track
  • Eight-pad sampler with EQ and varispeed
  • Project save, load, and WAV stem export
  • Stereo audio streaming to Mac DAWs via USB
  • MIDI clock output over USB
  • Records stereo from Core Audio interfaces
Features
Read full description

Audio Object is a pocket-sized music instrument for iPhone. It looks and works like a small piece of hardware — a wooden body with an instrument panel on each face. Pull the wood edge and the body rotates to the next face. WHAT IT DOES - Four-track looper with bar-quantized recording and per-loop trim - Three-voice drum machine as the click track — kick, snare, hi-hat with a per-step accent grid - Eight-pad sampler with grid, auto, and tap chopping, two switchable banks, three-band EQ, varispeed tuning - Project save, load, and WAV stem export with tempo map - Streams audio to any Mac DAW over USB (Inter-Device Audio & MIDI) - Sends MIDI clock over USB — Ableton, Logic, and Bitwig lock transport to the phone - Records stereo from any Core Audio interface (iRig, Focusrite, MOTU, and others) HOW IT WORKS Six faces. Perform pads on one, sampler on another, click and time signature on a third, projects on the back, I/O on top, master on the bottom. No menus, no tabs. Every control lives on the body. The click track is not a metronome. It is a three-voice drum machine with per-step accents, subdivisions from quarter notes to swing, and time signatures from 3/4 to 12/8. Set up a kick-snare-hat pattern, press record, loop on the beat. The sampler holds eight pads across two banks. Record from the mic or load from Files. Chop by grid, by transient, or by tapping markers. Each pad carries a three-band EQ, varispeed pitch, and an amplitude envelope. All eight play polyphonically. Recording quantizes to the bar, the beat, or runs free. A dedicated loop-adjust face trims each loop to the sample — drag the region brackets, snap to the grid, hear the result while the brackets move. Plug the phone into a Mac over USB. Audio Object appears as an audio input and MIDI clock source. The DAW locks transport to the phone's tempo. No drivers, no setup. Plug a USB audio interface into the phone. Audio Object names the device on screen and records through its preamps at up to 48 kHz stereo. WHAT IS NEXT A synthesizer — bass, chord, and lead modes — is in development for the next major release.

About

BackBeat

Features
Read full description

Become a tighter, more confident drummer by mastering the drum grooves you'll actually use. BackBeat helps you practice over 10 essential and widely used drum patterns on an interactive virtual drum kit. Whether you're just starting out or sharpening your timing, you can build consistency with just a few minutes of focused practice each day. Practice the grooves that matter Instead of overwhelming you with hundreds of exercises, BackBeat focuses on the foundational beats every drummer should know. Learn, repeat, and internalize the rhythms you'll encounter across rock, pop, funk, indie, worship, and countless other styles. Features • Practice 10+ essential drum grooves used in real music • Interactive virtual drum set with responsive controls • Build timing and consistency in just minutes a day • Fully customizable metronome with adjustable tempo and settings • Assign your own custom drum sounds to every drum and cymbal for a personalized practice experience • Designed for beginners and experienced drummers alike Improve your timing Strong timing is one of the most important skills any drummer can develop. Use the built-in metronome to gradually increase tempo, lock into the beat, and develop solid rhythm through consistent daily practice. Make it your own Customize your kit by importing your own sounds for each drum, creating a practice experience that feels familiar and inspiring every time you play. Whether you're preparing for your first band, getting back into drumming, or simply looking to sharpen your groove, BackBeat gives you the tools to improve a little every day. Practice the essentials. Build better timing. Play with confidence.

Screenshots

Audio Object4 screens
BackBeat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Audio Object at 17.0 against BackBeat's 26.5. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Audio Object versus BackBeat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudio ObjectBackBeat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreen Rose Systems, LLCBrandon Jabr

In-app purchases

None

Audio Object

No in-app purchases

None

BackBeat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Audio Object free?
Audio Object is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BackBeat free?
BackBeat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Audio Object or BackBeat have ads?
Neither Audio Object nor BackBeat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Audio Object or BackBeat?
Audio Object ships an update every 2 months, and BackBeat every 2 months. Most recently, Audio Object was updated on September 29, 2026 and BackBeat on September 29, 2026.

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