PunchKit vs M8 Music Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PunchKit
This app enhances your music production workflow with a compatible hardware device. It allows instant access to projects, sounds, and memory, plus recording, editing, and backup capabilities. Streamline your creative process and manage your music projects efficiently.
- Automatic device connection
- Browse projects, sounds, and memory
- Record USB audio and iOS input
- Signal-activated recording
- Bundle recordings for backup
- Add effects to recordings and samples
- Backup and restore projects
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PunchKit is a local-first companion for the Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, EP-1320 Medieval, and EP-40 Riddim. Build kits, manage samples, record and process audio, separate stems, perform live effects, and create dependable backups from your iPhone or iPad. MIDI PLAYGROUND - Layer independent Chords, Melody, and Bass machines beside a connected EP - Follow EP MIDI clock with retained-BPM fallback if pulses stop - Use Auto Key or choose key, scale, harmony, voicing, inversion, octave, and expression manually - Shape chord feel with strum order, groove, timing, humanization, velocity, and release - Build melody and bass phrases on 16-step note grids, with octave transposition while playing OFFLINE KIT BUILDER - Build and save 12-pad kits without connecting an EP - Browse and preview samples from Files, then assign them to pads - Trim or convert samples for EP limits - Import, export, duplicate, rename, and share kit archives - Connect later to upload a kit to a chosen project and group DEVICE AND SAMPLE MANAGEMENT - Automatically detect compatible EP devices over USB MIDI - Browse projects, groups, pads, assignments, sounds, and memory slots - Browse one shared local Sample Shelf across Library, Projects, and Kit Builder - Drag a complete folder, including nested folders, to a Library slot - Review each file's path, duration, source size, converted device size, and memory before upload - Remove or edit individual pending samples without changing shelf files - Choose free-slot or sequential placement and explicitly confirm overwrites RECORD, EDIT, AND PUNCH - Record from the microphone or compatible USB audio inputs in WAV or M4A - Use signal-activated recording, waveform trimming, playback controls, and original/rendered versions - Monitor processed USB audio live with adjustable level and latency - Capture beat-synced loops using MIDI, detected audio, or tap tempo, then scratch and perform them from the cassette - Apply stackable Color and tempo-synced Motion effects with Direct or XY controls - Build a custom 12-slot Punch It page PIXEL BACKGROUND STUDIO - Turn short videos from Photos into pixel-art backgrounds - Trim, frame, process, and arrange clips locally - Available with Lifetime Pro LOCAL STEM SEPARATION - Separate a take into vocals, drums, bass, and other - Choose Fast, Balanced, or Best quality - Download the optional model once, then process locally - Mix, save, share, bounce, or upload stems BACKUP AND RESTORE - Back up a bank, project, or everything on your EP - Include assigned samples or create complete device archives - Restore PunchKit ZIP or user-supplied TE .pak backups with preflight MADE FOR IPHONE AND IPAD - Adaptive portrait and landscape layouts - System, Light, and Dark appearances FREE TO START, PRO FOR UNLIMITED WORKFLOWS PunchKit is free to download. Connecting, browsing, previewing, playing, sharing, renaming, deleting, restoring backups, and using existing files remain available without limits. The free tier includes three successful take creations, one local kit creation and one complete kit upload, three successful sample writes, one stem separation, and one bank, project, and complete-device backup. Allowances count only after an operation succeeds. One optional Lifetime Pro purchase removes these limits. There is no subscription, and Pro supports Apple Family Sharing. On iPhone and iPad, people who first downloaded PunchKit before version 1.3 receive Lifetime Pro automatically as founding users. LOCAL-FIRST BY DESIGN PunchKit has no account, advertising, third-party analytics, crash-reporting SDK, or tracking. Audio and EP content stay under your control. Issue reports are sent only when you choose. Optional diagnostics may include redacted app activity and Apple-provided crash information, but exclude audio, samples, project contents, and filenames. DISCLAIMER PunchKit is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Teenage Engineering.
M8 Music Tracker
Create and arrange music with a portable eight-track tracker, synthesizer, and sequencer. Features multiple synth engines, sample playback, and advanced sequencing tools. Offers extensive connectivity and compatibility with hardware and other M8 users.
- Eight-track music tracker and sequencer
- Multiple built-in synth engines (Wavsynth, Macrosynth, FMSynth, Hypersynth)
- Sampler for playback and recording
- Advanced sequencing with modulation, scales, and effects
- MIDI instrument control
- CoreMIDI and IAA integration
- Portrait and landscape support
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M8 tracker is an eight-track music tracker, sequencer, and synthesizer from Dirtywave. Create and arrange music using a portable tracker workflow. Sequences are built from phrases and chains, which can be arranged independently across eight tracks with sequencing and modulation at each step. Instruments • Wavsynth - Chip synth inspired wavetable synth • Macrosynth - Macro oscillators of over 40 unique synthesis engines • FMSynth - Four-operator FM synthesis • Hypersynth - Six-note 13 oscillator swarm synth • Sampler - Sample playback and recording • MIDI instruments for controlling internal or external gear • Up to 128 instruments per song Sequencing • Eight independent monophonic tracks • Instrument tables for advanced modulation • Scales, grooves, probability, and comprehensive effect commands • Live performance and song-rendering tools Connectivity • CoreMIDI input and output • External computer keyboards and game controllers • Ableton Link support • AUv3 plugin version • Inter-App Audio (IAA) integration • Launchpad Pro MKIII support M8 supports portrait and landscape orientations on iPhone and iPad. Projects, instruments, samples, themes, and rendered audio are accessible through the Files app. Built-in contextual help explains every view with shortcuts. M8 for iOS provides the complete M8 workflow in a portable, touch-enabled interface. Songs and bundles are fully compatible with M8 hardware and can be transferred between devices and shared with other M8 users. Join the Dirtywave Discord community to share music, get help, and discuss M8.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PunchKit at Free against M8 Music Tracker's $29.99. M8 Music Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#22 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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
PunchKit is free to download; M8 Music Tracker costs $29.99 up front. PunchKit sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. M8 Music Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PunchKit against 5.0 for M8 Music Tracker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 97 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of PunchKit's written reviews are positive against 100% of M8 Music Tracker's.
PunchKit ships an update weekly, M8 Music Tracker every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.
| Parameter | PunchKit | M8 Music Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $29.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (51 ratings) | 5.0 (97 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 96.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 51 | 97 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #22 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 235 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kristaps Dreija | Dirtywave |
Customer experience
PunchKit
M8 Music Tracker
In-app purchases
PunchKit
- Small Tip$2.99
- Generous Tip$5.99
- Huge Tip$12.99
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- PunchKit Pro Lifetime$14.99
M8 Music Tracker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PunchKit free?
Is M8 Music Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, PunchKit or M8 Music Tracker?
Do PunchKit or M8 Music Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, PunchKit or M8 Music Tracker?
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