Comparison

irio pro vs AD

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

Head to head
About

irio pro

This app offers a modular effects canvas for musicians, allowing for flexible signal chain routing with studio-grade modules. It supports various instruments and DAWs, featuring advanced amp modeling and modulation capabilities.

Highlights
  • Modular effects canvas
  • Free signal chain routing
  • Studio-grade audio modules
  • Advanced amp modeling (NAM player)
  • Customizable modulation effects
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Scene and preset switching
Features
Read full description

irio pro is a modular audio effects processor for iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Mac. Add modules and connect them in any order. Multiple inputs and outputs, parallel paths. The number of modules is limited only by your device's CPU. Runs standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. For guitar, bass, or any audio source. GUITAR / AMP - NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) player: A2 models, standard and nano - Cab section with IR loading, noise gate, 3-band EQ, high and low cut - Dual-cab IR blender with alignment scope - Drives and fuzzes (circuit-level simulations) - rosa: audio to MIDI converter - Chromatic tuner EFFECTS - 5 delays, 3 reverbs - Convolution for delays, reverbs and cabs - Chorus, flanger, pitch vibrato, photocell vibe, wah, ring modulator - Pitch shifting - Compressors - Noise gate - Parametric EQ with live analyzer - 8-voice synth ROUTING / ENGINE - Free routing, any order - Multi-channel in and out - Instances limited only by CPU - Live metering on every connection - Patch-wide tempo - Hosts other AUv3 effects - Hosts AUv3 instruments - Engine builder, 40+ DSP blocks MODULATION - Three modifier types: LFO, envelope follower, hand-drawn LFO - Route a modifier to almost any control - One modifier to many targets, each with its own range - LFO rates and delay times lock to the tempo PERFORM - 4 scenes per preset - Perform page with multiple pad banks - Pads trigger presets, scenes, module memories, stomps, module switches (Stop, Freeze, Kill Dry), A/B, tap tempo, looper and player transport - Pads are momentary or latching, groupable, in 16 colors - Multi-pads: one pad controls several targets - XY pads - 4 assignable knobs - Shortcuts: switches and knobs assignable to any control - MIDI learn on every control - Host automation in AUv3 (AUTO slots) - Saveable perform layouts TOOLS - 4-track looper - Take recorder - Audio file player - Metronome with speed trainer - Whole-system backup Free version, no trial or time limit: NAM player, morph drive, gyre mod, irio delay, irio verb, 3-band EQ, noise gate, audio player, metronome, global tempo. Pro Complete unlocks all modules. One purchase, no subscription. More at iriopro.com

About

AD

This app emulates a classic 1983 micro synthesizer with modern enhancements like MPE and eight-voice polyphony. It offers a rich sound engine with multiple oscillators, filters, and a comprehensive drive section for unique sonic textures. Enjoy extensive modulation options and a built-in keyboard for immediate creativity.

Highlights
  • Eight-voice polyphony
  • MPE support
  • Classic four-pole lowpass filter
  • Comprehensive drive section
  • AUv3 and standalone operation
  • Preset manager with favorites
  • Built-in chicklet keyboard
Features
Read full description

We rebuilt the legendary micro composer of 1983, then gave it everything the original owners wished for: eight voices, MPE, a sequencer worthy of the name, and a couple of new dirty tricks. The voice is the one you know: a single fat oscillator with sawtooth and pulse (manual, LFO, or envelope PWM), a three-mode sub oscillator, and a noise source, mixed and driven into a classic four-pole lowpass filter. One snappy ADSR, switchable env/gate VCA, and an LFO with triangle, square, stepped random, and noise shapes, complete with onset delay, tempo sync, and retrigger. Portamento with the proper on/auto/off modes, and gate, gate+trig, and LFO trigger modes, exactly like the hardware. And the a sequencer: eight patterns of up to 64 steps, drawn right on the panel, with accent, slide, and octave per step, follow actions and repeats, swing, and tools to randomize in a key and scale, mutate, copy, and rotate. Play a pattern from a held key, transpose it from the keyboard, lock it while you browse presets, and run it from its own clock, the host transport, or an Ableton Link session in the standalone. Sequences save with your presets. • Eight-voice polyphony, or the original mono behavior with the flip of a switch • MPE support with per-note pitch bend and pressure, four aftertouch destinations (VCO mod, VCF mod, filter freq, LFO rate), and adjustable pressure smoothing • MTS-ESP microtonal tuning, retuned continuously while notes sound • SPREAD for stereo voice panning, and AGE, which drifts each voice like forty-year-old components • A full drive section: pre-filter saturation, filter drive, post-VCA distortion, and a tilt EQ • Velocity to filter and amp • A chicklet keyboard with latch and octave shift, playable right on the panel • Full preset manager with favorites and a factory bank • Five faceplate colors, including one for console cowboys • AUv3 and standalone, with an interface that fills whatever window your host hands it AD-202 works everywhere iOS makes noise: AUM, apeMatrix, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis, and any other AUv3 host, plus a standalone app with its own audio and MIDI settings, Ableton Link, and background audio. No subscriptions. No accounts. No nonsense. Buy it once, own it forever.

Screenshots

irio pro4 screens
AD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: irio pro at Free against AD's $6.99. irio pro also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). On ratings volume, 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

irio pro is free to download; AD costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

irio pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of irio pro's written reviews are positive against 86% of AD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

irio pro ships an update every 3 days, AD every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
irio pro versus AD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameteririo proAD
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating4.9 (8 ratings) — better4.7 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings812 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMads RohdeAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

irio pro

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AD

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

irio pro

No in-app purchases

None

AD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is irio pro free?
irio pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AD free?
AD costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, irio pro or AD?
irio pro is rated higher. irio pro averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while AD averages 4.7 from 12 ratings.
Do irio pro or AD have ads?
Neither irio pro nor AD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, irio pro or AD?
irio pro ships an update every 3 days, and AD every 3 weeks. Most recently, irio pro was updated on October 5, 2026 and AD on October 19, 2026.

Other comparisons