Comparison

Beat Pad Sampler 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

Beat Pad Sampler

Features
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Beat Pad is the #1 music sampler for iPhone and iPad. Record a sound with the microphone or import an audio file, then play it across 15 responsive pads — as individual samples or transformed into a chromatic, major, or minor scale. Whether you're sampling drums, vocals, instruments, sound effects, or anything around you, Beat Pad gives you a fast and creative way to turn audio into something you can actually play. PLAY 15 DIFFERENT SAMPLES Create your own sample kit by assigning a different sound to each of the 15 pads. Record directly from the microphone or import audio files from your device or iCloud Drive, then trigger your samples instantly for live performance, finger drumming, beat making, or experimentation. OR TURN ONE SAMPLE INTO AN INSTRUMENT Load a single sample and automatically spread it across all 15 pads. Choose between: • Chromatic scale • Major scale • Minor scale • Your preferred root key Record a voice, synth note, guitar sound, piano hit, bass tone, or any other sample and turn it into a playable melodic instrument in seconds. RECORD OR IMPORT ANY SOUND Capture samples directly with your iPhone or iPad microphone, or import existing audio files. Build your own sample library from drums, vocals, instruments, field recordings, sound effects, loops, one-shots, and more. Zoom and move through the waveform for precise editing and use tools including: • Cut • Normalize • Reverse • Pitch adjustment • Filters • Delay • Reverb • Distortion • Invert PER-PAD SOUND CONTROL Every pad can have its own sound and processing. Adjust your samples independently and create anything from a simple drum kit to a completely custom performance setup. 45 READY-TO-PLAY PRESETS Want to start playing immediately? Beat Pad includes 45 built-in presets featuring drum kits, percussion, synth sounds, electronic instruments, and real audio samples. MASTER PANEL Control your complete output with master volume and a built-in compressor to keep your performance balanced and powerful. MADE FOR MUSICIANS AND SOUND EXPLORERS No computer and no external hardware required.

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
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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

Beat Pad Sampler4 screens
MACHINE DRUM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beat Pad Sampler at none against MACHINE DRUM's 1. Beat Pad Sampler also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. MACHINE DRUM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Beat Pad Sampler asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beat Pad Sampler ships an update every 2 weeks, MACHINE DRUM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Beat Pad Sampler versus MACHINE DRUM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeat Pad SamplerMACHINE DRUM
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarco D'AmelioNathan Burazer

In-app purchases

None

Beat Pad Sampler

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MACHINE DRUM

One-time1
  • MACHINE DRUM PRO$9.99

Questions

Is Beat Pad Sampler free?
Beat Pad Sampler is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MACHINE DRUM free?
MACHINE DRUM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Beat Pad Sampler or MACHINE DRUM have ads?
Neither Beat Pad Sampler nor MACHINE DRUM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Beat Pad Sampler or MACHINE DRUM?
Beat Pad Sampler ships an update every 2 weeks, and MACHINE DRUM monthly. Most recently, Beat Pad Sampler was updated on October 16, 2026 and MACHINE DRUM on October 25, 2026.

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