SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth vs ShockWave
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth
Create unique electronic drum loops with a powerful synthesizer. Tweak sounds, explore variations with a randomizer, and save your creations. Supports advanced audio routing and MIDI synchronization.
- Synthesized electronic drum loops
- Adjustable synth parameters and envelopes
- Step sequencer with velocity mapping
- Instant sound randomization
- Snapshot sound recall
- Audiobus and Inter App Audio support
- MIDI sync and input
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4.5 stars on the U.S. App Store!! (Customer Ratings, All Versions) Check the support page (rugoso.com/seekbeats) to see a 2 minute video, watch and hear for yourself what's it all about! ------------------- Create 100% synthesized electronic drum loops that sound alive, noisy and musical. Feel the freedom to tweak the sounds and be able to go back and forth by using snapshots. Find mutations of the whole sound instantly with one slide of your finger via the randomizer. ------------------------ SeekBeats has: • Eight voices, each with different synth parameters and envelopes. • Step Sequencer, with velocity for each step that can be mapped to different parameters. • Randomizer: Mutate the whole sound of your drums instantly with the slide of your finger. • Snapshots: Feel all the freedom to explore with your sound, go back and forth by taking and recalling snapshots. Change the whole sound of your drums with one tap. • Sound Banks: Load and save your favorite sounds. • Stereo Chorus, Global Compression and Global Distortion. • Supports Audiobus. Inter App Audio. Master Out + 8 channels (1 per Drum). • Supports Ableton Link. • MIDI Sync: sync with other apps within the same device, or other devices via WIFI or cable • MIDI In to trigger drums and patterns (cable connection recommended for quick response) ------------------------ Check these App Store reviews! • "Excellent. I am very impressed ... I haven't been so instantly taken with a drum synth in a long time!" - The pantsome menace (Australia) • "Supremely intelligent... This is really, really smart. It gives you a lot of options for randomizing several parameters in real time, as well as an excellent preset arrangement, and the node system seems very well thought out" - Twirling Erling (Canada) • "If my current drum synth is a Cadillac, SeekBeats is a Bentley. It is so good, I'm making SeekBeats my new go-to drum synth/sequencer ... I am actually having a difficult time putting it down. Instantly addicting in a good way." - rG3P0 (USA) • "Absolutely awesome and inspiring - This app is hands down the best and most inspiring beat making app for iOS... You'll come up with beats and experiment with different sounds in seconds. Love it!" - fiskenuno (Sweden) • "This is the best iOS drum synth I've tried yet. It just sounds great. I'm hooked!" - Hypnosapien (USA) ------------------------ If you were thinking about getting a similar hardware drum machine, it would probably cost you hundreds of dollars, SeekBeats is just 11.99 dollars (USA). Get it now! PLEASE NOTE: REQUIRES iPhone 4S or faster. iPod Touch 5th generation (4 inch display) or faster. iPad 2 or faster.
ShockWave
This app is a monophonic synthesizer for iOS and AUv3 plugins, utilizing Phase Distortion synthesis. It offers dual PD oscillators, sequencers, LFOs, and envelopes for complex sound design. Almost any control can be modulated by multiple sources, with real-time visual feedback.
- Phase Distortion Synthesis
- Dual PD Oscillators
- Dual 8-step Sequencers
- Dual ASR Envelopes
- Tempo-syncable LFOs
- Extensive Modulation Matrix
- MIDI and MPE Support
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ShockWave is a monophonic Synthesizer designed to bring modular style workflow to the world of iOS & AUv3 plugins. Built around the concept of Phase Distortion (PD) Synthesis, Shockwave includes a pair of PD Oscillators each capable of creating everything from pure Sine Waves over smooth Sawtooth and Square Waves to Resonance & Sync sweeps, filtered Noise and more. In addition to the Synth Voice, ShockWave includes a dedicated control section housing a pair of 8 step sequencers, a sample & hold module as well modules for trigger divisions, logic comparisons and controlled randomness. A pair of Low Frequency Oscillators and 2 Attack/Sustain/Release (ASR) Envelopes serve as main modulation sources and can be used in a number of ways. Envelopes can be triggered from a number of internal sources including other modules such as trigger divider, logic or chance module but can also be connected to each other allowing for a wide range of patches usually only possible in large modular systems. LFOs are individually tempo sync-able and capable of producing total of 5 different waveforms each. The two sequencers can run independently or combine to one 16 step sequence where rate and length can be controlled independently for each of the two. In true modular nature almost any control within ShockWave can be modulated with up to 11 sources - simultaneously. Modulations are setup simply by holding a control and dialling in the desired amount in a list of all available sources. A special X-Ray mode adds a realtime display of all currently active modulations right at their corresponding control making it easy to understand what's happening inside the synthesizer at any given time. Synth Voice and Control Section are accompanied by built-in Delay and Reverb sections placed on send busses with all of their controls including the send levels being available as mod destinations. Last but not least, ShockWave features a solid MIDI implementation including support for, aftertouch, velocity, wheels, custom CC mappings and up to 4 dimensions of expression when using MPE compatible controllers, such as the Roli Seaboard, Linnstrument, Geoshred, KB-1 and others. MIDI Output is supported as well and includes Note and Control Change output generated from various internal sources including Sequencers, Envelopes and LFOs making it possible to control external MIDI gear or chain multiple plugin instances for advanced, self driving patches. Overview: - Semi Modular Monophonic Synth Voice - Phase Distortion Synthesis (PD) - Dual PD Oscillators with 5 Waveforms + Noise - Dual ASR Envelopes with variable trigger source - Dual LFO with Tempo Sync - Cross Modulation with Linear/Exp. FM, PM, AM & RM - Mixer section with individual pan and level controls per oscillator - Output VCA with variable control source - Pattern Generator for generating sequences from various internal sources - Quantizer to force note input into a specific scale (19 Scales + User Scales) - Step Sequencer with 2x8 or 1x16 steps, individual rate and number of steps per row - Trigger Divider for dividing internal trigger sources - Probability Gate for adding controlled randomness - Sample & Hold for additional randomness - Logic Module to create triggers from various internal sources - Built-in Delay & Reverb Effects - MIDI Note and CC output for controlling external gear or chaining multiple instances - Semi Modular Architecture - 11 Modulation Sources - 40 Modulation Destinations - 2 Color Themes MIDI Input: - 4D Expression (Glide, Slide, Pressure & Velocity) - Mod & Pitch-Wheel - Tempo Sync - Custom CC Control MIDI Output: - Note - Control Change Connectivity: - Standalone - AUv3 - AudioBus - IAA
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth at $5.99 against ShockWave's $19.99. SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 54%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). ShockWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On rating, ratings volume, ads and monetization model 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
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth costs $5.99 and ShockWave $19.99 up front. SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ShockWave asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth against 4.6 for ShockWave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 78 and 188 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth's written reviews are positive against 54% of ShockWave's.
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth ships an update every 2 weeks, ShockWave every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth | ShockWave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (78 ratings) | 4.6 (188 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 91.4% of reviews — better | 54.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 78 | 188 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #166 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.1 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rodrigo Yanez | Kai Aras |
Customer experience
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth
ShockWave
User reviews
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth
From 78 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great unique drum machine
- 👍 Intuitive and easy sound design
- 👍 Powerful and flexible
- 👍 Excellent randomization features
- 👍 Versatile - can be tame or wild
Room to improve
- 🐛 Lacks MIDI control
- 🐛 No song mode or pattern chaining
- 🐛 No AUv3 support
- 🐛 Confusing interface at times
- 🐛 Crashes on older devices
ShockWave
From 188 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✨ Unique and amazing sounds
- 🔊 Heavy and brutal tones
- 💡 Innovative phase distortion synthesis
- 🎨 Beautiful and deep sound sculpting
- 🎹 Great for bass sounds
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- ❌ Not working in AUM/AUv3
- 🔇 No sound output in certain apps
- ❓ Difficult to use without a manual
- 📉 Laggy UI and slow patch loading
Bugs and requests
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth
Reported bugs
2 issues- Crashes on iPhone 4
- Tempo changes to odd values unexpectedly
Requested features
6 requests- MIDI control of parameters
- Complex sequencer with independent track lengths
- More advanced effects like glitch, granular, and repeat
- Ability to load user samples
- Mixer page to adjust individual sound levels
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- Export/copy functionality to save patterns
ShockWave
Reported bugs
20 issues- "Bad Signal" errors in AUM, stops sound generation.
- Intermittent "bad signal" prompt in AUM, requires reloading.
- Sounds awful, very distorted with glitchy UI.
- App crashes frequently.
- No sound coming out of AUv3 in GarageBand.
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- More than half of the sounds do not play.
- Performance remains but synth loads blank when returning to work after closing.
- App stops producing sound after a few minutes of use.
- Preset browser causes the app to stop producing sound.
- No audio output on iPhone 6 & 7 plus, sometimes noise when changing presets, keyboard doesn't work.
- Randomize button not viewable on iPhone 6.
- App crashes when returning to a project.
- App crashes on the loading screen on iPhone 11, but works on iPhone 7.
- Hangs and freezes, won't load/work in AUM or GarageBand.
- Horribly laggy, almost unusable.
- Volume is noisy and glitchy.
- Response on dials needs more work.
- Modulation tab issues, unable to turn other knobs properly.
- DAW incompatibility issues.
- App crashing, won't even load.
Requested features
6 requests- Provide a proper manual detailing all parameters and sections with examples.
- Implement a key trigger option for the sequencer to allow MIDI controller playback.
- Add a poly mode.
- Improve documentation and tutorials.
- Standardize knob appearance and response.
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- Increase the number of available patches beyond 128.
In-app purchases
SeekBeats Drum Machine Synth
- EFX Board ExtensionFree
ShockWave
No in-app purchases







