Comparison

LoAdKer vs Ribn

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

Head to head
About

LoAdKer

This app generates complex, evolving musical rhythms using fractal sequences. It offers real-time effects and customizable instrument parameters for creating unique beats, from minimal to experimental.

Highlights
  • Fractal-driven rhythm generation
  • Evolving musical patterns
  • Real-time effects
  • Customizable instrument chaos
  • Real-time parameter automation
  • IAA/AudioBus & Ableton Link compatible
Features
Read full description

LoAdKer is a novel rhythm event generator that is based on fractal sequences. Unlike most other drum-mahines, LoAdKer has the ability to create complex patterns that evolve over time, sounding similar but not exactly the same. The result can be anything from minimal, repetitive beats to sonic mayhem, aided by the real-time effects that add an extra dimension to the sound. LoAdKer has been designed as a performance tool and, in fact, it is being used as such by the developer himself. Thus, it is remarkably stable and easy to use either in a performance or in a studio. It can be especially useful to those who write electronic, electroacoustic, experimental music, IDM, glitch, noise etc. Features: - four instruments: kick, hihat, fx1 and fx2 with synth and sampler audio engine, filter, reverb, delay controls and more - every instrument has an extra control that determines the degree of their chaotic behaviour (this is where the real fun begins!) - most parameters can be automated in real-time by drawing custom curves, which can be time or beat - based, looped or one-off - adjustable audio buffer size (128 to 4096 samples) - multiple sample rate support (subject to hardware capabilities): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 and 192kHz - IAA/AudioBus™ and Ableton Link™ compatible -performance recording - import sounds from and export to Audio Copy™ and AudioShare™, export audio to Dropbox and exchange sounds over iTunes

About

Ribn

This app provides a unique MIDI controller experience with 8 assignable ribbons. It allows you to record and loop finger movements, adding organic modulation to synthesizers and effects. Control various MIDI-responsive gear, from hardware synths to software instruments.

Highlights
  • 8 MIDI CC ribbon pads
  • Record and loop finger movement
  • Configurable MIDI channel and CC# per ribbon
  • Turn off looping for regular slider functionality
  • Switch between 3 sets of configurations with presets
  • MIDI sending in background
  • iPad landscape mode
Features
Read full description

Ribn is a MIDI controller with 8 assignable ribbons. What makes Ribn unique is its ability to record and loop your finger movement. This allows you to add organic repeating modulation to your synths and effects, kind of like complex LFOs. You can assign a unique MIDI channel and CC# to each ribbon. As long as your gear responds to MIDI CC messages you will be able to control it with Ribn. ** FEATURES ** • 8 MIDI CC ribbon pads • Add modulation to your MIDI hardware synths, effects, eurorack modulars, drum machines, etc. • Configurable MIDI channel and CC# per ribbon • You can name each ribbon to help you identify what parameter it's controlling • Turn off looping on individual ribbons to turn them into regular sliders • Choose any number of ribbons between 1 and 8 • Full screen mode (removes navigation bar to help you focus) • Switch between 3 sets of configurations using presets • MIDI sending works while the app is in the background • iPad landscape mode • Select multiple MIDI outputs • Ribbons record and loop your finger movement • Use a wired MIDI interface, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi • All settings are saved automatically • Works with external hardware as well as other iOS synths • Works on iPhone (including iPhone X) and iPad starting with iOS 10 ** EXAMPLE USES ** • Control hardware MIDI synths parameters like the filter cutoff frequency, resonance, oscillator octave, etc. • Control any soft synth in Ableton Live (or your favorite DAW) by connecting your iOS device to your Mac via Wi-Fi and choosing "Session 1" as the MIDI output in Ribn. • Control your Eurorack modules by running Ribn through a MIDI to CV converter. • Control other iOS synths like the Moog Model 15 or Arturia iSEM. • Control drum machines and effects. For example, try controlling the room size of a reverb effect unit with a looping ribbon or the snappiness of a snare drum on a drum machine. The possibilities are endless. • Daisy chain your MIDI hardware using MIDI Thru ports and assign each ribbon to a different MIDI channel. This way you can control more than one piece of hardware at a time. For example, you can assign the first 4 ribbons to a synth and the last 4 to an effect unit. ** HOW IT WORKS ** • Connect your MIDI gear (like a synth) to your iOS device using a MIDI interface (wired or bluetooth) • Launch Ribn and select your MIDI interface in the settings page. • Find out which CC# and MIDI channel your gear responds to (usually at the end of the manual) and enter this information in RIbn's edit view. • Slide your finger on a ribbon to send CC values and control the parameters on your MIDI gear. ** WHAT IS MIDI AND CC? ** • MIDI is just the way electronic musical instruments talk to each other. • CC (Continuous Controller) is just a way to control various parameters using MIDI. For example, a synth's filter cutoff frequency can be controlled using a MIDI CC signal. ** NOTE ** • Ribn is a MIDI controller and doesn't produce any sounds. To use Ribn you must connect it to a device that responds to MIDI CC signals (check your gear's manual to be sure). • Ribn doesn't send note data, it only sends CC signals (you can't play melodies with it, but you can control various parameters like synthesizer filters, or effects settings). • To connect your iOS device to MIDI gear you will need to buy a MIDI interface. A MIDI interface typically connects to your iOS lightning port and provides standard MIDI DIN ports to connect to your hardware. There are also bluetooth MIDI interfaces that connect wirelessly. Alternatively, you can connect to your Mac over Wi-Fi and control software synths that way. This setup is a little more complex but totally doable (I've tested controlling Ableton Live plugins over Wi-Fi with Ribn and it worked perfectly). • Audiobus and AUv3 are not supported at this time. However, you can still control other iOS synths by routing the internal MIDI ports and having Ribn run in the background.

Screenshots

Ribn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LoAdKer at Free against Ribn's $3.99. Ribn's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). On ratings volume, 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

LoAdKer is free to download; Ribn costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ribn holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of LoAdKer's written reviews are positive against 91% of Ribn's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LoAdKer ships an update every 3 months, Ribn every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on August 17, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
LoAdKer versus Ribn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLoAdKerRibn
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.3 (13 ratings)4.8 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1330 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAxart Labs OUNebojsa Petrovic

Customer experience

LoAdKer

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

Ribn

All ratings30 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%

In-app purchases

None

LoAdKer

No in-app purchases

None

Ribn

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LoAdKer free?
LoAdKer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ribn free?
Ribn costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LoAdKer or Ribn?
Ribn is rated higher. LoAdKer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Ribn averages 4.8 from 30 ratings.
Do LoAdKer or Ribn have ads?
Neither LoAdKer nor Ribn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LoAdKer or Ribn?
LoAdKer ships an update every 3 months, and Ribn every 3 days. Most recently, LoAdKer was updated on August 17, 2026 and Ribn on September 28, 2026.

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