Comparison

rrarrow vs apeMatrix

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

Head to head
About

rrarrow

Create experimental audio effects with extended feedback capabilities. This modular noise machine offers a simplified interface for fast assembly and flexible connectivity, allowing you to control processing parameters with the audio signal itself.

Highlights
  • Modular audio effect processing
  • Extended feedback capabilities
  • 20 audio processing blocks
  • Built-in audio recorder
  • MIDI controller support
  • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support
  • Background audio playback
Features
Read full description

rrarrow is the experimental noise machine / modular audio effect for the iOS featuring extended feedback capabilities. Key features: - Simplicity. The interface is simplified for faster assembly and more flexible connectivity — you can assemble your effect very fast and control all the processing parameters with the audio signal! - Feedback capabilities. You can add feedbacks to the audio chain to get some chaotic noise sounds . - 20 blocks for audio processing: - Sine generator. Basic oscillator with sine waveform - Saw and square oscillators - Signal multiplier - Delay - Frequency shifter - Envelope follower - “Lorenz attractor” - Quantizer - Sample-and-hold - Reverb - Special Lowpass filter - Clipper - Nonlinear shaper (for self-oscillating circuit) - two special waveshaping modules with “fold” and “wrap” distortion blocks that work with audiofiles: - lookup table. Loads up to 10 seconds of audiofile to be used as nonlinear transfer function - Players with/without interpolation and speed control - "scrub" block for semi-random granular file playback - Built-in audio recorder. Share the audio file to other applications or AudioShare. - MIDI support! Assign MIDI controllers to all faders. Supports network midi and has a virtual MIDI in. - Audiobus support. Now you can stream live audio directly to other Audiobus-compatible apps! See http://audiob.us for more information. Works as input and filter. - Audiobus state saving support - Inter-App Audio support - Background audio support: enabled when connected to Audiobus and user switchable otherwise. The 'background audio" switch is located in app's "settings" page iPad2/iPhone4S or newer is recommended for complex presets this app is optimized for iPad and iPhone 5 To get started please watch the tutorial videos on the website and read the user guide inside the app

About

apeMatrix

This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
  • MIDI and audio routing
  • Control Manager for parameter modulation
  • Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting
  • MIDI Patch-bay for routing
  • High-quality audio processing
Features
Read full description

Holding true to the standard of apeSoft, apeMatrix continues to push the limits of possibilities in music creation. Automating almost every aspect of linked control, apeMatrix brings all your creation tools together and links them both in MIDI and audio. Letting you inject all your favorite FX both AU and IAA in a very easy and intuitive way. apeMatrix can also assign its Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). apeMatrix offers 10 slots on each of the three Matrix grids with 2 bus slots on each grid that make it possible to interconnect all 3 Matrix. The MIDI Patch-bay also offers endless possibilities for MIDI routing and control in a similar grid design for both internal and external MIDI control. So you can send and receive MIDI and have ultimate control over where it’s routed. Each Audio Connection on the grid has its own gain control. Just tap on the node and drag will give you the full range of volume control. Or use Mixer to controls the RAU output and automate them using apeSoft’s unique Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). Turn each slot on or off by a control switch on the Matrix or MIDI control. Control output, pan, mute and solo of each slot and Master output of each Matrix with the built in mixer control or MIDI control. Route your sounds through all a series of FX or route multiple sounds through the very some FX. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. FEATURES High quality audio up to 32-bit 96kHz Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio Supports multi-channel inputs/outputs audio interfaces Supports Audio Unit Multi-bus input/output (side-chaining) 3 Matrix Audio 3 MIDI Matrix 10 Open Slots per Matrix (hosts up to 30 plugins) 2 Audio Bus Slots per Matrix 2 MIDI Bus Slots per Matrix MIDI Monitor Multi-Channel Audio Route AudioUnit Audio Send Receive Buses MIDI Scale Filtering, Transpose etc… Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all Built-In Parameters Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins) Presets Manager and Morphing Pad Save Custom AUv3 Presets Session Saving/Load Save/Load View’s Frame in Presets Transport to sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA Integrated and configurable MIDI keyboard with scales Connections output and panning controls Post Dynamic Processor Audiobus and Inter-Audio App (Sender and Fx) Audiobus state saving Ableton Link Precise MIDI Clock In/Out AudioShare Compatible AudioCopy Compatible MIDI Manager: Virtual Midi and Network, 14 bit NRPN controllers File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy etc… Variable Sampling Rate (up to 96 kHz) Variable Buffering Size Variable UI Color Schemes BUILT-IN AUv3 (compatibles with other audio hosts) Configurable Sampler with scrub, playable via MIDI V-Meters Oscilloscope/Spectralscope Sender/Receiver (up to 16 buses) Send MIDI messages with LFO Gain/Pan

Screenshots

rrarrow3 screens
apeMatrix4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: rrarrow at $3.99 against apeMatrix's $14.99. apeMatrix's advantage is ratings volume (84 vs 19). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

rrarrow costs $3.99 and apeMatrix $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for rrarrow against 4.7 for apeMatrix. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 84 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of rrarrow's written reviews are positive against 75% of apeMatrix's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

rrarrow ships an update every 4 weeks, apeMatrix monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
rrarrow versus apeMatrix: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterrrarrowapeMatrix
Price$3.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.6 (19 ratings)4.7 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.3% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1984 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexey NadzharovapeSoft

Customer experience

rrarrow

All ratings19 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative12.5%

apeMatrix

All ratings84 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral9.4%
Negative15.6%

In-app purchases

None

rrarrow

No in-app purchases

None

apeMatrix

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is rrarrow free?
rrarrow costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is apeMatrix free?
apeMatrix costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, rrarrow or apeMatrix?
apeMatrix is rated higher. rrarrow averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while apeMatrix averages 4.7 from 84 ratings.
Do rrarrow or apeMatrix have ads?
Neither rrarrow nor apeMatrix shows ads.
Which is updated more often, rrarrow or apeMatrix?
rrarrow ships an update every 4 weeks, and apeMatrix monthly. Most recently, rrarrow was updated on September 24, 2026 and apeMatrix on September 21, 2026.

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