Comparison

Key Detect vs Koala Sampler

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

Head to head
About

Key Detect

Instantly identify the musical key of any sound using your device's microphone. Ideal for DJs, musicians, and music students, it provides real-time harmonic analysis and supports both classic and harmonic notation.

Highlights
  • Real-time key identification
  • Harmonic mixing support
  • Musical theory training
  • Classic and harmonic notation
  • Dynamic tone change display
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Key Detect identifies the key of any sound in real time. Fast & easy with your device mic. Key Detect is developed by Mixvibes, creator of pro DJ apps for 15 years, downloaded by millions worldwide. ////WHEN DO I USE IT - Detect the key of playing song for harmonic mixing when DJing. - Train yourself to recognize any song’s key. - Learn musical theory when playing chords. ////MAIN FEATURES - Hit the Key Detect button to identify the key. - Display matching keys. - Display key in classic notation or harmonic code. - Follow the tunes’ tone change with dynamic display. //// ABOUT MIXVIBES Mixvibes makes professional DJ software and apps. Downloaded by millions worldwide, its flagship app Cross DJ is available on Mac and iOS. Mixvibes is also the company behind Pioneer’s rekordbox™, the worldwide club standard music management software. ////GET A DJ APP iPhone: http://appstore.com/crossdjforiphone iPad: http://appstore.com/crossdj Mac: http://appstore.com/mac/crossdj ////LATEST NEWS Website: www.mixvibes.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mixvibes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mixvibes Twitter: https://twitter.com/mixvibes

About

Koala Sampler

This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.

Highlights
  • Record up to 64 samples with mic
  • Apply 16 built-in effects
  • Load and use own samples
  • Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
  • Export loops and tracks as WAV
  • AI sample separation
  • AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
Features
Read full description

Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments

Screenshots

Key Detect3 screens
Koala Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Koala Sampler at 88% against Key Detect's 32%. Koala Sampler also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.2) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 37). Key Detect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads 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

Key Detect costs $2.99 and Koala Sampler $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Key Detect asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Key Detect's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Key Detect ships an update fortnightly, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Key Detect versus Koala Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKey DetectKoala Sampler
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating2.2 (37 ratings)4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.4% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings371.4K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#198#6 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.3 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMIXVIBESMazbox Limited

Customer experience

Key Detect

All ratings37 ratings
Positive24.3%
Neutral10.8%
Negative64.9%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative59.5%

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,414 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews603 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.3%
Negative7.5%

User reviews

Key Detect

From 37 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful for music production
  • 👍 Helpful for DJs
  • 👍 Good for songwriting
  • 👍 Works for electronic music
  • 👍 Identifies key nicely

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work
  • 🐛 Not reliable
  • 🐛 Crashes on opening
  • 🐛 Rubbish
  • 🐛 Absolute rubbish

Koala Sampler

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Smooth workflow and fast performance
  • 💡 Powerful sampling and sequencing capabilities
  • 🔥 Excellent value for the price
  • 🎨 Creative and inspiring sound design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔇 Limited effects and sound manipulation options
  • 📁 Difficulty managing and organizing samples/projects
  • 🎚️ Lack of advanced MIDI mapping and control options
  • 🔍 Unclear or confusing UI elements in certain areas

Bugs and requests

Key Detect

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Crashes every time on opening
  • Stopped working suddenly
  • Won't pick up any sound
  • Doesn't stay open
  • Start button only changes color, unclear status
Show 5 more
  • Display stuck or updated?
  • App runs continuously with iOS 11
  • Doesn't work with music on iPhone
  • Gives different results for the same song
  • Doesn't turn off easily

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add a help link or option
  • Update the app for new iOS versions
  • Improve accuracy for non-electronic music
  • Provide clear instructions

Koala Sampler

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
  • Sequencer timing and quantization issues
  • Crashes when using certain features or with large projects

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
  • More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
  • Improved sample management and organization features
  • Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
  • Customizable color schemes and UI themes

In-app purchases

None

Key Detect

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
  • Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
  • Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
  • Samurai Edition$3.99
  • Mixer$4.99

Questions

Is Key Detect free?
Key Detect costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Key Detect or Koala Sampler?
Koala Sampler is rated higher. Key Detect averages 2.2 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.
Do Key Detect or Koala Sampler have ads?
Neither Key Detect nor Koala Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Key Detect or Koala Sampler?
Key Detect ships an update fortnightly, and Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. Most recently, Key Detect was updated on September 27, 2026 and Koala Sampler on September 29, 2026.
Which is more popular, Key Detect or Koala Sampler?
Key Detect currently peaks at #198 in the App Store charts, and Koala Sampler at #6. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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