Comparison

e vs Dedalus

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

Head to head
About

e

Create retro-style music with a sampling keyboard featuring tempo-based looping. Record, manipulate, and play back samples with various effects and flexible playback modes. Integrate with other audio apps and control parameters via MIDI.

Highlights
  • Retro sampling keyboard
  • Tempo-based looping
  • Reverb, bit crusher, resonant filter
  • Multiple loop and start/stop modes
  • MIDI control and Core MIDI support
  • AUv3, Audiobus, Inter App Audio integration
Features
Read full description

Elsa is a retro style sampling keyboard with tempo based looping. Record, save, load, reverse samples with a multi octave on screen keyboard or plug in your core midi device of choice, soft- or hardware. Elsa comes with three built in effects, a reverb, a resonant filter and a sample rate/bit crusher. Samples are looped in three different modes, one off, forward and/or forward-reverse. The start and end of playback also comes in three modes, one set of start and stop for all, one set per note and/or one set per octave, allowing for many different types of samples. Additionally at playback time, sample length can also be controlled by a set of sample dividers, 1-8. Elsa supports connections with AudioCopy, AudioBus, Inter App Audio and AUv3. Plus all audio parameters can be modulated by MIDI. +++ Sample keyboard +++ Tempo based looping +++ ADSR +++ Bit/sample crush +++ Reverb +++ Resonant filter: low, band or high pass +++ Record, trim, normalise, reverse, zoom +++ Chromatic and scale keyboard +++ 3 loop modes (one off, forward, forward-reverse) +++ 3 start/stop modes (one for all, one per note, one per octave) +++ Playback length dividers (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) +++ Arpeggiator +++ Presets: save/load settings +++ Audio connections: AUv3, Audiobus, Inter App Audio +++ Midi: Core Midi, Bluetooth Midi, AUv3 Midi +++ Ableton Link

About

Dedalus

This app manipulates audio in real-time using a network of delay lines. It offers a wide range of effects, from ambient echoes to rhythmic pulsations and noise, with extensive processing options.

Highlights
  • Real-time audio mangling
  • Granulated and modulated delay lines
  • Filters, dynamic processors, and saturation
  • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support
  • Built-in stereo sampler
  • LFO for parameter control
  • MIDI and network control
Features
Read full description

Dedalus Delay is a real time audio mangler. A network of delay lines is continually granulated and modulated, producing a labyrinth of echoes, which are further processed by filters, dynamic processors and saturation modules. Dedalus can produce a wide variety of effects, from reverb-like ambiences to evolving resonation, from rhythmic pulsation to chaotic layering, from subtle chorusing to pure noise. Main Features: - Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support (sender and FX) - Multiple delay lines with feedback and granulation - Signal saturation - Built In Stereo Sampler with varispeed - Control Manager LFO for Parameters - Midibus, Virtual Midi and Network: 14 bit NRPN controllers - File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy - Snapshot Presets Morphing Pad - Post Fx Chain: Low-shelf Filter, High-shelf and Compressor

Screenshots

e4 screens
Dedalus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: e at every 3 weeks against Dedalus's every 4 months. e also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

e costs $5.99 and Dedalus $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

e holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of e's written reviews are positive against 85% of Dedalus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

e ships an update every 3 weeks, Dedalus every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
e versus Dedalus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereDedalus
Price$5.99$5.99
Rating4.9 (31 ratings) — better4.6 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews87.1% of reviews — better85.3% of reviews
Number of ratings3141 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthAmazing Noises

Customer experience

e

All ratings31 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive87.1%
Neutral12.9%
Negative0.0%

Dedalus

All ratings41 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive85.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.7%

In-app purchases

None

e

No in-app purchases

None

Dedalus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is e free?
e costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dedalus free?
Dedalus costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, e or Dedalus?
e is rated higher. e averages 4.9 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Dedalus averages 4.6 from 41 ratings.
Do e or Dedalus have ads?
Neither e nor Dedalus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, e or Dedalus?
e ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dedalus every 4 months. Most recently, e was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dedalus on November 1, 2026.

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