Comparison

Attack Drums vs Piano Chords Compass

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

Head to head
About

Attack Drums

This app is a powerful sound engine and pattern sequencer inspired by a classic VST plugin. It excels at creating drum sounds but can also be used for vocals and other instruments, featuring a unique text-based vocoder.

Highlights
  • 24-part sound engine
  • Pattern sequencer
  • Phrase Vocoder (text-based)
  • Versatile effects section
  • Inter-App Audio & Audiobus 3 support
  • MIDI Sync
  • Export song to audio file
Read full description

Attack Drums is a synthesizer designed mainly for drum sounds, but the powerful sound engine can also be used for everything else - including vocals. Based on the Waldorf Attack VST PlugIn from 2001, it consists of a 24-part sound engine, now packed with a pattern sequencer and a versatile effects section. One highlight of the effects section is the new Phrase Vocoder, a vocoder that uses written text instead of spoken words. Lyrics in - song out, adjust gender as you have always wanted! Just like Waldorf Nave, Attack Drums is a seriously in-depth musical instrument - easy and fun to use, but a sonic beast at its core! Specifications: -24 Sounds -Four independent effect slots with selectable effect: *Delay *Equalizer *Overdrive *Phaser *Flanger *Chorus *Phrase Vocoder -Reverb -Compressor -Pattern Sequencer -999 Patterns -Polyphonic steps - up to 8 notes per step -Fractional track/step timing -Audiobus 3 -Inter-App Audio -MIDI Settings -MIDI Sync -Loop function -Export song to audio file -AudioCopy / AudioPaste -Content control via iTunes File Sharing -Trigger Pads -Mixer -Recording

About

Piano Chords Compass

Instantly discover and master over 2,500 piano chords with real-time previews and authentic grand piano sounds. Save chords as sheet music or diagrams, supporting 56 chord types and inversions for musicians of all levels.

Highlights
  • Discover 2,500+ piano chords
  • Real-time chord previews
  • Authentic grand piano sound
  • Save chords as sheet music or diagrams
  • Supports 56 chord types and inversions
  • Treble and Bass Clef support
Features
Read full description

Stuck hunting for that perfect chord? Stop wasting time! Compose smarter, play better, and create faster with Piano Chords Compass! Whether you're a beginner or a pro, this app is your ultimate toolkit to discover and master over 2,500 piano chords — instantly and effortlessly! Why Musicians Love this App: + Find any chord fast by simply selecting the root, chord type, and additions to explore a wide range of chords with real-time previews + Every chord plays in authentic grand piano sound so you know exactly how it should feel and sound + Save your chords as either sheet music or keyboard diagrams — perfect for lessons, songwriting, and jam sessions + Supports chord inversions & 56 chord types, master even the most complex harmonies with ease Made for Musicians of All Levels: From beginners learning chord shapes to advanced players building rich compositions, Piano Chords Compass adapts to your style and skill level. Key Features: + Treble and Bass Clef support + 56 chord types with optional add-ons + Works with piano, synth, organ and more + Easy-to-use interface with volume control Pay once: NO ads and no subscriptions! Just pure, uninterrupted chords creation! Get instant access to 2,500+ chords and start creating better music now!

Screenshots

Piano Chords Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Piano Chords Compass at 78% against Attack Drums's 34%. Piano Chords Compass also leads on price ($5.99 vs $14.99) and device support (4 vs 1). Attack Drums's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (23 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Attack Drums costs $14.99 and Piano Chords Compass $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Attack Drums holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Attack Drums has 23 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of Attack Drums's written reviews are positive against 78% of Piano Chords Compass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Attack Drums versus Piano Chords Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAttack DrumsPiano Chords Compass
Price$14.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.4 (23 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews34.2% of reviews77.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings23 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWaldorf MusicMax Schlee

Customer experience

Attack Drums

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive34.2%
Neutral13.7%
Negative52.1%

Piano Chords Compass

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral66.7%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral22.2%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Attack Drums

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • Crashes when loading own samples
  • Lag with MIDI clock sync
  • Inconsistent MIDI response and routing
  • Low velocity response
  • Transport controls not showing in DAWs
Show 16 more
  • App crashes on startup
  • App won't open on iOS 9
  • Display scaling issues on iPad mini
  • Sound designer page not working on iPad 2
  • Copy bug
  • Sequencer limited to one bar
  • Random velocity on pads
  • Crashes with Audiobus
  • Screen doesn't fit on iPad mini
  • Controls not working on iPad mini
  • Sound cut out
  • Locks up on iPad 2
  • Not compatible with iPad 2
  • Sluggish and slow performance
  • App closes for no reason
  • Display on iPad mini scaled incorrectly

Requested features

19 requests
  • Ableton Link support
  • Improved MIDI sync
  • Smoother IAA and MIDI integration
  • More pattern steps (64+)
  • Support for triplets and higher note divisions
Show 14 more
  • Dropbox integration
  • Disable opening animation
  • Separate outputs in iOS
  • Auto-envelope setting for samples
  • Parameter automation
  • MIDI CC parameter control
  • MIDI port/channel selection
  • Looping multiple patterns for jamming
  • Subfolders for samples
  • Interface facelift
  • Live tweaking of FX, rolls, stutters
  • Parameter locks
  • Triplet grids option
  • Ability to export MIDI patterns

Piano Chords Compass

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Attack Drums

No in-app purchases

None

Piano Chords Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Attack Drums free?
Attack Drums costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Piano Chords Compass free?
Piano Chords Compass costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Attack Drums or Piano Chords Compass?
Attack Drums is rated higher. Attack Drums averages 4.4 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Piano Chords Compass averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Attack Drums or Piano Chords Compass have ads?
Neither Attack Drums nor Piano Chords Compass shows ads.

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