Attack Drums vs Piano Chords Compass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | Attack Drums | Piano Chords Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (23 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.2% of reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Waldorf Music | Max Schlee |
Customer experience
Attack Drums
Piano Chords Compass
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 moreShow fewer
- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
Attack Drums
No in-app purchases
Piano Chords Compass
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Attack Drums free?
Is Piano Chords Compass free?
Which has better reviews, Attack Drums or Piano Chords Compass?
Do Attack Drums or Piano Chords Compass have ads?
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