Attack Drums vs Nostalgia FX
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
Nostalgia FX
Transform your audio with a collection of retro effects inspired by vintage gaming consoles and analog gear. Add warmth, texture, and character to your mixes with unique reverbs, tape echoes, and modulation.
- Console Reverb with vintage gaming spaces
- Tape Cassette Echo with warble and loop controls
- BBD Chorus for analog-style modulation
- EFX Module with Bit Crusher and Noise Machine
- Global controls for quick shaping
- Freeze button for creative effects
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Playfully Retro Nostalgia is a quick, easy way to transform your sound — from spacious and dreamy to gritty lo-fi chaos. Inspired by vintage gaming consoles, cassette decks, and classic analog gear, it delivers instant character without the fuss. Just load it up, slide some faders, and your clean mix becomes something with warmth, texture, and personality. …an Audio Arcade Console Reverb gives you unique spaces inspired by vintage gaming consoles and the different vibe of each era. Tape Cassette Echo is an imaginative spin on analog tape delay — the kind you might’ve rigged up in your bedroom long before plugins existed. BBD Chorus takes you back with that warm, warbly magic, that started your FX obsession. The EFX Module packs everything you need to turn your sound into a retro lo-fi dream — with warmth, space, and a character that’s hard to find anywhere else. Features -Console Reverb with four distinct eras of vintage gaming spaces -Tape Cassette Echo with warble, tape spike, and loop length controls -BBD Chorus for warm, warbly, analog-style modulation -EFX Module with Speaker Output, Noise Machine, Tune & Tone, and Bit Crusher -Global controls for quick overall shaping -Freeze button for creative stutter and hold effects -Fully compatible with VST3, AAX, AU, AUv3, and Stand-alone
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nostalgia FX at 100% against Attack Drums's 34%. Nostalgia FX also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and price ($9.99 vs $14.99). Attack Drums's advantage is ratings volume (23 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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 Nostalgia FX $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Nostalgia FX holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Attack Drums has 23 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Attack Drums's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nostalgia FX's.
| Parameter | Attack Drums | Nostalgia FX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (23 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 34.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Waldorf Music | OSC Audio |
Customer experience
Attack Drums
Nostalgia FX
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
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- 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
Nostalgia FX
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Attack Drums
No in-app purchases
Nostalgia FX
No in-app purchases








