Comparison

strng vs apeMatrix

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

Head to head
About

strng

This app generates plucked string sounds using a physical modeling synthesis engine. It offers polyphonic voices, a built-in keyboard, and MIDI control. Shape your sound with delay and resonant filters, and integrate with other music apps.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling string synthesis
  • 16 voice polyphony
  • Built-in 25-key keyboard with aftertouch
  • MIDI controller support (USB/Wi-Fi)
  • Stereo ping-pong delay
  • Two-channel resonant filter with LFOs
  • Audiobus, IAA, and AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

Strng is a string synthesiser inspired by the karplus-strong algorithm. The physical modelling starts with a short burst of noise that then guided by a tuned delay buffer and string tension filter, generates plucked string like sounds. No samples are used. Strng is 16 voice polyphonic and can be controlled with an in app 25 key chromatic keyboard or connect prefered midi controller through USB or Wifi. To further shape the sound two post effects are available, a ping-pong stereo delay and two channel resonant filter controlled by two LFOs. Connect to other apps through AudioBus, inter app audio or load in DAWs as AUv3. +++ String synthesis engine +++ 16 voice polyphonic +++ Audiobus, IAA and AUv3 +++ Core MIDI, bluetooth midi and limited MPE +++ 25 multitouch keyboard with aftertouch control +++ Factory presets, save and load your own settings, drag'n drop from files app +++ Aftertouch modulation for attack, sustain, bit crush, resonant filter and detune lfo +++ Stereo ping-pong delay +++ Two channel resonant low pass filter LFOs

About

apeMatrix

This app acts as a powerful host for audio plugins, allowing users to connect and automate various aspects of music creation. It facilitates the integration of favorite FX, MIDI routing, and control over built-in and external plugin parameters.

Highlights
  • Audio Unit and Inter-App Audio support
  • MIDI and audio routing
  • Control Manager for parameter modulation
  • Multiple Matrix grids for plugin hosting
  • MIDI Patch-bay for routing
  • High-quality audio processing
Features
Read full description

Holding true to the standard of apeSoft, apeMatrix continues to push the limits of possibilities in music creation. Automating almost every aspect of linked control, apeMatrix brings all your creation tools together and links them both in MIDI and audio. Letting you inject all your favorite FX both AU and IAA in a very easy and intuitive way. apeMatrix can also assign its Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). apeMatrix offers 10 slots on each of the three Matrix grids with 2 bus slots on each grid that make it possible to interconnect all 3 Matrix. The MIDI Patch-bay also offers endless possibilities for MIDI routing and control in a similar grid design for both internal and external MIDI control. So you can send and receive MIDI and have ultimate control over where it’s routed. Each Audio Connection on the grid has its own gain control. Just tap on the node and drag will give you the full range of volume control. Or use Mixer to controls the RAU output and automate them using apeSoft’s unique Control Manager MIDI, Accelerometer, Scrub and LFO’s to modulate every built-in parameter and any parameter available inside the AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins). Turn each slot on or off by a control switch on the Matrix or MIDI control. Control output, pan, mute and solo of each slot and Master output of each Matrix with the built in mixer control or MIDI control. Route your sounds through all a series of FX or route multiple sounds through the very some FX. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity. FEATURES High quality audio up to 32-bit 96kHz Supports Audio Unit extensions, Inter-App Audio Supports multi-channel inputs/outputs audio interfaces Supports Audio Unit Multi-bus input/output (side-chaining) 3 Matrix Audio 3 MIDI Matrix 10 Open Slots per Matrix (hosts up to 30 plugins) 2 Audio Bus Slots per Matrix 2 MIDI Bus Slots per Matrix MIDI Monitor Multi-Channel Audio Route AudioUnit Audio Send Receive Buses MIDI Scale Filtering, Transpose etc… Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all Built-In Parameters Control Manager (MIDI, Accelerometer, LFO, Scrub) for all AUv3 (Audio Unit Plugins) Presets Manager and Morphing Pad Save Custom AUv3 Presets Session Saving/Load Save/Load View’s Frame in Presets Transport to sends host sync to Audio Unit plugins and IAA Integrated and configurable MIDI keyboard with scales Connections output and panning controls Post Dynamic Processor Audiobus and Inter-Audio App (Sender and Fx) Audiobus state saving Ableton Link Precise MIDI Clock In/Out AudioShare Compatible AudioCopy Compatible MIDI Manager: Virtual Midi and Network, 14 bit NRPN controllers File Manager, sharing common audio files via iTunes, Dropbox and AudioCopy etc… Variable Sampling Rate (up to 96 kHz) Variable Buffering Size Variable UI Color Schemes BUILT-IN AUv3 (compatibles with other audio hosts) Configurable Sampler with scrub, playable via MIDI V-Meters Oscilloscope/Spectralscope Sender/Receiver (up to 16 buses) Send MIDI messages with LFO Gain/Pan

Screenshots

strng4 screens
apeMatrix4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: strng at $4.99 against apeMatrix's $14.99. strng also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 73%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). apeMatrix's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

strng costs $4.99 and apeMatrix $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for strng against 4.7 for apeMatrix. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 35 and 84 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of strng's written reviews are positive against 73% of apeMatrix's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

strng ships an update every 4 months, apeMatrix monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
strng versus apeMatrix: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterstrngapeMatrix
Price$4.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.7 (35 ratings) — better4.7 (84 ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better72.7% of reviews
Number of ratings3584 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik SigthapeSoft

Customer experience

strng

All ratings35 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral8.6%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative6.3%

apeMatrix

All ratings84 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral6.0%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative15.2%

In-app purchases

None

strng

No in-app purchases

None

apeMatrix

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is strng free?
strng costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is apeMatrix free?
apeMatrix costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, strng or apeMatrix?
strng is rated higher. strng averages 4.7 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while apeMatrix averages 4.7 from 84 ratings.
Do strng or apeMatrix have ads?
Neither strng nor apeMatrix shows ads.
Which is updated more often, strng or apeMatrix?
strng ships an update every 4 months, and apeMatrix monthly. Most recently, strng was updated on October 19, 2026 and apeMatrix on October 21, 2026.

Other comparisons