SynthFamDSP Samposium is a new multi-layer performance sampler for iOS (iPhone/iPad), with AUv3 support coming soon.
The market for powerful samplers on the iOS platform is still relatively small. My favorite sampler remains Samplr, although 4pockets SampleScape is also a lot of fun.
A relatively new one is Samposium from developer SynthFamDSP. It was released shortly before the end of 2025. The AUv3 version is currently in beta, making this sampler worth keeping an eye on.
SynthFamDSP Samposium
Samposium is a new sampler app for iOS (iPhone and iPad) built for real-time sampling, audio manipulation, and performance.
Don’t worry: the app can be used in both directions with various available layouts, but the developer has only included portrait-oriented images in the App Store.
The SynthFam DSP Samposium concept is based on pads that are fully customizable: colors, behaviors, sizes, and positions. This freedom allows you to design your own custom play interface.
Through multi-touch gestures, Samposium lets you fluidly bend, shape, twist, and sculpt samples into rich textured arrangements.
Each pad contains an independent sampler you can use to sample audio from external sources, including the line-in from audio interfaces and microphones.
As with other samplers, the captured material is visualized as a waveform with sample start/stop points, playback behaviours, pitch, looping, and more.
Shaping, Resampling & Sequencing
Then, each pad also houses a dedicated tuner, six choke groups, and a 3-band parametric EQ. Talking about shaping. Samples are shapeable with built-in lowpass and highpass filters and a customizable, reorderable multi-FX chain per pad.
This includes distortion, bit-crusher, decimator, phaser, ring modulator, string resonator, delay, and reverb. A granulator doesn’t seem to be included yet.
A highlight of SynthFamDSP’s first app is the ability to resample Sampoisum’s main output, allowing you to record your performance or create subcompositions to add to your projects.
Samples can be triggered by simply pressing the pads. Alternatively, it offers a step sequencer with up to 512 steps that lets you sequence one or multiple sample slots, creating a bit of a groovebox feel.
As mentioned before, Samposium is currently a standalone app, but an AUv3 plugin will be available soon. It’s currently in beta.
Other features to mention are: show/hide view functions, Ableton Link support, full MIDI support, and randomizers for quick inspiration kicks. The app ships with 300 MB of royalty-free samples.
First Impression
The app has been out for a while, but I waited to see if it would get AUv3 support. That’s now happening, which I’m happy about.
I’m always excited about any new, powerful multi-layer sampler for iOS. In this, I really like how fluid the interface and workflow are here.
I’m curious to see if the developer will push the feature set further, especially regarding sample processing. Granular synthesis would be nice, or even more original effects like this, such as the already available string resonator
SynthFamDSP Samposium is available now for $14,99/17,99€ on the Apple AppStore. It runs as a standalone app on iPhones and iPads. An AUv3 plugin version is now in beta.
More information here: SynthFamDSP / iTunes
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