Groove Rider 2 combines a 16×16 clip launch grid with Ableton Link, a full timeline-based song mode for arranging complete tracks, and deep AUv3 hosting for instruments, effects, and MIDI FX — making it one of the more complete groovebox environments on iOS. Its combination of built-in instruments, clip launching, song arrangement, and AUv3 hosting in a single app gives you a mobile production setup that covers most stages of a track, from first idea to finished stems, without leaving the app.
The v1.3.0 update adds several useful enhancements. AUv3 effects can now be loaded directly into insert effect (IFX) slots for powerful parallel processing. Multi Core Audio support (off by default) enables parallel thread rendering on M2 and newer chips for better performance. The Part Arpeggiator now respects input note velocity, audio sidechain routing to AUv3 effects is improved with multiple input buses, and Copy/Paste is available for bus effects. A new “Consolidate Loop” function was added to the Notes Editor, along with fixes for Pitch Bend/Modulation Wheel automations in exports, hanging notes on internal synths, and other stability issues.
What’s new in v1.3.0:
- AUv3 effects now loadable into IFX slots for parallel processing
- Multi Core Audio support for parallel thread rendering on M2 and newer
- Part Arpeggiator now respects input note velocity
- Improved sidechain routing to AUv3 effects with multiple input buses
- Copy/Paste for bus effects
- New Consolidate Loop function in the Notes Editor
- Fixes for Pitch Bend/Modulation Wheel automations in exports and hanging notes on internal synths
For iPad music production, the clip grid works well for live performance and idea jamming, while the song mode and stem export make it practical to finish tracks directly on the device. Built-in instruments include a sampler with beat-time stretching and slicing, a 2-oscillator synth with over 280 presets, a Sound Font 2 player, and a WaveTable synth with user wavetable import. The addition of AUv3 effects in IFX slots and better sidechain support in this update makes Groove Rider 2 more flexible when layering external plugins in complex sessions.
Key features include:
- 16×16 clip launch grid with Ableton Link for live performance
- Timeline-based song mode for full track arrangement and stem export
- Layering up to 3 instruments per part with realtime insert effects (3 IFX per part) and MFX with XY controls
- Built-in sampler, 2-oscillator synth, Sound Font 2 player, and WaveTable synth
- Multi-output AUv3 hosting for instruments, effects, and MIDI FX
- New in v1.3.0: AUv3 effects in IFX slots, Multi Core Audio, velocity-aware arpeggiator, sidechain routing to AUv3, and Consolidate Loop function
App price: $34.99.
No in-app purchases.
Original release: 2024 | Latest update: March 2026 (v1.3.0)
