The Best App To Make Beats (From My Hands, My Phone, My Messy Desk)

I make beats on my couch, on the train, even in the school pick-up line. I’ve tried a lot of apps. Some felt heavy. Some felt cute but slow. One kept pulling me back.

Spoiler: I thought FL Studio Mobile would be my pick. It almost was. But speed won.

My pick: Koala Sampler

Koala Sampler is the fastest way I know to jump from “hmm” to “oh wow.” It’s simple. It’s messy in a good way. It feels like a pocket SP, but softer and friendlier.

Here’s why I keep it on my home screen:

  • It records straight from the mic or files. One tap. Done.
  • Pads are quick. 16 per bank, with banks for days. I rarely run out.
  • The sequencer is dead simple. Patterns, song mode, swing. That’s it. But it works.
  • Effects add grit and space. Filter, crush, delay, reverb. I use them like seasoning.

It’s not perfect. No deep mixer. No fancy piano roll. You can’t stack third-party plug-ins inside it. But I don’t care when I’m chasing an idea. Speed beats polish for me.

A real beat I made in 10 minutes

I made this on my iPhone 13, waiting for a latte.

  • Tempo: 92 BPM
  • Swing: 54%
  • Pattern length: 4 bars

What I sampled:

  • Kick: I thumped my chest once. Trimmed it tight. Boosted low EQ a touch.
  • Snare: I snapped close to the mic. Pitched it down -3. Added a little crush.
  • Hi-hat: I shook a jar of rice. Cut the tail. Set it to 1/16 notes, light velocity.
  • Texture: I recorded the coffee grinder for 2 seconds. Low-passed it at 400 Hz. Set it super low, just a bed.

Melody:

  • I hummed three notes into the mic. Koala pitched it across pads.
  • Chopped the best bit. Played a lazy two-note loop. Think dusty piano, but human.

Arrangement:

  • Pattern 1: Drums.
  • Pattern 2: Drums + texture.
  • Pattern 3: Drums + melody.
  • Song mode: 4x P1, 4x P3, 2x P2, 4x P3. End on a filter sweep down to mute.
  • I bounced it to WAV and tossed it in my Notes app like a voice memo. Simple.

Did it hit like a studio banger? No. Did it feel alive? Yes. And that’s the point.

One more real track, but for trap folks

Different day. Same phone.

  • Tempo: 140 BPM
  • Drum kit: I pulled 808, clap, rim, open hat from a free pack in my files.
  • 808: Tuned to C. Patterns slide up to D then back. Short decay. Bit of drive.
  • Hats: 1/32 rolls on bar four. Velocity steps, a little human push.
  • Melody: I sampled my kid’s toy piano. One plinky note. Pitched up +7 semitones. Low reverb.
  • Structure: 8 bars intro (no kick), 16 bars hook, 8 bars drop with rim shots.

Whole thing took 20 minutes. My cat walked on the screen once. I kept that mute moment as a fake “tape stop.” Happy accident.

Koala pros and cons from real use

Pros:

  • Stupid fast.
  • Recording feels fun, not scary.
  • Swing and resample give grit.
  • Song mode is enough for full sketches.

Cons:

  • Basic mixing.
  • Limited piano roll. Melodies need a sampler mindset.
  • Works best for sample heads. Less ideal for sound design nerds.

Who it’s for:

  • Boom bap, lofi, trap, and sample people.
  • Folks who want the idea fast, then finish in a DAW later.

Price note: It’s paid, but cheap. A couple coffees. Worth it. iOS users can grab it on the App Store.

Runners-up I still use (with real examples)

Sometimes Koala isn’t the move. Here’s what I grab next and what I made with each.

GarageBand (iPhone/iPad) — Best free starter

I make full songs here when I need instruments and drums together. It’s free and stacked.

Real beat:

  • Tempo: 94 BPM
  • Drum track: Beat Sequencer with an 808 kit. 8 bars. Ghost notes on the snare at 1/16T.
  • Bass: Smart Bass, picked style. Root notes C–A–G–F, simple and warm.
  • Keys: Alchemy pad, low pass at 1.2 kHz, light chorus.
  • Drummer: Hip-Hop Drummer with fewer fills. It glued it together.
  • FX: Compressor and the Visual EQ. Tiny reverb.

I sent it to a friend on AirDrop. He rapped a verse that night. Free does not mean weak.

Good for:

  • Learning.
  • Full songs with real keys, bass, and drums.
  • Live Loops sessions.

Not so good:

  • File stuff can feel fussy.
  • Less gritty than Koala unless you work at it.

FL Studio Mobile — Best for full control on phone

When I want deep control, I use this. It has a proper piano roll, automation, and solid FX.

Real beat:

  • Tempo: 128 BPM (dancey)
  • Drums: Step sequencer for kick and clap. 4-on-the-floor kick.
  • Bass: MiniSynth with a saw patch. Sidechained to the kick with the Limiter.
  • Lead: Transistor Bass for a squelch line. Filter automation every 8 bars.
  • FX: Parametric EQ on drums, light delay on lead, master limiter.

I arranged an intro, two drops, and a break. Exported WAV and stems. Mixed later on my laptop in FL Studio 21. Clean and tight.

Good for:

  • Detailed edits.
  • EDM, pop, and anything grid-heavy.

Not so good:

  • Slower to start an idea than Koala.
  • Menus can feel small on a phone.

For projects where I need printed parts or orchestral layouts, I jump over to Finale—my hands-on take covers why its engraving tools still matter.

BandLab — Best free and social

It’s not fancy, but it’s easy and cloud-based.

Real beat:

  • Tempo: 150 BPM
  • Used Looper with a “trap” style pack for a base groove.
  • Added my own 808 from files. Took the MIDI and moved the notes for slides.
  • AutoPitch on a hum hook. Yes, I sing bad. It helped.
  • One-tap “Mastering” (I used the Clean setting) to make it louder.

Then I shared it. A singer in Manila added harmonies. Wild. And free.

Good for:

  • Fast collabs.
  • Learning with friends.
  • One-click loudness.

Not so good:

  • Looper stuff can feel cookie-cutter.
  • FX are basic.

If vocals are the missing piece in your mobile setup, I tested a stack of no-cost recorders and shared what actually worked in this roundup—pair any of those with BandLab and you’re flying.

Ableton Note — Best for capturing ideas

When I know I’ll finish a track in Ableton Live, I start in Note.

Real sketch:

  • Tempo: 100 BPM
  • Drum Sampler: 8 pads from my own kit. I finger-drummed the groove and quantized to 1/16 with 40% strength.
  • Melodic Sampler: I recorded two guitar plucks. Spread across keys.
  • Bass: Simple sine. Sidechain feel using the built-in ducking.
  • Scenes: Verse, hook, alt hook.

Then I sent the set to Live 11 on my laptop. Opened it. All tracks lined up. Finished mix in an hour.

Good for:

  • Ableton users.
  • Clean, portable ideas.

Not so good:

  • Not deep on its own.
  • Needs Live to bloom.

Tiny tips that helped me

  • Use wired earbuds when you can. Bluetooth can add lag. That throws off drums.
  • Put a thin sock over the phone mic when recording claps. Cuts harsh highs. It’s silly. It works.
  • Save often. Name patterns with short tags like “P1-drums,” “P2-hook.”
  • Keep a small sample folder on your phone. Kicks, snares, 808s, textures. I keep 50 go-to hits. That’s it.
  • Need a quirky one-shot or loop fast? A quick scroll through Deli Player usually turns up something fresh to drag straight into Koala.
  • Chasing gritty nightlife ambience for background texture? If you’re ever rolling through Colorado’s foothills, the crowd-sourced listings on Backpage Golden will point you toward the busiest bars, clubs, and pop-up events,