Rhythm Ace
Vintage Drum Machine Reborn
Only for iPhone
Free · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Rhythm Ace is a faithful simulator of the Ace Tone FR-1 — one of the earliest consumer drum machines, built in Japan in 1967 and the ancestor of the legendary Roland rhythm machines.
Every sound is synthesized in real time using classic transistor-style audio circuits — no samples, no loops. Just pure, characterful analog-era percussion the way it was meant to sound.
Eight synthesized voices Bass Drum · Snare · Low Conga · High Conga · Cymbal · Claves · Cowbell · Maracas
16 classic rhythm presets Waltz, Bossa Nova, Samba, Rock, Swing, Foxtrot, and more — all faithfully recreated from the original FR-1 diode matrix.
Authentic pattern combining Select multiple rhythm buttons to layer patterns exactly like the original hardware — the diode matrix OR-combines their steps, letting you build complex grooves from simple presets.
Voice cancel controls Mute individual instruments on the fly with the dedicated cancel buttons, just like the original panel.
Precision tempo control Large rotary knob for natural, tactile BPM adjustment.
Sample-accurate scheduling Built on a lookahead audio clock for tight, rock-solid timing — no drift, no jitter.
Whether you're a vintage gear enthusiast, a music producer hunting for retro textures, or just curious what the dawn of the drum machine sounded like, Rhythm Ace brings a slice of music history to your iPhone.
Ratings & Reviews
- This app hasn’t received enough ratings or reviews to display an overview.
- Fresh typography throughout the panel for a more authentic vintage feel.
- The power indicator now flashes in perfect sync with the beat.
- Small layout refinements for a tighter, more balanced look.
The developer, Tero Aarnio, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Tero Aarnio
- Size
- 42.6 MB
- Category
- Music
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Tero Aarnio