# PhaseRings — Expresive Touch Music-Making > Expressive touch-based musical instrument with generative composition. (iPhone/iPad app by Charles Martin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phaserings/id924795988 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Charles Martin](https://appshunter.io/developer/560849533) - Category: Music - Price: Free - Rating: 4.44/5 from 16 App Store ratings · 20 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 6 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2014-11-14 - Data updated: 2026-07-07 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phaserings/id924795988/reviews.md ## What is PhaseRings? PhaseRings is a musical instrument for performing expressive music with touch gestures. Anyone can create a beautiful piece of music with our sound schemes and generative composition engine! Each ring on the screen represents a different pitch, and you can tap and swirl on each ring to create combinations of long and short notes. The angle and size of your tap will change the timbre of the notes you create! New in version 3.0, PhaseRings is also an AUv3 Audio Unit plugin. Load it as an instrument in hosts like AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro for iPad, and Cubasis — play the rings inside your host, run several instances at once, drive it from MIDI tracks, and record it through your host's effects. PhaseRings includes seven expressive "sound schemes" featuring percussive sounds like marimba and singing bowls as well as pure synth sounds like phase and string synthesis. Four "compositions" of pitches are included in the app, but you can also create your own custom composition by choosing three base notes and scales. PhaseRings will do the rest, generating a series of great setups from the harmony you choose! Features: - AUv3 Audio Unit instrument for AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Cubasis, and other hosts - 7 sound schemes - 4 built-in compositions - Custom generative composition - 11 scales and modes - Core MIDI in and out for iOS MIDI accessories and MIDI-enabled apps - VoiceOver support and light/dark appearance ## Key features - Expressive touch gesture music creation - Seven unique sound schemes - Generative composition engine - Customizable pitch compositions - Core MIDI support - AudioBus and Inter-App Audio support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 20) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phaserings/id924795988/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Now works on modern devices! *2026-06-04* What a pleasant surprise when I saw this wonderful musical glasses like app was just updated for modern devices for the first time in 7 years! The audio is no longer distorted, although there was a workaround if you opened a random app in AUM then open Phase Rings standalone, but now it just works. **Developer response:** Thanks for noticing! I'm thrilled it is back too :-) New version going into review today will be a modern auv3 instrument. Finally catching up with the world! ### 5/5 — Revisiting older downloads... *2022-03-14, version 1.5* ...and rediscovered this gem. 7 odd years old but still great fun. Simple to use & tiny in size 5/5 ### 4/5 — Brilliant *2021-09-23, version 1.5* This is a brilliant idea. However works perfectly on iPhone 12 yet distorted sound on iPad (8th gen) Both on iOS 15.. any ideas ? ### 2/5 — Headphone users *2019-06-02* This sounds terrible with headphones in and I don’t know why? Tried two different pairs and all other audio is fine. ### 5/5 — No it’s not useless !! *2018-03-28, version 1.3* Previous reviews have said this app is pointless, well I beg to differ. If you open PhaseRings and then open the alchemy synth in GarageBand, PhaseRings controls the playing of the synth and also blends it’s own sounds. All of which can then be recorded into another app via audiobus. I’ve been getting some lush sweeping synth samples, especially fed through the Kosmonaut delay effect app. Like a lot of these freebie synths, it just takes a bit imagination to get some nice music from them !!! I haven’t tried it with other synths yet, but I reckon there’s more that will connect to it. Playing the rings like you would a wet finger round the top of a glass is nice way to manipulate a synth I find... try it :0) ### 5/5 — Fun *2018-02-23* After all the money I’ve spent on music apps, this is still my favorite. It’s super fun to play with and it sounds great. ### 2/5 — Midi doesn’t work. *2018-02-19* Love the sounds. But the midi doesn’t work. ### 5/5 — Cool!!! *2016-10-12* This is a great app for my kids to create music on my phone, although I know that probably wasn't the intention! The sound choices are unique and appealing. I'd love to see a chromatic option in future updates. ### 5/5 — Bravo! *2016-01-31* Nice unique alternative sound generator and MIDI controller. Amazingly it is AudioBus compatible! ### 5/5 — Love it! *2016-01-08* This is stunning, I only wish it was a tad louder. ## Frequently asked questions about PhaseRings ### What makes PhaseRings' music-making expressive? PhaseRings allows for expressive music creation through touch gestures. The angle and size of your taps on the rings influence the timbre of the notes, offering nuanced control beyond simple note triggering. ### How many sound schemes does PhaseRings offer? PhaseRings includes seven expressive sound schemes. These range from percussive sounds like marimba and singing bowls to pure synth sounds such as phase and string synthesis. ### Can I create my own musical compositions in PhaseRings? Yes, PhaseRings features a custom generative composition engine. You can choose three base notes and scales, and the app will generate a series of harmonious setups based on your input. ### Does PhaseRings support external MIDI devices? Yes, PhaseRings has Core MIDI support for iOS MIDI Accessories and other MIDI-enabled apps. This allows for integration with hardware controllers and software instruments. ### What is the update frequency for PhaseRings? The latest version of PhaseRings is 1.5, last updated on June 18, 2018. This indicates a less frequent update schedule compared to some other music applications. ### What devices is PhaseRings compatible with? PhaseRings is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices. ### What is the age rating for PhaseRings? PhaseRings has an age rating of 4+. This suggests it is suitable for young children and up, with no mature content. ### Does PhaseRings have ads? No, PhaseRings does not contain advertisements. As a free application, it offers an uninterrupted music-making experience without any ad interruptions. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.1 — 2026-06-12 PhaseRings 3.1 is a small maintenance update. • Sound scheme fix: the sampled sound schemes (singing bowl, gong, crotales, and the others built on the SoundScraper engine) regain the bright, percussive attack that some players found had softened in 3.0. The grains now read from near the start of each sample again, so taps "snap" the way they used to. • Under-the-hood audio engine build improvements. Thanks to the user who wrote in with feedback! ### 3.0 — 2026-06-07 PhaseRings 3.0 is the biggest update since the original release: • AUv3 plugin: load PhaseRings as an Audio Unit instrument in AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro for iPad, Cubasis, and other hosts. Run multiple instances, play it from MIDI, and record through your host's effects. • New audio engine: the synthesis patches are now compiled directly into the app for lower overhead and reliable performance on modern devices. • Refreshed interface: controls at the bottom of the screen, full light and dark appearance, and a new in-app settings screen. • MIDI: MIDI out is always on; enable MIDI in to play the rings from other apps and controllers. • Accessibility: VoiceOver support on the playing surface and controls. • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio are retired — the AUv3 plugin replaces them. ### 2.0.0 — 2026-05-23 App updated for sound quality and stability on modern devices. ### 1.5 — 2018-06-18 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. - improved sound quality when using Bluetooth audio devices ### 1.4 — 2018-04-22 Updates for compatibility with iOS 11.3 ## Apps similar to PhaseRings | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Dahlia Tape Delay](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dahlia-tape-delay/id6761359971) | 5.0 (4) | $3.99 | Music | | [Synesthesia Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synesthesia-synth/id6763379132) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Music | | [AudioKit FM Player 2: DX Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-fm-player-2-dx-synth/id1307785646) | 4.8 (3,265) | Free | Music | | [AudioKit Digital D1 Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-digital-d1-synth/id1436905540) | 4.8 (2,007) | Free | Music | | [Mela – AUv3: Synth, FX, MIDI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-auv3-synth-fx-midi/id1668299428) | 4.8 (75) | Free | Music | | [Holon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holon/id1352687747) | 4.5 (14) | $1.99 | Music | ## More apps by Charles Martin - [Snow Music](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snow-music/id560849530) - [MetaLonsdale](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metalonsdale/id694075948) - [BirdsNest](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdsnest/id858342657) - [AccurateClock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/accurateclock/id6767766624) - [IMPSY - Intelligent MIDI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/impsy-intelligent-midi/id6771762122) All apps by Charles Martin: https://appshunter.io/developer/560849533 ## Related topics [phaserings](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/phaserings) · [phaser](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/phaser) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-07.*