# Trope

> Generative music app creating evolving soundscapes through touch interaction. (iPhone/iPad app by Opal Limited.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trope/id312164495 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Opal Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/292792589)
- Category: Music, Entertainment
- Price: $3.99
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 38 App Store ratings · 146 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 39 MB
- Languages: German (Germany), European Spanish, American English, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, China), French (France)
- Released: 2009-09-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trope/id312164495/reviews.md

## What is Trope?

Trope, designed by ambient pioneer Brian Eno and musician / software designer Peter Chilvers, expands further on the ideas introduced by Bloom, their acclaimed iPhone application.  Darker in tone, Trope immerses users in endlessly evolving soundscapes created by tracing abstract shapes onto the screen, varying the tone with each movement.

Recommended for headphones and external speakers.

"Trope is a different emotional experience from Bloom - more introspective, more atmospheric. It shows that generative music, as one of the newest forms of sonema, can draw on a broad palette of moods." - Brian Eno

## Key features

- Generative soundscape creation
- Interactive touch interface
- Evolving musical textures
- Introspective and atmospheric tone
- Abstract shape tracing

## What do users think of Trope?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- ✨ Generative music creation
- 🧘 Calming and meditative atmosphere
- 🎨 Visually beautiful and mesmerizing
- 🎧 Great for relaxation and sleep
- 💡 Pioneering and innovative concept
- 🎶 Unlimited and unique music generation
- 🎵 Ethereal and calming tones
- 😌 Therapeutic and adult play
- 🌟 Elegant and well-crafted design
- 🌌 Deep and immersive soundscapes
- 👍 Intuitive interaction (for some)
- 💯 Brian Eno collaboration

**Cons**

- 📉 Limited user control
- 🤔 Simplistic and unimaginative (for some)
- 🔊 Random background noises intrusive
- 🎛️ Lack of sound modification options
- 💰 Perceived as expensive for simplicity
- 🚫 No save function
- 🎚️ Difficulty in achieving desired sounds
- 🎛️ Repetitive sounds/limited variety
- 👂 Glitchy or crackling audio
- 📱 Not optimized for iPad (early reviews)
- 📉 Less interactive than Bloom (for some)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Does not run in background/sleep mode
- App speeds up sleep timer
- Errors about iOS 11 incompatibility
- Cannot listen and create after update
- Screen looks awful (outdated UI)
- App doesn't work/programmed feel
- Music doesn't stop when app is closed
- Sleep timer not working correctly in iOS6
- Glitchy sound/static at note start
- ノイズが入る (Noise occurs)
- 音が割れる (Sound distortion/crackling)
- Bug that changes line type back to default after erasing

**Most requested features**

- Ability to save compositions
- Option to turn off random background noises
- More control over sound parameters (attack, duration)
- User sound input option
- Recording function
- More variety in sounds and moods
- Mac app store version
- Streaming to AirPort Express
- Improve responsiveness to touches
- Option to remove random tones
- Background tasking/multitasking improvements

## Recent user reviews (10 of 146)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trope/id312164495/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Major flaw

*2023-10-09, version 1.4*

Does not run in the background or when iPad is in sleep mode, so pretty useless as an ambient app. Foolish.

### 5/5 — Pioneering Genius

*2022-05-21*

When Eno makes an app. You better listen. It doesn’t get any better for generative music than this one.

### 4/5 — Perfect work music

*2020-06-04, version 1.3*

I poopoo-ed this app when I first bought it many years ago.  The interaction element didn’t gel with me.  Now that I’m working from home during the coronavirus lockdown, I’m finding it perfect for creating ambient mood music to help with focus.  I just turn it, click Listen and the textures evolve by themselves.

### 5/5 — My favorite music player

*2018-12-02*

I listen and watch this app make music. I find this more enjoyable than a music service simply because it can shuffle the many moods and generates unlimited music. Each song being different and never the same. I use this more than any other music app, including my music subscription services!! I don’t make music with it, I just listen and let it come up with its own things. Simply amazing. Between this and reflection I have more ambient music than my iTunes library! Ha!

### 5/5 — Amazing generative music app!

*2018-09-05*

Was uncertain since app hasn’t been updated in 3 years; however, it works fine on my iPad Pro with iOS 11.  Having been a fan of Brian Eno in my youth, I enjoy creating and listening to these ethereal and calming tones.  How to use:  Draw several lines or dots with your finger, then wait for the song to develop; the music will follow the patterns you created.  Also, the neon color flows and geometrics are beautiful to behold!  Very relaxing and meditative, for those into this genre.

### 5/5 — Beautiful

*2018-03-30, version 1.3*

Somewhat more weighty and textural than Bloom, I use this for background atmosphere, creative work, relaxation and travel. I find generative music absolutely fascinating and the guys who made this have done well. Beautiful.

### 1/5 — Updated review

*2017-04-17, version 1.3*

For some reason the App would update and was giving me errors about iOS 11 incompatible but a hard reset has now updated and it no longer complains

### 3/5 — Lovely app, lately afflicted by a bug

*2017-03-06*

Trope is, along with Bloom and Reflection, a wonderful collaboration between Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers, fusing Eno's ideas about "generative music" with the computing power and portability of iOS devices. Compared to Bloom, Trope is more flowing though perhaps a bit darker.

Unfortunately, as of iOS 10 this app seems to have developed a bug that speeds up the sleep timer and may also affect playback. While I recommend all these Eno/Chilvers apps very strongly, I'd suggest waiting for this to be patched.

**Developer response:** Please not that this issue only occurred with iOS 10.2 - if you update to iOS 10.3, the sleep timer will function correctly. Sorry for the inconvenience.

### 5/5 — So soothing...

*2016-12-24*

I let it develop for hours and hours, it keeps changing and is as interesting as it is ignorable...

### 5/5 — Love it

*2016-10-30*

Warm, therapeutic, adult play, and--why not kids? They'd love it even if attention span would keep it short. 
Opens creative doors--the simplicity and perhaps even limited or focused direction of these glorious Eno apps are an asset, not a limitation.

## Frequently asked questions about Trope

### What is Trope?

Trope is a generative music application designed by Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers. It allows users to create endlessly evolving soundscapes by interacting with abstract shapes on the screen. The app is noted for its darker, more introspective, and atmospheric musical experience.

### How do I create music with Trope?

You create music by tracing abstract shapes onto the screen. Your movements vary the tone and influence the evolving soundscapes. The app is recommended for use with headphones or external speakers to fully appreciate the immersive audio.

### Is Trope free to use?

Based on the provided information, Trope is a paid application. It does not feature in-app purchases or advertisements, indicating a one-time purchase model.

### What is the difference between Trope and Bloom?

Trope expands on the ideas of Bloom but is described as darker in tone, more introspective, and atmospheric. While both are generative music apps, Trope offers a distinct emotional and sonic experience compared to its predecessor.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4 — 2023-09-19

New symmetry feature added.
Improved performance on recent devices.
Full screen support for M1 Macs.

### 1.3 — 2015-06-20

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Trope has been given a complete interface redesign for iOS 8. It is now a Universal app, and runs natively on the iPad as well as the iPhone.

### 1.2 — 2011-04-08

Bug fix for iOS 4.3
Updated for Retina Display 
Multitasking where supported - set to 'ON' to continue playing Trope in the background.

### 1.0.1 — 2009-12-10

Additional hint on opening page.
Improved 'Listen Mode'.
Simplified Chinese Translation added.

### 1.0 — 2009-09-19

No release notes.

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## More apps by Opal Limited

- [Bloom](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloom/id292792586)
- [Air](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air/id312163985)
- [Scape](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scape/id506703636)
- [Quarta](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quarta/id964483244)
- [Brian Eno : Reflection](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brian-eno-reflection/id1180524479)

All apps by Opal Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/292792589

## Related topics

[brian eno](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brian-eno) · [post-tonal](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/post-tonal)

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*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 2026-08-29.*