Comparison

iOptigan vs NoInputMixer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iOptigan

Experience the unique lo-fi sound of a vintage optical organ on your iOS device. This app faithfully recreates the original instrument's sound and functionality, allowing you to play chord patterns and explore different musical styles. It includes a virtual spring reverb, metronome, and MIDI capabilities for expanded creative control.

Highlights
  • Authentic lo-fi optical organ sound
  • Virtual spring reverb
  • Optical metronome
  • MIDI in/out and chord detection
  • Sequencer with record/playback
  • Audio and MIDI file sharing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This is the Optigan for iOS. The Optigan, short for Optical Organ, was a chord organ from the early 1970’s. It is remembered today for its unique system of sound reproduction using optical discs. These LP-sized film discs were optically encoded with 57 concentric tracks, which contained loops of musical combos playing chord patterns in different styles. Each disc contained a specific style of music (Bossa Nova, Big Band etc) which the user could control by pressing the chord buttons. Changing the discs was as simple as putting a new record on your turntable. Think of it as the 1971 version of GarageBand. Despite this novel technology, the scratchy sound of the Optigan left a lot to be desired. The iOptigan we present here truthfully recreates that lo-fi sound. 25 of the original 40 discs are included, the remaining 15 can be purchased individually or all together in the Complete Pak. Specifications and Features: • Disc loading rigth-side-up or upside-down • Spring Reverb (virtual) • Optical Metronome • Audio Demo for each Disc • MIDI in/out • MIDI chord detection • MIDI File Import • Sequencer with Record and Playback • Sharing for songs as Audio and MIDI File • iTunes File Sharing • Inter-App Audio • Smart background audio • Help overlay • Headphone optimised stereo (optional) • Radio Mode for Chord Buttons or Keyboard • Comfortable speed control in semitones or BPM

About

NoInputMixer

Explore experimental sound design by creating feedback loops with a virtual analog mixer and effects rack. Generate unique electronic textures, from unsettling soundscapes to glitchy elements, with extensive configuration options and presets.

Highlights
  • Virtual analog mixer modeling
  • Feedback loop creation
  • Extensive effects rack
  • Algorithmic noise generators
  • Adjustable signal path
  • Hi-res/lo-fi processing options
  • MIDI support
Features
Read full description

No-Input Mixing is an experimental technique for creating a wide range of amazing, otherworldly electronic sounds by feeding the mixer output back to the input, thereby making a feedback loop. This application models an analog mixing console and effects rack in detail, providing the ability to make a huge number of feedback configurations with additional effects. By using this technique in the creative process, the sound designer can explore many different and special ways to create sound. Unsettling soundscapes perfect for sci-fi, dystopian and horror projects, like strange noises, disrupted signals, broken communication, buzzing drones, faulty machinery, futuristic tech sounds, and glitchy elements are some results of the No-Input Mixing technique. The downside of this technique, which can scare off beginners, is extreme unpredictability and instability, when the movement of any knob on the mixer can dramatically change the sound in the most unexpected way. But at the same time, this discover an endless space of experimentation and inspiration when creating new and unique sounds or live performance. In addition, a large set of ready-to-use drone and noise presets with a parameter randomizer provide a great point for quickly getting started with this application. NoInputMixer consists of a seven-channel mixer and an effects rack with eight slots. Each effect slot can be configured as an insert effect for a mixer channel or used with two send/return buses. Effects has an option for hi-res or lo-fi sound processing. Each mixer channel has its own algorithmic generator of different types of noise, which can be added to the feedback signal or used separately. The input selector switches between multiple points in the signal path to make different types of feedback loops or can be switched to an external input for any channel to use it as an effect processor. Also this application provides several additional options not found in usual mixers, such as preamp tube type and mode selection, op-amp type selection, adjustment of overload protection circuit, and other features that greatly expand the possibilities for experimenting with sound. The user interface can be presented in the form of a classic mixer, or in the form of complete control of a single channel. NoInputMixer is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). NoInputMixer works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus. On MacOS, NoInputMixer can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option) and audio unit parameters. NoInputMixer has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application website. Quick start and demos: https://youtu.be/K7yh0-34Llw https://youtu.be/74LyfDM2dQM https://youtu.be/AeF3oBoXp80 https://youtu.be/95AM6OGoTdo You can find more information on NoInputMixer and other experimental audio processing apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

Screenshots

iOptigan3 screens
NoInputMixer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iOptigan at $5.99 against NoInputMixer's $15.99. iOptigan also leads on chart position (#98 vs unranked) and ratings volume (114 vs 28). NoInputMixer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

iOptigan costs $5.99 and NoInputMixer $15.99 up front. iOptigan sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. NoInputMixer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for iOptigan against 4.8 for NoInputMixer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 114 and 28 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of iOptigan's written reviews are positive against 95% of NoInputMixer's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
iOptigan versus NoInputMixer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriOptiganNoInputMixer
Price$5.99 — better$15.99
Rating4.8 (114 ratings) — better4.8 (28 ratings)
Positive reviews92.2% of reviews95.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings114 — better28
Update frequency—Every 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#98 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB31 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperStefan StenzelIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

iOptigan

All ratings114 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral4.4%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive92.2%
Neutral6.3%
Negative1.6%

NoInputMixer

All ratings28 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.6%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.0%

Bugs and requests

iOptigan

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Stuck/phantom keys on M1 iPad Pro
  • E major plays D Diminished sample
  • Bottom row of controls unresponsive
  • Audio level clipping, especially when slowing playback
  • Left-only headphone audio output
Show 5 more
  • InterApp Audio broken in Garageband
  • InterApp Audio buggy in n-Track Studio Pro
  • App doesn't fill modern screen sizes
  • Vamp loop section bug with 5th switch
  • Gay 90's Waltz disc has incorrect flasher count

Requested features

19 requests
  • Update codebase with AudioKit Engine
  • Allow app to run in background
  • Add AudioUnit Extension support
  • Include newly released sound packs
  • Clarify chord identification methods
Show 14 more
  • AUV3 version
  • Audiobus compatibility
  • Virtual MIDI support
  • Ableton Link support
  • MPE support
  • Stacking discs for combined playback
  • Add Orchestron sounds
  • Add iChliton
  • Add Talentmaker discs
  • Update for larger screen compatibility
  • Export WAV functionality
  • Limit loudness of pops and scratches (equalizer?)
  • Set release of keys
  • MIDI program changes support

NoInputMixer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

16 purchases

iOptigan

One-time16
  • Champagne Music$0.99
  • Country Waltz$0.99
  • Romantic Strings$0.99
Show 13 more
  • Big Top Marching Band$0.99
  • Polynesian Village$0.99
  • Singing Rhythm$0.99
  • Rollin’ Easy$0.99
  • Movin'$0.99
  • Cathedral Organ$0.99
  • Vox Humana$0.99
  • Country Sunshine$0.99
  • Down Home$0.99
  • Gospel Rock$0.99
  • Guitar Boogie$0.99
  • New Orleans Blues$0.99
  • Complete Disc Pak$5.99
None

NoInputMixer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iOptigan free?
iOptigan costs $5.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is NoInputMixer free?
NoInputMixer costs $15.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iOptigan or NoInputMixer?
iOptigan is rated higher. iOptigan averages 4.8 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while NoInputMixer averages 4.8 from 28 ratings.
Do iOptigan or NoInputMixer have ads?
Neither iOptigan nor NoInputMixer shows ads.

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