Comparison

BandShift vs RingsFX

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

Head to head
About

BandShift

This app offers a unique approach to manipulating sound by splitting audio into 27 bands and applying individual frequency shifts to each. It allows for precise pitch adjustments of complex sound sources in real-time, ideal for altering drum sounds or exploring new sonic territories without introducing unwanted distortions.

Highlights
  • Multi-band Bode frequency shifter
  • 27-band linear phase filter bank
  • AUv3 compatible
  • Inter-app audio compatible
  • Audiobus 2 compatible
  • Apply effect to iTunes library songs
  • MIDI Learn for X/Y Pads
  • Low latency live usage
Read full description

BandShift is a multi-band auditory filter and frequency shifter taking a new approach to manipulate the pitch of complex sound sources in realtime. The well know analog Bode frequency shifter shifts all frequencies in an input up by the same amount and thereby alters their harmonic relation and tends to produce inharmonic results. But it's perfect in dealing with transients and sounds smooth even with high amounts of down pitching. BandShift splits the spectrum in 27 bands and applies a different amount of frequency shifting to each band emulating a harmonic pitch shifting. This gives you perfect pitch shifting for all kind of drum sounds over a vast shifting range of +/- five octaves without disturbing the transients or introducing metallic distortions. The extreme range of shifting gives you access to a vast field of unknown sonic territory. The possibility to apply different shiftings on each band gives you exciting possibilities: Suppose you have a drum loop which is perfect, but the bass drum is a bit too high or too low to fit in your mix then you can easily get the bass drum shifted a bit down and the rest of the spectrum remains unchanged. But it’s applications are not limited to drum sounds, they’re only limited by your imagination. Features: • Multi band bode frequency shifter • Linear phase filter bank with 27 bands • AudioUnit for AUv3 compatible hosts. • Inter-app audio compatible effect. • Audiobus 2 compatible with state saving. • Apply effect to any song in your iTunes library. • MIDI Learn for X/Y Pads • Low latency live usage with mic and headphones. • Audio recorder

About

RingsFX

This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling synthesis emulation
  • Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
  • Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
  • External audio excitation
  • Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
  • 7 unique synthesis modes
  • 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
Features
Read full description

RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.

Screenshots

BandShift4 screens
RingsFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RingsFX at 100% against BandShift's 50%. RingsFX also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). BandShift's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

BandShift costs $3.99 and RingsFX $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RingsFX holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RingsFX has 26 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of BandShift's written reviews are positive against 100% of RingsFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BandShift ships an update every 2 months, RingsFX fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
BandShift versus RingsFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBandShiftRingsFX
Price$3.99 — better$14.99
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)4.9 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings426 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry Gohs4Pockets.com

Customer experience

BandShift

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

RingsFX

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BandShift

No in-app purchases

None

RingsFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BandShift free?
BandShift costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RingsFX free?
RingsFX costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BandShift or RingsFX?
RingsFX is rated higher. BandShift averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while RingsFX averages 4.9 from 26 ratings.
Do BandShift or RingsFX have ads?
Neither BandShift nor RingsFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BandShift or RingsFX?
BandShift ships an update every 2 months, and RingsFX fortnightly. Most recently, BandShift was updated on September 27, 2026 and RingsFX on October 3, 2026.

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