Comparison

Pixel Music vs Relic Waves

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Music

Transform your favorite images into unique musical compositions. This app uses pixel data to control pitch, duration, and velocity, allowing you to create melodies and rhythms by interacting with visuals. Explore various traversal methods and image data types for diverse sonic results.

Highlights
  • Pixels control pitch, velocity, and note duration
  • Play multiple images simultaneously
  • AUv3 support with MIDI
  • Ableton Link compatible
  • Customizable image traversal and data mapping
  • Internal synth with effects
  • Save and load app states
Features
Read full description

Pixel Music is a music sequencer based on images. Take an image you love and start playing. Overview ◦ Pixels turn into pitch, velocity, and note durations ◦ Play multiple images at the same time, in sync ◦ Choose what parts of the image will be played and at what timing ◦ Tap on the image and record yourself playing alongside the sequencer Features ◦ AUv3 with preset and MIDI support ◦ Ableton Link compatible ◦ Control sequencer timing and configuration ◦ Program different step lengths in patterns and play these across your images with Verses ◦ Choose between RGB, Luminance, Hue, or Saturation data to control pitch, velocity, or note duration ◦ Choose how the image is traversed, between Left -> Right, Top -> Down, or Circular. Select randomness factor in image traversal ◦ Choose recorded loop length and quantization settings ◦ Internal Synth with delay and reverb effects ◦ Send MIDI to external synths when used as AUv3. Each image you add has a separate MIDI channel exposed in the AU host ◦ Save and Load app states and configurations ◦ Dark mode support AU Hosts Compatibility ◦ Pixel Music works best with AUM, Audiobus, or ApeMatrix ◦ Pixel Music does NOT support Logic Pro or Garage Band Have fun with it.

About

Relic Waves

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

Highlights
  • Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds
  • Random sound generation with search
  • Multiple keyboard input options
  • Real-time audio recording to WAV
  • Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard
  • MIDI control and processing
  • iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
Features
Read full description

Relic Waves is a generator of Lo-Fi noises, pads and effects based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

Pixel Music4 screens
Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Relic Waves at 5.0 against Pixel Music's 4.6. Relic Waves also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 82%) and price ($1.99 vs $5.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Pixel Music costs $5.99 and Relic Waves $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Waves has 43 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Pixel Music's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixel Music ships an update every 8 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pixel Music versus Relic Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel MusicRelic Waves
Price$5.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.6 (7 ratings)5.0 (43 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings743 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrei AntonescuAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Pixel Music

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

Relic Waves

All ratings42 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pixel Music

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixel Music free?
Pixel Music costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pixel Music or Relic Waves?
Relic Waves is rated higher. Pixel Music averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 43 ratings.
Do Pixel Music or Relic Waves have ads?
Neither Pixel Music nor Relic Waves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Music or Relic Waves?
Pixel Music ships an update every 8 months, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, Pixel Music was updated on October 24, 2026 and Relic Waves on October 24, 2026.

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