Parametric Equalizer vs OtherDesertCities
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Parametric Equalizer
This audio unit plugin provides a powerful yet user-friendly six-band parametric equalizer for iOS devices. It's designed for precise audio filtering within compatible host applications.
- Six-band parametric equalizer
- Low cut and high cut filters
- Adjustable Q (resonance)
- Bell filters
- Low and high shelf filters
- AU3 plugin format
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Blue Mangoo Parametric Equalizer is an audio unit plugin, with six bands of filter controls: - Low cut and high cut with adjustable Q (resonance) - Two bell filters with adjustable Q - Low and high shelf filters This plugin exists because we needed an equalizer that is easy to use in the small screen space of an iOS Audio Unit plugin, but still powerful enough to do relatively complex filtering. * Blue Mangoo Parametric Equalizer is an AU3 plugin. It runs within an audio unit host app such as Garage Band. It does not run as a standalone app.
OtherDesertCities
Explore a versatile audio effect with six unique delay algorithms, offering everything from classic stereo delays to experimental granular pitch-shifting. Extensive modulation and I/O controls allow for deep sonic manipulation and creative sound design.
- Six unique delay algorithms
- Extensive modulation capabilities
- Tempo-synced LFOs
- Envelope follower
- Diffusor for feedback smearing
- Advanced I/O control
- Granular pitch-shifting
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Other Desert Cities is a multi-mode delay plugin built for sound designers, producers, and anyone who thinks regular delays are getting a little boring. Named after the famous sign on the I-10 leaving Los Angeles, Other Desert Cities takes you down less-traveled roads. Six algorithms, each with its own distinct personality. A full suite of modulation. A diffuser that smears feedback toward reverb. And gain-structure controls deep enough to duck, pan, and route almost anything. ALGORITHMS Desert Shores — a clean dual stereo delay with saturation, filtering, spread, and crossfeed. Mecca — a reverse delay with smooth crossfading and an optional Reflect mode that alternates playback direction on each repeat. Cactus — a dual-delta delay. Each side runs as a variable-speed looper, playing forward or backward at any speed from zero to 2x, with pitch quantized to octaves, fifths, or semitones. Thermal — a multi-tap delay with up to sixteen equally-spaced taps per side, each with its own level. Mirage — a variable-speed multi-head delay inspired by the 1967 Eltro Information Rate Changer. One to four rotating heads play through a circular buffer at any speed from -2 to +2. Sky Valley — a granular delay with independent control over grain size, scatter, and pitch randomization. Transpose from three octaves down to one octave up. MODULATION Two tempo-syncable LFOs with variable shape and skew, plus an envelope follower with sidechain input. Almost every parameter in the plugin can be modulated. Click any knob and assign modulation depth from each of the three sources independently. DIFFUSER A diffusion processor sits inside the feedback path, with controls for size, diffusion amount, modulation rate and depth, and a dedicated low-cut filter. At high settings it takes the delay into reverb territory, especially paired with the Thermal algorithm. LEVELS Full input/output gain control, stereo width, independent delay pan, regeneration balance, and wet balance. Input level and mute sit before the delay block, so the plugin works correctly as both an insert and a send, with proper tails behavior. PRESETS Factory presets from Chris Randall, Matthew Lyon, Red Means Recording, and Time Rival, plus a cross-platform XML-based preset manager with import, export, and clipboard paste. FEATURES Six distinct delay algorithms Two LFOs and an envelope follower with sidechain Diffuser with independent modulation Tempo sync on delay times and LFO rates Delay times up to two seconds free, ten seconds synced Cross-platform XML preset format AUv3 and standalone Also available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP formats from Audio Damage.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: OtherDesertCities at 4.8 against Parametric Equalizer's 4.3. OtherDesertCities also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 70%) and ratings volume (59 vs 19). 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
Parametric Equalizer costs $5.99 and OtherDesertCities $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
OtherDesertCities holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 59 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Parametric Equalizer's written reviews are positive against 86% of OtherDesertCities's.
Parametric Equalizer ships an update every 5 weeks, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Parametric Equalizer | OtherDesertCities |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (19 ratings) | 4.8 (59 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 | 59 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blue Mangoo Consulting Company Limited | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
Parametric Equalizer
OtherDesertCities
In-app purchases
Parametric Equalizer
No in-app purchases
OtherDesertCities
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Parametric Equalizer free?
Is OtherDesertCities free?
Which has better reviews, Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities?
Do Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Which is updated more often, Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities?
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