Comparison

Parametric Equalizer vs OtherDesertCities

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Six-band parametric equalizer
  • Low cut and high cut filters
  • Adjustable Q (resonance)
  • Bell filters
  • Low and high shelf filters
  • AU3 plugin format
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Six unique delay algorithms
  • Extensive modulation capabilities
  • Tempo-synced LFOs
  • Envelope follower
  • Diffusor for feedback smearing
  • Advanced I/O control
  • Granular pitch-shifting
Features
Read full description

Other Desert Cities, named for a famous sign on the I-10 highway leaving Los Angeles, is a workshop for creativity. As its namesake implies, there are many strange and wonderful things lurking inside. With six delay algorithms, each with its own personality, and extensive modulation, Other Desert Cities covers everything from basic stereo dual delays to never-before-heard granular pitch-shifting chaos. ALGORITHMS 01 Desert Shores Stereo Delay. A standard dual delay, with basic EQ, saturation, crossfeed, and spread. 02 Mecca Reverse Delay. A normal dual delay, except the repeats play backwards, with smooth crossfading and an optional Reflect mode that alternates direction on each repeat. 03 Cactus Dual-Delta Delay. More like a pair of tape decks in use, with individual speed controls from zero to 2x in either direction, and pitch quantizing to octaves, fifths, or semitones. 04 Thermal Multi-Tap Delay. A dual multi-tap with sixteen taps per side, spread, crossfeed, and basic EQ. 05 Mirage Multi-Head Delay. Imagine a tape delay, but the head is the rotating head of a VCR. Experimental, strange, and wonderful. 06 Sky Valley Granular Delay. A pitch-shifting granular delay, with control over grain size and scatter, and EQ. TEMPO Sync to your host, or don't: set the sync source to Tap and everything synced follows the tap button instead. Tap on screen, or assign a MIDI note or CC and tap from your controller; the AUv3 accepts MIDI input directly. MODULATION Other Desert Cities includes a full suite of modulation. Two tempo-synced variable-waveshape LFOs and an envelope follower, sourced from the main input or a sidechain, can modulate nearly every control in the user interface. DIFFUSOR A built-in diffusor smears the feedback path, pushing Other Desert Cities toward reverb territory, especially with the Thermal algorithm. LEVELS The secret superpower is I/O control. Every aspect of the signal chain's gain structure can be controlled and modulated: ducked, panned, oscillated, and enveloped to your heart's content. Mute and Input Level feed only the delay block, not the dry signal, so you get natural tails and send-style behavior from an insert. PRESETS A full factory bank, plus designer presets from Matthew Lyon, Red Means Recording, and Time Rival. Presets are cross-platform (patches made on the desktop version work on iOS, and vice versa) and appear in your host's own preset list, so you can change sounds without opening the UI. FEATURES - AUv3 plugin and standalone app - Delay times up to 2 seconds free, 10 seconds tempo-synced - Tap tempo from the screen or MIDI - Resizable, scrolling user interface - Cross-platform XML preset manager Also available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in CLAP, VST3, AAX, AudioUnit, and LV2 formats at audiodamage.com.

Screenshots

Parametric Equalizer4 screens
OtherDesertCities4 screens

Verdict

The call

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). Parametric Equalizer's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $6.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). 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

Parametric Equalizer costs $5.99 and OtherDesertCities $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Parametric Equalizer ships an update every 5 weeks, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Parametric Equalizer versus OtherDesertCities: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParametric EqualizerOtherDesertCities
Price$5.99 — better$6.99
Rating4.3 (19 ratings)4.8 (59 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews86.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1959 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Mangoo Consulting Company LimitedAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Parametric Equalizer

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

OtherDesertCities

All ratings59 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive86.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.8%

In-app purchases

None

Parametric Equalizer

No in-app purchases

None

OtherDesertCities

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Parametric Equalizer free?
Parametric Equalizer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OtherDesertCities free?
OtherDesertCities costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities?
OtherDesertCities is rated higher. Parametric Equalizer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while OtherDesertCities averages 4.8 from 59 ratings.
Do Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Neither Parametric Equalizer nor OtherDesertCities shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Parametric Equalizer or OtherDesertCities?
Parametric Equalizer ships an update every 5 weeks, and OtherDesertCities every 2 months. Most recently, Parametric Equalizer was updated on October 24, 2026 and OtherDesertCities on October 24, 2026.

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