MIDISpy vs OtherDesertCities
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MIDISpy
This utility helps monitor MIDI connections across various platforms. It offers basic filtering for different MIDI message types and supports multiple connectivity options.
- Standalone and AUv3 support
- Basic message filtering
- Inter-App MIDI
- USB MIDI
- Bluetooth MIDI
- Network MIDI
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MIDISpy - MIDI Monitor A handy little utility for monitoring MIDI connectivity. Overview: - Standalone and AUv3 support - Basic Filters for Note, Control Change, Clock and SysEx messages Connectivity: - Inter-App MIDI - USB MIDI - Bluetooth MIDI - Network MIDI - AUv3 Requirements: - iOS9+
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, 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MIDISpy at Free against OtherDesertCities's $3.99. MIDISpy also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). OtherDesertCities's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (86% vs 71%). On ads, in-app purchases 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
MIDISpy is free to download; OtherDesertCities costs $3.99 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 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OtherDesertCities has 59 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MIDISpy's written reviews are positive against 86% of OtherDesertCities's.
MIDISpy ships an update every 3 weeks, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MIDISpy | OtherDesertCities |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (5 ratings) | 4.8 (59 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | 86.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 59 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #145 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kai Aras | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
MIDISpy
OtherDesertCities
In-app purchases
MIDISpy
No in-app purchases
OtherDesertCities
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is MIDISpy free?
Is OtherDesertCities free?
Which has better reviews, MIDISpy or OtherDesertCities?
Do MIDISpy or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Which is updated more often, MIDISpy or OtherDesertCities?
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