Comparison

Mozaic Plugin Workshop vs OtherDesertCities

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

Head to head
About

Mozaic Plugin Workshop

Design and build your own custom MIDI plugins for music production. This tool offers a simple yet powerful scripting language and pre-built components to create filters, sequencers, and generative music tools. It integrates with AUv3 MIDI hosts for seamless workflow.

Highlights
  • Custom MIDI plugin creation
  • Easy-to-learn scripting language
  • Generative music tools
  • MIDI filters and sequencers
  • AUv3 support
  • Tilt sensor integration
  • Built-in script editor
Features
Currently charting
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Create your own MIDI plugins: MIDI filters, generative music tools, basic sequencers, MIDI control panels, chaos experiments... Let your imagination take you places. Mozaic runs inside your favorite AU MIDI host, and gives you practical building blocks such as LFOs, pre-fab GUI layouts, musical scales, AUv3 support (with AU Parameters, transport events, tempo syncing, etc.), random generators and a super-simple yet powerful script language. Mozaic even offers quick access to your device’s Tilt Sensors for expressive interaction concepts! The Mozaic Script language is designed from the ground up to be the easiest and most flexible MIDI language on iOS. A language by creatives, for creatives. You’ll only need to write a few lines of script to achieve impressive things - or to create that uber-specific thing that was missing from your MIDI setup. Check out the Programming Manual on Ruismaker.com to learn about the script language and to get inspiration for awesome scripts of your own. Mozaic comes with a sizable collection of tutorials and pre-made scripts which you can use out of the box, or which can be a starting point for your own plugin adventures. Features in a nutshell: - Easy to learn Mozaic Script language: easy to learn, easy to read - Sample-accurate-everything: the tightest MIDI timing possible - Built-in script editor with code-completion, syntax hints, etc. - 5 immediately usable GUI layouts, with knobs, sliders, pads, etc. - In-depth, helpful programming manual available on Ruismaker.com - Easy access to LFOs, scales, MIDI I/O, AU parameters, timers - Supports Sysex, with built-in checksum calculations - AUv3; so you'll get multi-instance, state-saving, tempo sync and resource efficiency out of the box Mozaic opens up the world of creative MIDI plugins to anyone willing to put in a few hours and a hot beverage or two. Practical notes: - Mozaic requires a plugin host with support for AUv3 MIDI plugins (AUM, ApeMatrix, Cubasis, Auria, Audiobus 3, etc.) - The standalone mode of Mozaic lets you edit, test and export projects, but for MIDI connections you need to run it inside an AUv3 MIDI host - MIDI is not sound; Mozaic on its own does not make noise... so bring your own synths, drum machines and other instruments! - AUv3 MIDI requires iOS11 or higher

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
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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

Mozaic Plugin Workshop4 screens
OtherDesertCities4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mozaic Plugin Workshop at 5.0 against OtherDesertCities's 4.8. Mozaic Plugin Workshop also leads on price ($1.99 vs $4.99) and chart position (#182 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Mozaic Plugin Workshop costs $1.99 and OtherDesertCities $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mozaic Plugin Workshop holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 81 and 59 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Mozaic Plugin Workshop's written reviews are positive against 86% of OtherDesertCities's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mozaic Plugin Workshop ships an update every 3 months, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Mozaic Plugin Workshop versus OtherDesertCities: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMozaic Plugin WorkshopOtherDesertCities
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating5.0 (81 ratings) — better4.8 (59 ratings)
Positive reviews94.6% of reviews — better85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings81 — better59
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#182 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBram BosAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Mozaic Plugin Workshop

All ratings81 ratings
Positive98.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive94.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.7%

OtherDesertCities

All ratings59 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

Mozaic Plugin Workshop

No in-app purchases

None

OtherDesertCities

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mozaic Plugin Workshop free?
Mozaic Plugin Workshop costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OtherDesertCities free?
OtherDesertCities costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities?
Mozaic Plugin Workshop is rated higher. Mozaic Plugin Workshop averages 5.0 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while OtherDesertCities averages 4.8 from 59 ratings.
Do Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Neither Mozaic Plugin Workshop nor OtherDesertCities shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities?
Mozaic Plugin Workshop ships an update every 3 months, and OtherDesertCities every 2 months. Most recently, Mozaic Plugin Workshop was updated on September 19, 2026 and OtherDesertCities on September 22, 2026.

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