Mozaic Plugin Workshop vs OtherDesertCities
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mozaic Plugin Workshop at $1.99 against OtherDesertCities's $6.99. Mozaic Plugin Workshop also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 86%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Mozaic Plugin Workshop costs $1.99 and OtherDesertCities $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Mozaic Plugin Workshop ships an update every 3 months, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mozaic Plugin Workshop | OtherDesertCities |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (81 ratings) — better | 4.8 (59 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 94.6% of reviews — better | 86.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 81 — better | 59 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bram Bos | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
OtherDesertCities
In-app purchases
Mozaic Plugin Workshop
No in-app purchases
OtherDesertCities
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Mozaic Plugin Workshop free?
Is OtherDesertCities free?
Which has better reviews, Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities?
Do Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Which is updated more often, Mozaic Plugin Workshop or OtherDesertCities?
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