ShimmerVerb vs FirstChair
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ShimmerVerb
This app creates massive, lustrous reverbs with parallel pitch shifters for ethereal, shimmering soundscapes. It offers advanced feedback control and performance-oriented features like a "Ribbon" macro and "HotSwitch" for dynamic sound shaping.
- Massive lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters
- Infinitely feedbackable signal for cascading reverbs
- Adjustable feedback frequencies via cross-over network
- Playable "Ribbon" performance macro
- Instant parameter switching with "HotSwitch"
- "Freeze" button for smeared textures
- AUv3 plugin and standalone app
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ShimmerVerb combines a massively lustrous reverb with parallel pitch shifters to add ethereal layers making any signal, well, "shimmer." Oftentimes, producers would achieve the effect by using Eventide pitch shifting hardware such as the H910, H949, or H3000 or other rack mount units in combination with a reverb. This production technique was popularized by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno on U2's The Unforgettable Fire. Now, this iconic sound has been refined and extended with a modern, unified interface that is great for adding dreamy ambiance to guitars, keys, synths, samples, and vocals. In typical Eventide fashion, features have been added such as the ability to infinitely feedback the signal, resulting in cascading reverbs that smear into oblivion. Feedback can be further fine-tuned by specifying which frequencies are fed back through the low/mid/high cross-over network. ShimmerVerb shines via its playable, performance-based parameters. "The Ribbon" is an easy to program performance macro allowing users to morph between two settings with one control. Desktop users can plug in a MIDI keyboard and gain tactile command over this function via the modulation wheel. Ribbon mappings are great for Feedback swells, moving the Pitch knobs, or changing the Size for a massive detuning result. ShimmerVerb also boasts a HotSwitch for calling up another state of parameters inside the same preset. Use this for changing octaves, turning off/on the pitch shifters, or simply turning the Mix up or down while crafting your performance. Finally, the Freeze button allows you to make smeared textures out of single voices, full pads, or percussive elements resulting in metallic "shimmers." Features: - Unique reverb plug-in with parallel pitch shifters on the reverb tail. - Easily pitch with perfect fourths, fifths, and octaves. - Micropitch tuning available around perfect intervals. - Four octaves of pitch shifting (from two octaves down to two octaves up). - Delay pitched signals up to one second or sync them to your DAW's tempo. - Feedback determines how much delayed signal is fed back into the input of the reverb. - Low, Mid, and High cross-over network determines which frequencies are fed back. - FREEZE holds the current state of the reverb in a smeared texture. - The RIBBON allows for real-time modification of several parameters at once. - HOTSWITCH allows for instant switching between two sets of parameters within one preset. - Available as an Audio Units AUv3 plug-in and Standalone App.
FirstChair
Easily plan and organize seating arrangements for musical ensembles. Create customizable virtual stages with flexible layouts for bands, orchestras, and choirs, and add names to your charts. Save and export your seating charts for rehearsals and performances.
- Customizable seating charts
- Virtual stages
- Flexible grid and arc layouts
- Add names to charts
- Export seating charts
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Are you a band, orchestra, or choir director looking for an easier way to plan and organize your seating arrangements? First Chair is designed specifically for you! Whether you're leading a small ensemble or a full orchestra, this app helps you create, customize, and manage seating charts for your musical groups with ease. Key Features: - Customizable Seating Charts: Easily arrange your students in any configuration that suits your ensemble’s needs. Create layouts for bands, orchestras, and choirs. - Virtual Stages: Set up multiple seating arrangements and save them for future use, making it easy to prepare for concerts, rehearsals, and classroom setups - Flexible Layouts: Support for both grid-based and arc-based seating designs to accommodate different performance settings - Chairs and Stands: Get over all numbers and per row chairs and stands - Names: Add names to your seating charts - Export: Save or print images of your seating charts
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: FirstChair at $1.99 against ShimmerVerb's $14.99. ShimmerVerb's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (78% vs 50%). 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
ShimmerVerb costs $14.99 and FirstChair $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ShimmerVerb holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShimmerVerb has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of ShimmerVerb's written reviews are positive against 50% of FirstChair's.
ShimmerVerb ships an update every 6 weeks, FirstChair monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ShimmerVerb | FirstChair |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eventide | Steven Quinn |
Customer experience
ShimmerVerb
FirstChair
In-app purchases
ShimmerVerb
No in-app purchases
FirstChair
No in-app purchases









