MangledVerb vs OtherDesertCities
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MangledVerb
This audio effect app blends rich reverb with intense distortion to create a wide range of sounds, from ambient textures to chaotic mangled audio. It offers extensive controls for shaping instruments and vocals, with features optimized for live performance.
- Rich reverb and devastating distortion
- Create ambient soundscapes or mangled chaos
- Smooth clipping to hard-ripping overdrive
- Wobble control for spooky effects
- The Ribbon for live parameter manipulation
- Hotswitch for instant parameter changes
- Flexible I/O options (Mono/Stereo)
- MIDI control and Tap Tempo for live use
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MangledVerb is a unique effect combining a rich reverb with devastating distortion. It’s capable of creating everything from granular ambience and moody auras to sound-sculpting mangled chaos. Transform your instruments and vocals with this classic Eventide effect. Features: - Create out-of-this world-soundscapes by turning up Size and Overdrive. - Smoothly morph from soft-clipping to hard-ripping overdrive. - Use the Wobble control to create spookiness. - Use The Ribbon control to easily manipulate multiple parameters in a live situation. - Program the Hotswitch to instantly change multiple parameters at once. - Flexible I/O: Mono-In/Mono-Out, Mono-In/Stereo-Out or Stereo-In/Stereo-Out. - Optimized for live use with MIDI control of The Ribbon and Tap Tempo for quick meta-control on the fly. - Use Mixlock to scroll through presets while keeping the wet-dry mix constant. - Available as an Audio Units AUv3 plug-in and Standalone App.
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 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: OtherDesertCities at 86% against MangledVerb's 0%. OtherDesertCities also leads on price ($4.99 vs $14.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
MangledVerb costs $14.99 and OtherDesertCities $4.99 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 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 59 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of MangledVerb's written reviews are positive against 86% of OtherDesertCities's.
MangledVerb ships an update every 14 months, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MangledVerb | OtherDesertCities |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (18 ratings) | 4.8 (59 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 18 | 59 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eventide | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
MangledVerb
OtherDesertCities
In-app purchases
MangledVerb
No in-app purchases
OtherDesertCities
No in-app purchases






