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, 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 review sentiment: OtherDesertCities at 86% against MangledVerb's 0%. OtherDesertCities also leads on price ($6.99 vs $14.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months). MangledVerb's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). 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 $6.99 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. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | MangledVerb | OtherDesertCities |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $6.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (18 ratings) | 4.8 (59 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 86.2% 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 — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 16.0 |
| 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






