Comparison

Virtual ANS 3 vs ExoSphere

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

Head to head
About

Virtual ANS 3

This app simulates a unique photoelectronic musical instrument, allowing users to draw music as spectrograms. It functions as a graphics editor to convert sound to images and vice versa, enabling the creation of atmospheric sounds and microtonal music.

Highlights
  • Unlimited pure tone generators
  • Sonogram editor for drawing and playing spectra
  • Convert sound to image and vice versa
  • MIDI device support
  • Polyphonic synth mode with MIDI mapping
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) and Audiobus support
Features
Read full description

Virtual ANS is a software simulator of the unique Russian synthesizer ANS - photoelectronic musical instrument created by Evgeny Murzin from 1938 to 1958. The ANS made it possible to draw music in the form of a spectrogram (sonogram), without live instruments and performers. It was used by Stanislav Kreichi, Alfred Schnittke, Edward Artemiev and other Soviet composers in their experimental works. You can also hear the sound of the ANS in Andrei Tarkovsky's movies Solaris, The Mirror, Stalker. The simulator extends the capabilities of the original instrument. Now it's a full-featured graphics editor where you can convert sound into an image, load and play pictures, draw microtonal/spectral music and create some unusual deep atmospheric sounds. This app is for everyone who loves experiments and is looking for something new. Key features: * unlimited number of pure tone generators; * powerful sonogram editor - you can draw the spectrum and play it at the same time; * any sound (from a WAV file or a Microphone/Line-in) can be converted to image (sonogram) and vice versa; * support for MIDI devices; * polyphonic synth mode with MIDI mapping; * supported file formats: WAV (only uncompressed PCM), PNG, JPEG, GIF; * Audio Unit Extension (AUv3), Audiobus; * many new features compared to version 2.3; see the full list: https://warmplace.ru/soft/ans/changelog.txt Homepage, user manual and versions for other systems: https://warmplace.ru/soft/ans

About

ExoSphere

Create immersive ambient and meditative soundscapes with five independent sound layers. Load your own samples or use the built-in library to craft unique, evolving atmospheres for relaxation or music production.

Highlights
  • Five independent sound layers
  • Customizable sample loading
  • Built-in sample library
  • Preset management
  • Advanced randomizer
  • Standalone and AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

ExoSphere is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments. Designed with slow rhythmic structures in mind, it is especially suited for meditative music and calm soundscapes. At the heart of ExoSphere are five complementary sound elements, each contributing a distinct dimension to the evolving sonic environment: Core - Deep, evolving drones that anchor the listener with resonant low frequencies, creating a grounding presence in the body. Flow - A layer reminiscent of an instrument, voice, or choir that forms the harmonic foundation of the composition. Gentle shifts its color and pitch, creating a subtle drifting detune that feels fluid and alive. Grain - Layers of stretched environmental fragments - whispers of wind, water, and space - that envelop the listener in a textured, atmospheric sense of place. Shard – Fleeting melodic fragments that surface and dissolve unpredictably, like echoes of imagined songs, sparking shifting associations and evoking transient images. Glow - High, sparkling tones that flicker like light on water, bringing brightness, clarity, and a gentle radiance to the soundscape. Together, these layers interweave into a living, breathing composition that never feels static. The result is a continuously shifting atmosphere - equally suitable as a meditative backdrop, a creative foundation for ambient production, or a complete standalone piece. Each layer in ExoSphere is sample-based, giving the user complete freedom to define the sonic palette. You can load your own samples into any of the five layers, tailoring the sound to your personal style and creating highly individual, versatile compositions. For a quick start, ExoSphere also includes a built‑in library of curated samples, offering ready‑to‑use material that can instantly generate immersive atmospheres. ExoSphere offers an easy start with a minimal interface: choose a factory preset and quickly refresh it by replacing samples, adjusting presence and tone. You can create new variations with the advanced randomizer, while detailed panels provide full control for those who want deeper customization. ExoSphere is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). ExoSphere works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, ExoSphere can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. ExoSphere has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. Quick start demo: https://youtu.be/1e2Ds24vXQQ You can find more information on ExoSphere and other creative audio apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

Screenshots

Virtual ANS 33 screens
ExoSphere4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Virtual ANS 3 at $5.99 against ExoSphere's $14.99. Virtual ANS 3 also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). ExoSphere's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Virtual ANS 3 costs $5.99 and ExoSphere $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Virtual ANS 3 against 4.7 for ExoSphere. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 57 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Virtual ANS 3's written reviews are positive against 93% of ExoSphere's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Virtual ANS 3 ships an update every 3 months, ExoSphere every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Virtual ANS 3 versus ExoSphere: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVirtual ANS 3ExoSphere
Price$5.99 — better$14.99
Rating4.8 (57 ratings) — better4.7 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews92.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57 — better22
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB257 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander ZolotovIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

Virtual ANS 3

All ratings57 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral5.3%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%

ExoSphere

All ratings22 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%

In-app purchases

None

Virtual ANS 3

No in-app purchases

None

ExoSphere

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Virtual ANS 3 free?
Virtual ANS 3 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ExoSphere free?
ExoSphere costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Virtual ANS 3 or ExoSphere?
Virtual ANS 3 is rated higher. Virtual ANS 3 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while ExoSphere averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.
Do Virtual ANS 3 or ExoSphere have ads?
Neither Virtual ANS 3 nor ExoSphere shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Virtual ANS 3 or ExoSphere?
Virtual ANS 3 ships an update every 3 months, and ExoSphere every 2 weeks. Most recently, Virtual ANS 3 was updated on September 28, 2026 and ExoSphere on September 26, 2026.

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