Comparison

Koala FX vs OtherDesertCities

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

Head to head
About

Koala FX

This creative effects unit offers 16 intuitive, one-touch effects to easily transform your audio. Morph and twist tracks, sculpt synth sounds, or add lofi warmth. Save and crossfade between scenes for dynamic musical arrangements.

Highlights
  • 16 one-touch creative effects
  • Intuitive instrument-like playability
  • Save and crossfade between 8 scenes
  • Rearrangeable effect order
  • Automatable parameters
  • Resizable UI
Features
Read full description

*** IMPORTANT! Koala FX is an Audio Unit Effect plugin (AUv3) which requires a compatible host or DAW to work such as Garageband, Beat Maker 3, AUM etc *** *** Koala FX is the ultimate creative effects unit. It offers 16 one-touch effects that you can play intuitively like an instrument, allowing you to effortlessly morph and twist your track into something beautiful. It includes all your favourite mix effects from Koala Sampler, but refined and souped up to allow super smooth cuts and crossfades. Apply effects to your whole mix just to add some lofi warmth or to liven things up… or use it to sculpt synth sounds to blend in with the rest. * Save up to 8 scenes per preset, so you can cut between them in time with the music * Smoothly crossfade between scenes with a giant 8-way X-Y pad. * Rearrange the order of the effects by dragging them. * A togglable hold mode allows you to keep some effects engaged, and others off when you let go of them. * Fully automatable via your host (effects, volume, scene, XY pad) * UI is fully resizable, works great in any aspect ratio CRUSH Bitcrusher with transistor distortion PITCH Frequency domain pitch shifter COMB Super short smooth interpolating delay with gallons of feedback RING Modeled diode ring modulator REVERB Efficient schroeder topology reverb STUTTER Loops a fragment of sound coming into koala fx and loops it in time with the music GATE Noise gate with hysteresis FILTER Combined low and high pass analog modeled filter CUTTER Chops the signal to the beat REVERSE Delay effect that reverses parts of your sound in time to the music DUB Vari-speed analog style tape delay TEMPO DELAY Tempo synced delay TALKBOX Formant filter based on human vocal tract VIBROFLANGE Half-vibrato, half-flanger DIRTY Analog modeled valve distortion COMPRESSOR Hard knee opto-style compressor with a bit of If you’re having any issues with Koala FX please get in touch at https://www.elf-audio.com/contact.php

About

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.

Highlights
  • Six unique delay algorithms
  • Extensive modulation capabilities
  • Tempo-synced LFOs
  • Envelope follower
  • Diffusor for feedback smearing
  • Advanced I/O control
  • Granular pitch-shifting
Features
Read full description

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

Koala FX4 screens
OtherDesertCities4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: OtherDesertCities at every 2 months against Koala FX's every 34 months. OtherDesertCities also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 66%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Koala FX's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Koala FX costs $3.99 and OtherDesertCities $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OtherDesertCities holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 59 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Koala FX's written reviews are positive against 86% of OtherDesertCities's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Koala FX ships an update every 34 months, OtherDesertCities every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Koala FX versus OtherDesertCities: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKoala FXOtherDesertCities
Price$3.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.6 (76 ratings)4.8 (59 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.8% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings76 — better59
Update frequencyEvery 34 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMazbox LimitedAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

Koala FX

All ratings76 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral6.6%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive65.8%
Neutral13.2%
Negative21.1%

OtherDesertCities

All ratings59 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

Koala FX

No in-app purchases

None

OtherDesertCities

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Koala FX free?
Koala FX costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OtherDesertCities free?
OtherDesertCities costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Koala FX or OtherDesertCities?
OtherDesertCities is rated higher. Koala FX averages 4.6 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while OtherDesertCities averages 4.8 from 59 ratings.
Do Koala FX or OtherDesertCities have ads?
Neither Koala FX nor OtherDesertCities shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Koala FX or OtherDesertCities?
Koala FX ships an update every 34 months, and OtherDesertCities every 2 months. Most recently, Koala FX was updated on September 25, 2026 and OtherDesertCities on September 22, 2026.

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