Comparison

OtherDesertCities vs Phonolyth Cascade

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

Head to head
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.

About

Phonolyth Cascade

This app offers a versatile reverb and diffusion processor with an experimental edge. It allows for the creation of expansive modulated spaces, stereo widening, and hybrid delay/reverb effects. Explore unique sonic territories with a wide range of controls and randomized modulation.

Highlights
  • Expansive modulated supernatural spaces
  • Stereo widening and transient smearing
  • Hybrid delay/reverb effects
  • Chorus, flanger, and resonator-like effects
  • Randomized modulation
  • Infinity and Freeze buttons
  • Mix Lock for preset switching
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Cascade is a versatile reverb and diffusion processor with an experimental edge. Designed first and foremost with expansive modulated supernatural spaces in mind, it features an extensive set of controls to explore other sonic territories such as stereo widening, transient smearing, hybrid delay/reverb and chorus/flanger/resonator-like effects. Features: - Wide range of diffusion textures spanning from subtle smearing and widening to otherworldly reverberation - Lush randomized modulation - Infinity and Freeze buttons for never-ending reverb bliss - Mix Lock for switching presets while keeping the dry/wet mix constant - Freely resizable UI with light and dark color schemes - Cross-platform preset format for sharing across plugin formats and OSes - 30 factory presets to get you started - Includes an AudioUnit v3 plugin for use in host apps such as GarageBand and AUM, and a standalone app

Screenshots

OtherDesertCities4 screens
Phonolyth Cascade2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: OtherDesertCities at every 2 months against Phonolyth Cascade's every 7 months. OtherDesertCities also leads on price ($4.99 vs $7.99). Phonolyth Cascade's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 86%) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

OtherDesertCities costs $4.99 and Phonolyth Cascade $7.99 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 OtherDesertCities against 4.9 for Phonolyth Cascade. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 30 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of OtherDesertCities's written reviews are positive against 100% of Phonolyth Cascade's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OtherDesertCities ships an update every 2 months, Phonolyth Cascade every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
OtherDesertCities versus Phonolyth Cascade: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOtherDesertCitiesPhonolyth Cascade
Price$4.99 — better$7.99
Rating4.8 (59 ratings)4.9 (30 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings59 — better30
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#187 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudio Damage, Inc.Yuri Turov

Customer experience

OtherDesertCities

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

Phonolyth Cascade

All ratings30 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OtherDesertCities

No in-app purchases

None

Phonolyth Cascade

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OtherDesertCities free?
OtherDesertCities costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phonolyth Cascade free?
Phonolyth Cascade costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OtherDesertCities or Phonolyth Cascade?
Phonolyth Cascade is rated higher. OtherDesertCities averages 4.8 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while Phonolyth Cascade averages 4.9 from 30 ratings.
Do OtherDesertCities or Phonolyth Cascade have ads?
Neither OtherDesertCities nor Phonolyth Cascade shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OtherDesertCities or Phonolyth Cascade?
OtherDesertCities ships an update every 2 months, and Phonolyth Cascade every 7 months. Most recently, OtherDesertCities was updated on September 22, 2026 and Phonolyth Cascade on September 23, 2026.

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