5ths Machine vs pocketOscilloscope
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
5ths Machine
Explore the theoretical intricacies of key signatures with an interactive quiz. Learn about the 12-position equal temperament system and discover how to identify keys with an unusual number of sharps. Understand music theory through a unique perspective.
- Key signature quiz
- Equal temperament system explanation
- Theoretical key signature exploration
- Background information on music theory
- Quiz tips and strategies
- Chronology of music theory concepts
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Think you know your key signatures cold? Answer this: which key has 41 sharps? The equal temperament system is a circle with 12 positions, just like a clock. And, just like on a clock, the hands keep going around and around forever. The key signature of 41 sharps is theoretically consistent with the Western diatonic system ― learn why, and learn how to find out what key it is. The Background Information and the Quiz Tips explain the system in detail, and Chronology puts it all in perspective. Enjoy the “Perpetual 5ths Machine Boogie” while key signatures you’ve never seen before pass by on parade. Then, buckle down and solve the Quiz questions. NOW you understand music theory the 5ths Machine way!
pocketOscilloscope
Visualize audio waveforms on your Mac, PC, or iOS device. This tool offers detailed controls for RMS/Peak metering, voltage, gain, and visual elements like line thickness and rotation. Customize channel colors for a personalized audio analysis experience.
- Stereo capable oscilloscope
- RMS/Peak meter
- Controllable Vertical/Horizontal Offset
- Voltage and Gain controls
- Line Thickness and Rotation
- Custom color selection
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pocketOscilloscope is a Mac/PC and iOS compatible stereo capable oscilloscope tool for audio nerds. Complete with RMS/Peak meter and controllable Vertical and Horizontal Offset. As well as separate Voltage and Gain controls, coupled with visual controls like Line Thickness and Rotation for a complete experience. Custom color selection for audio channels 1 & 2. This tool is great for checking your custom built oscillators, plug-ins, or just visualizing your audio. VST3, AU, AUv3, & Stand-alone compatible. *Stand alone app works with external audio hardware devices.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 5ths Machine at 5.0 against pocketOscilloscope's 3.6. pocketOscilloscope's advantage is chart position (#195 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 12 months vs every 24 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
5ths Machine costs $1.99 and pocketOscilloscope $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
5ths Machine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pocketOscilloscope has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
5ths Machine ships an update every 24 months, pocketOscilloscope every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 5ths Machine | pocketOscilloscope |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.6 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Every 12 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #195 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lucy Hudson | OSC Audio |
Customer experience
5ths Machine
pocketOscilloscope
In-app purchases
5ths Machine
No in-app purchases
pocketOscilloscope
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 5ths Machine free?
Is pocketOscilloscope free?
Which has better reviews, 5ths Machine or pocketOscilloscope?
Do 5ths Machine or pocketOscilloscope have ads?
Which is updated more often, 5ths Machine or pocketOscilloscope?
Other comparisons
