Comparison

Ocarina vs GeoShred Control

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

Head to head
About

Ocarina

Transform your device into a virtual flute and create music with intuitive touch and breath controls. Explore a global community of players, share your performances, and access a vast library of popular song scores.

Highlights
  • Virtual ocarina instrument
  • Breath and touch controls
  • Global player community
  • Performance sharing
  • Online songbook
  • Customizable keys and modes
Read full description

One of Apple's All-Time Top 20 Apps, Smule’s Ocarina turns your iPhone into an ancient flute. With no musical training required, you'll blow away your friends and family with your new talent. "If everyone had the Ocarina app there would be no more wars" - David Pogue "One of the most original entertainment programs to emerge from the App Store" - Wall Street Journal "Ocarina is one of the most magical programs I've ever seen" - NY Times ___________________________ Sensitive to your breath, touch and movements, Ocarina is more versatile than an actual flute: • Blow air into your mic to create music • Touch combinations of holes to play notes • Tilt to change vibrato rate and depth • Advanced users can change keys and modes, including C-Major and Zeldarian mode With Ocarina, you can also hear people learning to play around the world: • Listen in on Ocarina players all over the world just by tapping the globe icon • Rate your favorite performances • Name your Ocarina so others can listen to you play • Share your favorite performances with family and friends via e-mail • Record and archive your favorite performances on your own “My Ocarina” web page ___________________________ Ocarina fans from all over the world have posted hundreds of free easy–to-read scores for popular songs. Just go to http://ocarina.smule.com and click on 'Songbook'. Top Songs: Theme from Zelda Amazing Grace Theme from Harry Potter My Heart Will Go On Mario Brothers Theme Zelda's Lullaby Poker Face ___________________________ Watch some great (and not so great) Ocarina performances on YouTube: www.youtube.com/smuleage Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/smule Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/smule Try other Smule apps: iPad: Magic Fiddle, Magic Piano & Glee Karaoke iPhone/iPod: I Am T-Pain, Glee Karaoke, Leaf Trombone, Sonic Lighter & Zephyr

About

GeoShred Control

This app functions as a MIDI/MPE controller for music creation, offering an expressive playing surface and intelligent pitch rounding. It can control other synthesizers and software, with optional upgrades for advanced instrument modeling.

Highlights
  • Expressive playing surface
  • Intelligent pitch rounding
  • Diatonic keyboard
  • MIDI and MPE support
  • Arpeggiator
  • Support for world scales and temperaments
  • Customizable control surface
Features
Read full description

GeoShred Control Version 7 GeoShred Control is a standalone MIDI/MPE controller based on GeoShred. Important: GeoShred Control is a MIDI/MPE controller. It does not make sound and does not include a built-in audio engine. It is designed to control external synthesizers, apps, plug-ins, and hardware instruments. It can also be upgraded*** to the functionality of GeoShred Pro. If you already own GeoShred Pro (green icon), you do not need GeoShred Control, because GeoShred Pro already includes MIDI. GeoShred Control can also be used to control GeoShred Studio for macOS. Perform external MIDI and MPE instruments with GeoShred’s expressive playing surface. Move seamlessly between fretless and diatonic playing using GeoShred’s isomorphic keyboard and groundbreaking intelligent pitch rounding. GeoShred Control is especially expressive with instruments that support MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression). It is a powerful iPad and iPhone performance controller, and it can also operate as an AUv3 plug-in that sends MIDI. GeoShred Control includes an arpeggiator, backing tracks, alternative tunings, world scales and temperaments, and 3D Touch on supported devices. It can be upgraded*** to the functionality of GeoShred Pro, including GeoShred’s powerful physically modeled string instruments. Awards include: • 2nd Place Winner, 2022/2025 MIDI Innovation Award for Software • Gold Medal Winner, 2019 Denny Award • Winner, 2019 Guthman New Musical Instrument Award • Winner, 2017 Electronic Musician Editor’s Choice Award GeoShred Control Features • Send/Connect so GeoShred for iOS/iPadOS can control GeoShred Studio for macOS • Fluidly expressive playing surface • Intelligent pitch rounding • Diatonic keyboard mode where every key is in the scale • MIDI and MPE support • MIDI over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Virtual MIDI, and digital interfaces • MIDI configuration presets • iCloud preset synchronization • 3D Touch on supported iPhones • Customizable control surface mapped to MIDI controls • Backing tracks from the Music library • Built-in arpeggiator • Alternative tunings • Support for world scales and temperaments, including Indian ragas, Arabic scales, and Balinese scales • Easy preset sharing • Upgrade path to the functionality of GeoShred Pro If upgraded*, GeoSWAM and Naada instruments may be purchased and performed from the GeoShred keyboard, MPE controllers, conventional MIDI controllers, and wind controllers. We are dedicated to delivering the highest level of musical instrument experience for our customers worldwide. If you enjoy GeoShred Control, please leave a review on the App Store. Questions? Contact us at support@moforte.com Minimum Requirements iOS 13 or later is required for AUv3 support and GeoSWAM and Naada instruments. * GeoShred Control must be upgraded to the functionality of GeoShred Pro in order to purchase GeoSWAM and Naada instruments. ** Due to App Store limitations, previously purchased individual instrument IAPs cannot be applied to the purchase of a collection IAP. *** The Pro upgrade is to the functionality of GeoShred Pro. The app remains GeoShred Control, but gains all Pro features and becomes functionally identical to GeoShred Pro.

Screenshots

Ocarina3 screens
GeoShred Control3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GeoShred Control at 4.4 against Ocarina's 3.6. GeoShred Control also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Ocarina's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 26) and review sentiment (78% vs 55%). On price, ratings volume, ads 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

Both are free to download. GeoShred Control sells 26 one-off in-app purchases. Ocarina asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GeoShred Control holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 138 and 123 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of Ocarina's written reviews are positive against 55% of GeoShred Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ocarina ships an update every 2 months, GeoShred Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Ocarina versus GeoShred Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOcarinaGeoShred Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (138 ratings)4.4 (123 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.4% of reviews — better54.5% of reviews
Number of ratings138 — better123
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB863 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmuleWizdom Music LLC

Customer experience

Ocarina

All ratings138 ratings
Positive64.5%
Neutral6.5%
Negative29.0%
Written reviews1,211 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral6.7%
Negative14.9%

GeoShred Control

All ratings123 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral7.6%
Negative37.9%

User reviews

Ocarina

From 138 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great for Zelda fans
  • 👍 Easy to use and learn
  • 👍 Impressive global community
  • 👍 Versatile and customizable
  • 👍 Excellent value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Microphone/touch sensitivity issues
  • 🔋 Potential damage to device microphone
  • 🔋 Low volume on newer devices
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🔍 Lack of advanced features

GeoShred Control

From 123 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Highly expressive and musical instrument
  • 👍 Easy to start, quick successes
  • 🚀 Runs well as AUv3
  • ✨ Amazing and innovative
  • 🎶 Excellent sounds

Room to improve

  • ❌ No sound in free version
  • ❌ Not working for some users
  • 🐛 App crashes DAW
  • 🐛 Confusing interface
  • 🐛 Lots of bugs

Bugs and requests

Ocarina

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Microphone not working properly
  • Buttons not registering properly
  • Frequent crashes on newer devices
  • Compatibility issues with iPhone 4/4S
  • Random notes playing unexpectedly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more instrument sounds
  • Implement recording and sharing features
  • Provide in-app song sheets and tutorials
  • Add more holes/notes for better playability
  • Improve global community features

GeoShred Control

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • No sound in free version
  • App crashes DAW
  • MIDI port selector not working
  • CC1 sends CC4 instead
  • UI animation framerates are low
Show 5 more
  • Bluetooth MIDI not sending to Mac
  • Latest update removed sound libraries
  • Purchase pending issues
  • No controller in installed app
  • Cannot restore purchased sound libraries

Requested features

5 requests
  • Chords with Harmonica
  • More freedom in the free version
  • More detailed instructions for Control
  • More presets for other synths
  • Discount offers for add-on instruments

In-app purchases

None

Ocarina

No in-app purchases

26 purchases

GeoShred Control

One-time26
  • Naada Dukduk$10.00
  • GeoBassFlute$14.99
  • Naada Sitar$14.99
Show 23 more
  • GeoCello$14.99
  • GeoFlute$14.99
  • GeoTenorSax$14.99
  • GeoViolin$14.99
  • GeoPizzBass$14.99
  • Naada Oud$14.99
  • Naada Carnatic Violin$14.99
  • Naada Bansuri$14.99
  • GeoOboe$14.99
  • GeoViola$14.99
  • Naada Viola$14.99
  • GeoClarinet$14.99
  • GeoBassTrombone$14.99
  • GeoTrumpet$14.99
  • Naada Sarangi$14.99
  • GeoShred Control Upgrade$24.99
  • Artiphon promotion$31.99
  • Naada Collection III$50.00
  • Naada instruments collection 1$56.00
  • GeoSWAM Collection I$74.99
  • GeoSWAM Collection I & II$119.99
  • Naada Collection I & II$119.99
  • Naada Collection I & II & III & IV$173.99

Questions

Is Ocarina free?
Ocarina is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GeoShred Control free?
GeoShred Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ocarina or GeoShred Control?
GeoShred Control is rated higher. Ocarina averages 3.6 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while GeoShred Control averages 4.4 from 123 ratings.
Do Ocarina or GeoShred Control have ads?
Neither Ocarina nor GeoShred Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ocarina or GeoShred Control?
Ocarina ships an update every 2 months, and GeoShred Control fortnightly. Most recently, Ocarina was updated on October 16, 2026 and GeoShred Control on October 21, 2026.

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