Comparison

Air vs TC

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

Head to head
About

Air

This app creates a unique, ever-changing audio-visual experience using vocal and piano samples. Users can influence the composition through different modes and even spread the sound across multiple devices.

Highlights
  • Generative audio-visual composition
  • Vocal and piano sample assembly
  • Four 'Conduct' modes for user control
  • Three 'Listen' modes for arrangement choice
  • Multi-device sound spreading option
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Air is a generative audio-visual work created by musician / software designer Peter Chilvers and Irish vocalist Sandra O’Neill.  Based on concepts developed by Brian Eno, with whom Chilvers created Bloom, Air assembles vocal and piano samples into a beautiful, still and ever changing composition, which is always familiar, but never the same. Air features four ‘Conduct’ modes, which let the user control the composition by tapping different areas on the display, and three ‘Listen’ modes, which provide a choice of arrangement.  For those fortunate enough to have access to multiple iPhones and speakers, an option has been provided to spread the composition over several players. Recommended for headphones and external speakers. "Air is like 'Music for Airports' made endless - which is how I always wanted it to be" - Brian Eno

About

TC

This app is a fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for iPad. Create unique sounds using touch gestures, device motion, and a variety of on-board modules. Explore a vast sonic landscape with extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • 185 built-in presets
  • Unlimited user patches
  • Multi-touch and device motion control
  • 23 modular synthesis objects
  • Built-in recording and AudioCopy
  • Audiobus support
Read full description

TC-11 is the only fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for the iPad. Choose from the 160 included presets, or build your own using touch controls, device motion, and on-board modules. Create music with the next evolution of synthesizer control! iDesignSound App of the Week 12.17.2011 - idesignsound.com "This thing is ALIVE! TC-11 is really fascinating and I'm having some fun experimenting with it. It is very, very cool!" - Jordan Rudess, keyboardist, Dream Theater "TC-11 is making my jaw drop every few minutes; realizing new and increasingly complex routing options. Rating: Essential." - Tim Webb, discchord.com "Creating, routing, configuring, and general tweaking is unbelievably robust and complex. This is a big leap forward in design. A madhouse of sonic possibilities at your touch." - David Israel, smitematter.com FEATURES: √ 185 built-in presets √ Unlimited user patches √ Audiobus + State Saving √ Fully controlled by multi-touch / device motion √ Built-in recording + AudioCopy √ 23 modular synthesis objects √ 22 oscillator waveforms √ 4 controller modules: AHDSR, LFO, Table, Sequencer √ Email custom patches to your friends √ Full display customization MULTI-TOUCH CONTROL: There are no on-screen knobs, keys, or sliders to fiddle with; all synthesis is driven by your multi-touch performance. Touch relationships like distances / angles / timings perform all the controller functions. It's just you and the full screen multi-touch performance area. EVERY synthesis parameter can be controlled by ANY multi-touch controller. The patch possibilities are limitless! DEVICE MOTION CONTROL: Use the iPad's accelerometer, gyroscope, and even the compass to attack your synthesis patch! Tilt and move the iPad to change any filter, effect, or module. You can create real vibrato by moving the iPad during performance, or change the speed of a sequencer by tilting forward and backward! SYNTHESIS: TC-11 has 8 voice polyphony for full, real-time synthesis. The audio engine has been highly optimized to deliver crisp, responsive performance. Choose from 22 oscillator waveforms, 3 oscillator types, 3 filter types, 4 unique effects, amplitude modulation, and panning control. Fully programmable AHDSR, LFO, and sequencer modules make TC-11 the most capable iOS synthesizer in the world. Use TC-11 in your band during live performances. Add TC-11 into your laptop orchestra. Experiment and create with the next evolution of synthesizer control! Download the complete user guide to read more: http://www.bitshapesoftware.com/instruments/tc-11/tc-11-user-guide-2.0.pdf

Screenshots

Air4 screens
TC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Air at $1.99 against TC's $24.99. Air also leads on chart position (#101 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). TC's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 55%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 12 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Air costs $1.99 and TC $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TC holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TC has 68 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Air's written reviews are positive against 88% of TC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Air ships an update every 12 months, TC every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Air versus TC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirTC
Price$1.99 — better$24.99
Rating4.5 (10 ratings)4.8 (68 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews87.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1068 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#101 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOpal LimitedBit Shape

Customer experience

Air

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews141 reviews
Positive55.3%
Neutral14.9%
Negative29.8%

TC

All ratings68 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews172 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative9.9%

Bugs and requests

Air

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

TC

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes upon opening after recent updates
  • Black screen crashes when launching
  • Crashes when adding patches to folders
  • Crashes within Audiobus after 13.1 update
  • AudioCopy button crashes on iPad 3
Show 4 more
  • Unable to download latest version
  • Glitches and crashes with complex patches
  • Audiobus integration issues causing crashes
  • Performance issues on older iPad models

Requested features

12 requests
  • MIDI support and DAW synchronization
  • Ability to record and playback motion gestures
  • Sample import and granular synthesis capabilities
  • Microtonal tuning support (Scala files)
  • Note hold function per surface
Show 7 more
  • Mixer for oscillator volume balancing
  • Scale constraint for melodic playing
  • Garage Band export support
  • Real-time preview during patch editing
  • Polyphonic aftertouch support
  • Multiple FM oscillators
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity

In-app purchases

None

Air

No in-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Air free?
Air costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Air or TC?
TC is rated higher. Air averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while TC averages 4.8 from 68 ratings.
Do Air or TC have ads?
Neither Air nor TC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Air or TC?
Air ships an update every 12 months, and TC every 5 weeks. Most recently, Air was updated on October 23, 2026 and TC on October 21, 2026.

Other comparisons