Comparison

SoundGrid vs Relic Waves

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

Head to head
About

SoundGrid

Create melodies and unique compositions with a powerful matrix sequencer. Easily share your music, browse creations from others, and record your performances. Offers advanced features for experienced users and is simple enough for beginners.

Highlights
  • Matrix sequencer with up to eight 16x16 layers
  • Song Mode for automatic pattern playback
  • Live Play Mode for performances
  • Draw mode for multi-touch sound manipulation
  • Over 20 high-quality stereo sample instruments
  • Real-time sound effects
  • Share, browse, download, and rate user creations
Features
Read full description

SoundGrid is powerful yet easy to use matrix sequencer for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, allowing to create melodies in a moment and wherever you are. It was inspired by famous Tenori-on by Yamaha and popular ToneMatrix web app (http://bit.ly/tonema). Even if you have never composed music, you will find SoundGrid simple and exciting to play with and will start creating unique compositions in minutes with just the tips of your fingers. Then easily share them with other users and in turn browse, download and rate their creations. You can also record tracks and live performances to audio file, upload it directly to SoundCloud or export to a computer. For more experienced users SoundGrid offers advanced features and has everything you need to create longer and rich compositions and live performances. Listen to tracks created in SoundGrid - http://soundcloud.com/groups/soundgrid and on http://www.mifki.com/soundgrid/#sg . Follow @mifki on Twitter for news and updates. = FEATURES = ** Up to eight 16x16 matrix layers with up to 8 patterns per layer with different melodies - Song Mode to automatically play one pattern after another - Live Play Mode made specially for live performances - Draw mode to play sounds as you multi-touch or draw over the screen ** Various instruments - More than 20 instruments available with high-quality stereo samples - Download and install additional instruments right from the app for FREE (no additional in-app purchases) - Web Console to create instruments with your own samples ** High quality fast audio engine - Real-time sound effects: Amp Envelope, Delay and Lowpass/Highpass/Bandpass/Notch resonant filter - True 128 note polyphony with all effects turned on (on iPhone 4, older devices have lower limits) ** Share your compositions with other users, browse, download and rate their creations ** Adjustable project tempo, adjustable looping range for each pattern, pattern randomization, switchable musical scales, patterns copy/paste ** Easily load projects with graphical previews = REVIEWS = 5/5, "the creme de la creme of matrix sequencer apps" - SlapApp.com 4.2, "Whether you are an advanced musician or just someone who enjoys easily creating your own unique tunes, you should definitely pick this one up." - AppVee.com

About

Relic Waves

Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.

Highlights
  • Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds
  • Random sound generation with search
  • Multiple keyboard input options
  • Real-time audio recording to WAV
  • Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard
  • MIDI control and processing
  • iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
Features
Read full description

Relic Waves is a generator of Lo-Fi noises, pads and effects based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.

Screenshots

SoundGrid4 screens
Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SoundGrid at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. SoundGrid also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). Relic Waves's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

SoundGrid is free to download; Relic Waves costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of SoundGrid's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SoundGrid ships an update every 3 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SoundGrid versus Relic Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoundGridRelic Waves
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating3.9 (30 ratings)5.0 (43 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3043 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMIFKI PTY LTDAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

SoundGrid

All ratings30 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral13.3%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews106 reviews
Positive68.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative20.8%

Relic Waves

All ratings42 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SoundGrid

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SoundGrid free?
SoundGrid is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SoundGrid or Relic Waves?
Relic Waves is rated higher. SoundGrid averages 3.9 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 43 ratings.
Do SoundGrid or Relic Waves have ads?
Neither SoundGrid nor Relic Waves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoundGrid or Relic Waves?
SoundGrid ships an update every 3 months, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, SoundGrid was updated on October 24, 2026 and Relic Waves on October 24, 2026.

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