TOPLAPapp vs Relic Waves
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TOPLAPapp
This app offers a unique sonic puzzle experience using a virtual machine for sound synthesis. Users control the machine by placing command letters and adjusting parameter sliders to generate experimental, often noisy, electronic music.
- Virtual machine for sound synthesis
- Instruction-based sound generation
- Parameter sliders for sound control
- Grid-based command placement
- Experimental sonic art focus
- Live coding principles
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TOPLAPapp is a sonic puzzle based around a virtual machine for sound synthesis. This machine accepts a few valid instructions represented by the letters T, O, P, L, A, and p, and you control it by placing each command letter within a grid, along with setting some associated parameter sliders. The machine rushes through the instruction set to create output sounds, which are usually of a somewhat noisy character, hopefully interestingly so. The historical antecedents include instruction synthesis as pioneered at the Institute of Sonology in the 1970s, and the live coding movement, of modifying a running program as it acts. This app is intended for those interested in more experimental sonic art: don't download unless you are open to stranger computer music sounds ((http://www.toplap.org).
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.
- 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)
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TOPLAPapp at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. TOPLAPapp also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.0). Relic Waves's advantage is update cadence (every 11 months vs every 49 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On review sentiment, 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
TOPLAPapp is free to download; Relic Waves costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Waves has 42 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of TOPLAPapp's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.
TOPLAPapp ships an update every 49 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TOPLAPapp | Relic Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (42 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 42 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 49 months | Every 11 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joshua Parmenter | Alexander Zolotov |
Customer experience
TOPLAPapp
Relic Waves
In-app purchases
TOPLAPapp
No in-app purchases
Relic Waves
No in-app purchases









