SunVox vs PdParty
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SunVox
This is a powerful, cross-platform modular synthesizer and pattern-based music sequencer. It offers a wide range of built-in synthesizers, effects, and sample support for creating complex musical compositions.
- Modular interface
- Pattern-based sequencer
- Microtonal sequencing
- Sample import (WAV, AIFF, XI)
- XM and MOD import
- MIDI import/export
- Built-in synthesizers and effects
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SunVox is one of the most powerful music creation tools for iOS. It is a small and fast cross-platform modular synthesizer with pattern based sequencer (tracker). [ Key features ] • Modular interface. • Powerful microtonal sequencer. • Highly optimized synth algorithms. • Support of 16/24/32bit WAV, AIFF and XI samples. • XM (FastTracker) and MOD (ProTracker, OctaMED) import. • Multitrack WAV export. • MIDI import/export. • MIDI IN/OUT. • Mic/Line recording (using the Sampler). • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3 instrument/effect), Audiobus. • Generative music features: random selection of notes, random values of controllers, probability effects. • It's possible to use SunVox engine in your own applications using the free library for developers. • It is also available for other systems (see the site). [ Brief instruction ] The main menu - button with the SunVox icon in the upper left corner of the screen. To connect one module (source) to another (destination): first touch on the source, second touch on the destination. Official SunVox homepage, user manual, video tutorials: https://warmplace.ru/soft/sunvox SunVox music: https://warmplace.ru/soft/sunvox/#music Found a bug? Have some questions? Just write me directly: nightradio@gmail.com The answer comes immediately! [ Built-in synthesizers & effects ] • Generators; • DrumSynth with 120 unique synthetic drum sounds; • FM synthesizer; • Multisample instrument; • SpectraVoice (FFT-based synthesizer for warm atmospheric sounds); • Side Chain Compressor; • Distortion; • Echo & Reverb; • Equalizer & Filters; • Flanger; • Loop (for glitch effects); • Vocal Filter (for human voice simulation); • Vorbis Player; • WaveShaper; • Pitch Detector; • Pitch Shifter; • and more ... [ Jordan Rudess about this app ] Sunvox is a serious music application. I am personally running it on my iphone. In the overcrowded world of music apps, Sunvox stands out as both unique and powerful. If you are a musician and own an iphone, you owe it to yourself to try this amazing application!
PdParty
This app allows users to run Pure Data patches on iOS devices, enabling custom digital signal processing. It supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input, offering a WYSIWYG experience for creating multimedia applications.
- Run Pure Data patches on iOS
- Supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input
- Native Pd GUI objects for WYSIWYG
- Built-in web server for patch management
- General purpose digital signal processing platform
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PdParty is an open-source iOS application for running Pure Data patches on Apple mobile devices using libpd. Directly inspired by Chris McCormick's PdDroidParty and the original RjDj by Reality Jockey, PdParty takes a step further by supporting OSC (Open Sound Control), MIDI, & MiFi game controller input as well as implementing the native Pd GUI objects for a WYSIWYG patch to mobile device experience. Various scene types are supported including compatibility modes for PdDroidParty & RjDj and both patches and abstraction libraries can be managed via a built-in web server. Unlike the rise of the single-purpose audio application, PdParty is meant to provide a platform for general purpose digital signal processing via Pure Data patches. Getting Started --------------- New users, check out the User Guide and download the PdParty Composer Pack which contains the abstractions you need when composing on your computer as well as scene type templates. See the PdParty webpage: http://danomatika.com/code/pdparty Who Is This App For? -------------------- PdParty is meant as a platform for running patches created in Pure Data, a graphical programming environment for multimedia. Related to Max MSP, Pure Data allows computer musicians and non-programmers to create custom DSP routines by connecting objects with virtual patch cables. If you don't intend to create your own PdParty scenes or run scenes provided by others, you may not find this app very useful. Please _do not_ download this app and give it a bad rating because you are unsure of what it's for or how to use it. How Can I Support PdParty? -------------------------- In the spirit of the open-source Pure Data community, PdParty is provided for free on the Apple App Store. If you wish to support its author and or PdParty development, consider having your institution sponsor a PdParty workshop, specific development, or a robotcowboy artist residency. Updating -------- See the changelog on the PdParty website for detailed version info. To update the included PdParty patch folders (lib, samples, tests) after installing a new version, use the buttons at the bottom of the Settings page.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PdParty at Free against SunVox's $5.99. SunVox's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (332 vs 16). On rating, 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
PdParty is free to download; SunVox costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for SunVox against 5.0 for PdParty. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SunVox has 332 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of SunVox's written reviews are positive against 78% of PdParty's.
SunVox ships an update monthly, PdParty every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SunVox | PdParty |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (332 ratings) | 5.0 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 93.4% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 332 — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Zolotov | Daniel Wilcox |
Customer experience
SunVox
PdParty
Bugs and requests
SunVox
Reported bugs
2 issues- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior when importing/exporting projects
Requested features
5 requests- Improved file management and organization
- Expanded MIDI and automation capabilities
- Ability to create and save custom module presets
- More intuitive and streamlined user interface
- Support for external MIDI controllers and keyboards
PdParty
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SunVox
No in-app purchases
PdParty
No in-app purchases









