TouchBells vs VocaLive for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TouchBells
This app is a virtual carillon instrument for iPad, offering xylophone, vibraphone, and tubular bell sounds. Users can play freely, record and share songs, and learn to play through a teach mode. It's designed for musical exploration and early childhood education.
- Virtual carillon instrument
- Xylophone, Vibraphone, Tubular Bells sounds
- Song recording and playback
- Song sharing with other users
- Teach mode for learning songs
- Adjustable stereo effect
- Tunable instrument pitch
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TouchBells is an easy and fun to use carillon music instrument (Glockenspiel) for the Apple iPad. The instrument covers a range of 1 1/2 octaves (from C3 to F#4). Classic Xylophone sounds, Vibraphone sounds and Tubular Bells sounds are available. With TouchBells, you can just freely play along or record and play back your songs. You can also share the songs you recorded with other TouchBells users. By using the TouchBells teach mode, you can learn how to play the songs other TouchBells users share with you. TouchBells is also great for kids early musical education. TouchBells has several unique features: - Xylophone or Vibraphone sounds. - Adjustable Stereo effect. - Its tunable, you can alter the instrument pitch. - Song recording and song management. - Share you songs with other TouchBells users by eMail. - Export your songs for iTunes. - Learn how to play using the Teach Mode. - Play dynamically using TouchBells touch-sensitivity feature. - Choose from four different bar captions (None, German-, American- and Solmisation-Style). Furthermore, TouchBells includes 25 demo songs: - Cradlesong (Wiegenlied) - Frere Jacques - Muss i denn, muss i denn zum Staedtele naus - Silent Night - My Bonny Is Over The Ocean - Ode to Joy - The moon as risen - Rondo all Turka (Turkish March) - When the Saints Go Marching In - Matilda - What shall we do with the trunken sailor? - Kojo no Tsuki - The Song of the Volga Boatmen - La Cucaracha - O Christmas Tree - Jingle Bells - Happy Birthday To You - Schneewalzer - Auld Lang Syne - Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Für Elise - Michael Row the Boat Ashore - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain - Hänschen Klein - Old Mac Donald With the demo songs and the TouchBells Teach Mode, you can start directly with the learning how to play!
VocaLive for iPad
This app provides singers with studio-quality vocal effects and recording tools. It offers real-time processing, a multi-track recorder, and microphone emulations to enhance vocal performances and practice sessions.
- 12 real-time professional vocal effects
- 4-processor effects chain
- 2-track recorder (expandable)
- Mic Room with 20 mic emulations
- Vocal warm-up tools
- Voice Cancel for backing tracks
- Live Mode GUI
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VocaLive provides singers and vocalists with a suite of 12 real-time professional vocal effects, along with a range of tools to help you practice, sing and record. The effects can be combined into a chain of 4 processors and saved as presets. A collection of 55 presets is included to get you up and running immediately. VocaLive for iPad includes 12 vocal effects: Pitch Fix (for tuning or stylized FX), Choir, Morph, Reverb, De-Esser, Delay, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Phazer and Envelope Filter plus a vocal Double effect available via registration. Together these effects provide unparalleled creative processing power. With VocaLive you can process your voice, sing along to any song in your iTunes Music library — its Voice Cancel feature lets you remove existing vocals — and warm up with helpful vocal warm-up tools. Use the new 2-track recorder to sing over backing tracks, or expand the studio section (available via in-app purchase) to record whole songs. With the optional Mic Room feature, VocaLive also gives you the sound and color of 20 classic and modern studio microphone emulations, for even more control over your vocal tone. Ready to perform? VocaLive’s new Live Mode offers an optimized GUI specifically for live use. See your entire chain at a glance, with all the settings and controls you need in an easy-to-read format designed for the stage. Plus VocaLive offers an optional 4-track looper to easily create songs, harmonies and more on the fly. For best quality, use VocaLive with IK’s iRig Mic range of microphones, from handheld to studio condenser mic. Or connect your favorite 3rd party mic using our iRig Pre interfaces. But you can also have fun with it and record quick ideas using the built-in microphone on your iPad or earbuds. Control your virtual rig just as easily as you would a traditional vocal multiFX with new iRig Stomp I/O integration, so you can change presets, control effects and more right from your feet. Or go wireless with iRig Blueboard, a wireless Bluetooth controller for basic control on the go. VocaLive also supports Core Audio and Core MIDI so you can use any compatible third-party interface or MIDI controller, and Audiobus and Inter-App Audio compatible, letting you use it alongside your favorite recording or songwriting apps. VocaLive for iPad features: • Real time vocal processor + recording app • 4-processor vocal effects chain • 12 professional studio-quality vocal effects included • Mic Room microphone with 20 classic and modern studio mic emulations* • Includes metronome and vocal warm-up tools • 4-track looper section* • 2-track recorder (expandable to a full 8-track recording studio*) • Import and play songs directly from your Music library or computer • Voice Cancel lets you create sing-along backing tracks by removing the vocal track from existing recordings • Simultaneous multi-track recording • Studio section (included with Recorder) with waveform visualization and editing, touch-and-drag looping, normalization, punch-in/punch-out recording, simultaneous multi-track recording support and more • AutoFreeze (allows each track to have its own full effects chain) • Live Mode shows you your entire rig at a glance, with all the parameters you need on stage easily accessible • 55 presets included with 4 Favorites for fast recall • MIDI controllable and with built-in integration for iRig Stomp I/O, iRig Blueboard and other controllers • Audiobus & Inter-App Audio support * available via in-app purchase IMPORTANT: AmpliTube users can add the effects processors from VocaLive to their AmpliTube app using the “Restore my purchases” option in the in-app menu. For more information: www.ikmultimedia.com/vocaliveipad Accessories information: www.ikmultimedia.com
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TouchBells at $1.99 against VocaLive for iPad's $24.99. TouchBells also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 35%) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). VocaLive for iPad's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads 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
TouchBells costs $1.99 and VocaLive for iPad $24.99 up front. VocaLive for iPad sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. TouchBells asks for nothing beyond the download.
TouchBells ships an update every 5 months, VocaLive for iPad every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TouchBells | VocaLive for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $24.99 |
| Rating | 2.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 35.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 135 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Braun | IK Multimedia US, LLC |
Customer experience
TouchBells
VocaLive for iPad
Bugs and requests
TouchBells
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
VocaLive for iPad
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes on iOS 7, iOS 11, iOS 15, iOS 16 updates
- App won't start after iOS updates
- Harmony presets reverting to other presets after updates
- Stereo recording with phase cancellation instead of mono
- Vocal audio too quiet or inaudible
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Microphone input not recognized
- App disappears when minimized or switching apps
- Audible hum in audio output
- Lag and latency in pitch control and harmonizer
- Recording glitches, pops, and drops
- In-app purchases not persisting after reinstall or update
- Audiobus initialization errors
- Unable to load sounds for upload
- WiFi file transfer link not functional
Requested features
15 requests- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support for use in other DAWs
- AudioBus compatibility
- Stereo to mono conversion effect
- Distortion effect
- Looper functionality for stacking vocal loops
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- Multi-track recording with proper timeline editing
- Waveform visualization for editing
- Audio copy/paste functionality
- Better file transfer options (Dropbox, Google Drive integration)
- GarageBand plugin integration
- Bluetooth speaker connectivity
- Keyboard chord control with polyphony
- Video playback for karaoke/practice
- Dock connector microphone support
- Better song list UI with longer character limits
In-app purchases
TouchBells
No in-app purchases
VocaLive for iPad
- External Control$5.99
- Looper$14.99
- Mic Pack$14.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Recorder$19.99
- Studio$19.99
- Recorder + Studio$24.99
Questions
Is TouchBells free?
Is VocaLive for iPad free?
Do TouchBells or VocaLive for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, TouchBells or VocaLive for iPad?
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