Twelve Tone vs Cellular Synthesizer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Twelve Tone
This app helps musicians and teachers compose and analyze music using dodecaphonic and set theory. It allows users to enter tone rows, automatically generates musical matrices, and provides playback and sharing options for compositions.
- Enter tone rows via staff or piano keyboard
- Automatic generation of Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, RI matrices
- Real-time Interval Vectors and Circular Analysis updates
- Save and manage tone rows with names and markings
- Share PDF of notation, keyboard, and analysis
- Listen to row playback with selected rhythm patterns
- Matrix audio playback for pitch identification
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An extensive music composition and analysis tool. An indispensable resource for any musician or music teacher interested in dodecaphonic and set theory analysis. • Enter a tone row by touching the staff or playing the piano keyboard. • It lets you know if any notes are repeated by highlighting both notes, checking enharmonic values regardless of octave or accidentals. • Automatically creates the Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion Magic Square. • Constantly updates the Interval Vectors and Circular Analysis of the tone row as you edit it. • Save your rows (rows may contain from 1 to 12 notes), complete with name and current P, R, I, RI matrix markings. Saved rows appear in a list with their name and midi numbers to help you identify them. • Share a pdf of the notation, piano keyboard, and circular analysis. • Watch and listen to your row played with a selected rhythm pattern. • Playback: - Prime - Prime then Retrograde - Retrograde then Prime - Retrograde - Inversion - Inversion then Retrograde Inversion - Retrograde Inversion then Inversion - Retrograde Inversion • Each can be repeated and transposed with each iteration. • The Root is kept within an octave above and below the original pitch when looping and transposing. • Matrix Audio: Hear the pitches as you mark them in the matrix square. The marks indicate the row form in which the pitch belonged; Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion. • Lock the prime row and transpose it to C to use the Absolute Pitch Method for row labeling in the matrix. Comes preloaded with the following rows: Alban Berg's Lyric Suite Babbitt's Composition for Four Instruments Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra Op.31 Schoenberg's Piano Piece Op.33a Webern's Concerto Op.24 Webern's Piano Variations Op.27 Webern's String Quartet Op.28
Cellular Synthesizer
Generate complex sound signals using a cellular automata field. Control parameters like pitch, filters, and effects through evolving cell states. Offers multiple modes for signal interpretation and a built-in sequencer for composition.
- Cellular automata sound generation
- Parameter modulation (pitch, filters, effects)
- Multiple signal interpretation modes
- Configurable oscillators and voices
- DC saturation, filter, and echo effects
- Step sequencer with MPE support
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Universe This app utilizes a cellular automata field known as the 'universe' to generate complex signals that are easily controllable. These signals are employed to modulate parameters of each oscillator, saturation settings, filters, or echo effects. The signal from the 'universe' is linked to groups of 'populated' cells referred to as 'communes.' A 'commune' serves as an abstraction that interprets the state of a group of connected cells as a signal. The state of the 'universe' evolves through generations. Before each generation change, each cell counts the number of 'populated' cells among its eight neighboring cells and checks against the user-defined rules, which determine whether the cell will be populated in the next generation. Different modes allow you to interpret the 'communes' signal differently. For example, in 'choir' mode, if all the cells in the 'commune' are 'populated,' the signal will be at its maximum; if half are 'populated,' the signal will be average, and if none are 'populated,' the signal will be zero, and so on. In 'trigger' mode, if at least one cell in the 'commune' is 'populated,' the signal will be at its maximum, and if no cells are 'populated,' the signal will be zero. Modulations You can modulate the parameters of pitch, panorama, and volume for each oscillator, in addition to thermal voltage, emission coefficient, saturation current, and the ratio of raw and processed signals for the diode clipping effect. Moreover, you can control drive, cutoff frequency, and filter resonance through modulations, along with delay time, delay offset, feedback, and the ratio of raw and processed signals for the echo effect. Oscillators You can select one of the oscillators, choose the waveform with the initial phase, determine whether oscillators are in solo or mute mode, and adjust pitch, panorama, or volume for each of them. Voices Signals from the oscillators are summed up in the voice of each note. You can set the delay before the note starts, adjust note duration, change pitch, and set volume for the sum of all voices. Additionally, you can fine-tune a common envelope. Effects The synthesizer includes a DC saturation effect with the ability to control thermal voltage parameters, emission coefficient, saturation current level, and blend saturated sound with the original. You can also utilize a filter with type, drive, frequency, and resonance parameters. Furthermore, you can incorporate an echo effect with 'dry/wet' and feedback controls, along with delay time and offset adjustments for each channel. Sequencer For the ease of composing melodies and using the synthesizer on stage, utilize a step sequencer with five segments, each containing 16 elements, providing options to add, disable sound, select elements, or clone them. Each element of the sequencer is linked to the keyboard with MPE support, where you can add single notes or chords. Of course, you can control the BPM and tap the metronome to synchronize with other devices. Keyboard This module is designed for playing notes or editing them in selected elements of the sequencer. MIDI-mapper Module that maps Cellular application interface elements to the position of the currently selected target button and assigns them to the most recently modified MIDI controller — a pressed key, button, or moved slider. AUv3 Cellular supports the AUv3 standard, so you can use it with other applications simultaneously. Please note: Some features described above require an active subscription or one-time purchase. For more details, visit our website. Privacy Policy: https://www.valerymironov.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.valerymironov.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cellular Synthesizer at Free against Twelve Tone's $4.99. Cellular Synthesizer also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 18 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). Twelve Tone's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (70% vs 36%). On rating, 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
Cellular Synthesizer is free to download; Twelve Tone costs $4.99 up front. Cellular Synthesizer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Twelve Tone asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Twelve Tone against 4.6 for Cellular Synthesizer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Twelve Tone's written reviews are positive against 36% of Cellular Synthesizer's.
Twelve Tone ships an update every 18 months, Cellular Synthesizer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Twelve Tone | Cellular Synthesizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (16 ratings) — better | 4.6 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews — better | 36.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Patrick Q. Kelly | Valery Mironov |
Customer experience
Twelve Tone
Cellular Synthesizer
In-app purchases
Twelve Tone
No in-app purchases
Cellular Synthesizer
- All Access (1 Month)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- All Access (1 Year)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- All Access (Lifetime)$19.99
Questions
Is Twelve Tone free?
Is Cellular Synthesizer free?
Which has better reviews, Twelve Tone or Cellular Synthesizer?
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Which is updated more often, Twelve Tone or Cellular Synthesizer?
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