Comparison

RISCy vs Cellular Synthesizer

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

Head to head
About

RISCy

Create unique electronic music and generative patterns with a visual synthesizer. Drag and drop tokens to build sound graphs, exploring sonic possibilities and hidden relationships. Ideal for experimental sound design.

Highlights
  • Drag and drop synthesizer interface
  • Live coding with limited instruction set
  • Build and manipulate synth graphs
  • Create noisy sounds and generative patterns
  • Discover hidden graph relationships
  • Reset and random start options
Features
Read full description

RISCy is a drag and drop synthesizer puzzle full of sonic perturbation. You live code via the limited instruction set in the lower part of the interface; drag out tokens to the top area to build your synth graph, drag a token back off the top area to remove it. Each token has an aural consequence, and some special tokens also change the nature of the hidden graph connecting active tokens; puzzling out these relationships is part of the fun. You'll be able to make lots of noisy sounds as well as generative sequenced patterns. Press ! to clear the graph and reset; press ? to get a random starting point. Download RISCy if you are open to stranger computer music sounds, and avoid it if you just want diatonic melodies and piano sounds!

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

RISCy1 screens
Cellular Synthesizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

RISCy and Cellular Synthesizer both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of RISCy's written reviews are positive against 36% of Cellular Synthesizer's. RISCy also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Cellular Synthesizer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 39 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. Cellular Synthesizer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. RISCy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for RISCy against 4.6 for Cellular Synthesizer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of RISCy's written reviews are positive against 36% of Cellular Synthesizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RISCy ships an update every 39 months, Cellular Synthesizer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RISCy versus Cellular Synthesizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRISCyCellular Synthesizer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better4.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews88.2% of reviews — better36.4% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyEvery 39 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua ParmenterValery Mironov

Customer experience

RISCy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative5.9%

Cellular Synthesizer

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative54.5%

In-app purchases

None

RISCy

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Cellular Synthesizer

Subscriptions2
  • All Access (1 Month)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • All Access (1 Year)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • All Access (Lifetime)$19.99

Questions

Is RISCy free?
RISCy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cellular Synthesizer free?
Cellular Synthesizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RISCy or Cellular Synthesizer?
RISCy is rated higher. RISCy averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Cellular Synthesizer averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.
Do RISCy or Cellular Synthesizer have ads?
Neither RISCy nor Cellular Synthesizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RISCy or Cellular Synthesizer?
RISCy ships an update every 39 months, and Cellular Synthesizer every 2 months. Most recently, RISCy was updated on September 17, 2026 and Cellular Synthesizer on October 8, 2026.

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