shapesynth vs Phonolyth Cascade
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
shapesynth
Create unique retro-inspired sounds by drawing oscillator waveforms. This polyphonic synthesizer offers extensive modulation options, built-in effects, and recording capabilities. Seamlessly integrate with other music apps and hardware for a versatile creative experience.
- Draw custom oscillator waveforms
- 16-voice polyphony
- Arpeggiator and stereo delay
- Resonant filter
- Parameter modulation via keyboard, MPE, accelerometer
- Tape recorder with infinite overdubs
- Inter-app audio and AUv3 support
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Shape is a polyphonic synthesiser allowing the user to draw the shape of the oscillator waveform. The first half of the oscillator is represented by 32 blocks and the second half is its mirror, generating all sorts of possible raw retroish sounds. 16 pages per oscillator allows to interpolate between different shapes. Add effects like arpeggio, stereo delay and a resonant filter and record your sounds on a classic tape. Modulate any parameter with keyboard, MIDI MPE or the device accelerometer. Connect to other apps with AudioBus, IAA, AUv3 and midi. +++ 16 voice polyphony +++ 2 oscillators, draw your own shape +++ 3 oscillator mixing functions (add, subtract or multiply) +++ Lfo modulation with ADSR: envelope, pitch, duty cycle, square, page or filter +++ Record on tape with infinite overdubs (save, load, import, export) +++ Arpeggiator +++ Stereo delay +++ Resonant filter (low, band and high pass) +++ Modulate any parameter using keyboard, MIDI MPE or accelerometer (Built in or Sphero) +++ Mini linear sequencer with euclidean rhythm +++ On screen 25 key stylophone style keyboard +++ AudioBus, Inter App Audio and AUv3 +++ Ableton link or AUv3 host sync +++ CoreMIDI, IAA MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI, limited MPE and MIDI out +++ Audio Paste, files app drag’n drop or open with
Phonolyth Cascade
This app offers a versatile reverb and diffusion processor with an experimental edge. It allows for the creation of expansive modulated spaces, stereo widening, and hybrid delay/reverb effects. Explore unique sonic territories with a wide range of controls and randomized modulation.
- Expansive modulated supernatural spaces
- Stereo widening and transient smearing
- Hybrid delay/reverb effects
- Chorus, flanger, and resonator-like effects
- Randomized modulation
- Infinity and Freeze buttons
- Mix Lock for preset switching
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Cascade is a versatile reverb and diffusion processor with an experimental edge. Designed first and foremost with expansive modulated supernatural spaces in mind, it features an extensive set of controls to explore other sonic territories such as stereo widening, transient smearing, hybrid delay/reverb and chorus/flanger/resonator-like effects. Features: - Wide range of diffusion textures spanning from subtle smearing and widening to otherworldly reverberation - Lush randomized modulation - Infinity and Freeze buttons for never-ending reverb bliss - Mix Lock for switching presets while keeping the dry/wet mix constant - Freely resizable UI with light and dark color schemes - Cross-platform preset format for sharing across plugin formats and OSes - 30 factory presets to get you started - Includes an AudioUnit v3 plugin for use in host apps such as GarageBand and AUM, and a standalone app
Screenshots
Verdict
shapesynth and Phonolyth Cascade both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Phonolyth Cascade's written reviews are positive against 65% of shapesynth's. Phonolyth Cascade also leads on chart position (#187 vs unranked). shapesynth's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months) and price ($4.99 vs $7.99). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
shapesynth costs $4.99 and Phonolyth Cascade $7.99 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 shapesynth against 4.9 for Phonolyth Cascade. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 30 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of shapesynth's written reviews are positive against 100% of Phonolyth Cascade's.
shapesynth ships an update every 2 months, Phonolyth Cascade every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | shapesynth | Phonolyth Cascade |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $7.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (24 ratings) | 4.9 (30 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 24 | 30 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #187 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Erik Sigth | Yuri Turov |
Customer experience
shapesynth
Phonolyth Cascade
In-app purchases
shapesynth
No in-app purchases
Phonolyth Cascade
No in-app purchases
