Comparison

TC vs GRM studio

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

Head to head
About

TC

This app is a fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for iPad. Create unique sounds using touch gestures, device motion, and a variety of on-board modules. Explore a vast sonic landscape with extensive customization options.

Highlights
  • 185 built-in presets
  • Unlimited user patches
  • Multi-touch and device motion control
  • 23 modular synthesis objects
  • Built-in recording and AudioCopy
  • Audiobus support
Read full description

TC-11 is the only fully programmable multi-touch synthesizer for the iPad. Choose from the 160 included presets, or build your own using touch controls, device motion, and on-board modules. Create music with the next evolution of synthesizer control! iDesignSound App of the Week 12.17.2011 - idesignsound.com "This thing is ALIVE! TC-11 is really fascinating and I'm having some fun experimenting with it. It is very, very cool!" - Jordan Rudess, keyboardist, Dream Theater "TC-11 is making my jaw drop every few minutes; realizing new and increasingly complex routing options. Rating: Essential." - Tim Webb, discchord.com "Creating, routing, configuring, and general tweaking is unbelievably robust and complex. This is a big leap forward in design. A madhouse of sonic possibilities at your touch." - David Israel, smitematter.com FEATURES: √ 185 built-in presets √ Unlimited user patches √ Audiobus + State Saving √ Fully controlled by multi-touch / device motion √ Built-in recording + AudioCopy √ 23 modular synthesis objects √ 22 oscillator waveforms √ 4 controller modules: AHDSR, LFO, Table, Sequencer √ Email custom patches to your friends √ Full display customization MULTI-TOUCH CONTROL: There are no on-screen knobs, keys, or sliders to fiddle with; all synthesis is driven by your multi-touch performance. Touch relationships like distances / angles / timings perform all the controller functions. It's just you and the full screen multi-touch performance area. EVERY synthesis parameter can be controlled by ANY multi-touch controller. The patch possibilities are limitless! DEVICE MOTION CONTROL: Use the iPad's accelerometer, gyroscope, and even the compass to attack your synthesis patch! Tilt and move the iPad to change any filter, effect, or module. You can create real vibrato by moving the iPad during performance, or change the speed of a sequencer by tilting forward and backward! SYNTHESIS: TC-11 has 8 voice polyphony for full, real-time synthesis. The audio engine has been highly optimized to deliver crisp, responsive performance. Choose from 22 oscillator waveforms, 3 oscillator types, 3 filter types, 4 unique effects, amplitude modulation, and panning control. Fully programmable AHDSR, LFO, and sequencer modules make TC-11 the most capable iOS synthesizer in the world. Use TC-11 in your band during live performances. Add TC-11 into your laptop orchestra. Experiment and create with the next evolution of synthesizer control! Download the complete user guide to read more: http://www.bitshapesoftware.com/instruments/tc-11/tc-11-user-guide-2.0.pdf

About

GRM studio

This music creation app offers advanced sound manipulation tools for musicians and sound designers. Explore and edit audio files through direct waveform manipulation and multiple playback processes.

Highlights
  • Real-time sound transformation simulation
  • Direct waveform exploration
  • Virtual editing and montage
  • Multiple playback processes
  • Granular synthesis
Features
Read full description

GRM studio est une application de création musicale . Elle permet de puissantes transformations sonores par la manipulation directe de représentations audionumériques et l’expérimentation de processus de lectures multiples sur des documents sonores. Cette nouvelle lutherie est mise à disposition grâce au soutien du programme Investissements d’Avenir (PIA-SINÉ). Elle complète la collection de ressources de l’INA-GRM disponible sur Éduthèque « Écouter, voir, comprendre les musiques électroacoustiques et les technologies de création sonore » . Pionnier des musiques concrètes, électroacoustiques, acousmatiques, le Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) développe depuis 1958, des dispositifs créatifs de traitement du son à l’usage des musiciens, des compositeurs, des designers sonores Fonctionnalités : - Simulation temps réel des principales transformations du son . Transpositions, time streching, délais, boucles mobiles, synthèse granulaire,etc. - Toutes ces opérations sont faites uniquement en combinant des opérations de lecture d'un fichier sonore. Lecture simple contrôlée en sens et vitesse, déplacement de boucles mobiles comportant plusieurs curseurs de lecture. - Exploration directe de la forme d'onde à différentes échelles - Édition et Montage virtuel

Screenshots

TC4 screens
GRM studio3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GRM studio at Free against TC's $24.99. GRM studio also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). TC's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (68 vs 1). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

GRM studio is free to download; TC costs $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TC holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TC has 68 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of TC's written reviews are positive against 100% of GRM studio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TC ships an update every 5 weeks, GRM studio weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
TC versus GRM studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCGRM studio
Price$24.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (68 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBit ShapeInstitut National de l'Audiovisuel

Customer experience

TC

All ratings68 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews172 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative9.9%

GRM studio

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

TC

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes upon opening after recent updates
  • Black screen crashes when launching
  • Crashes when adding patches to folders
  • Crashes within Audiobus after 13.1 update
  • AudioCopy button crashes on iPad 3
Show 4 more
  • Unable to download latest version
  • Glitches and crashes with complex patches
  • Audiobus integration issues causing crashes
  • Performance issues on older iPad models

Requested features

12 requests
  • MIDI support and DAW synchronization
  • Ability to record and playback motion gestures
  • Sample import and granular synthesis capabilities
  • Microtonal tuning support (Scala files)
  • Note hold function per surface
Show 7 more
  • Mixer for oscillator volume balancing
  • Scale constraint for melodic playing
  • Garage Band export support
  • Real-time preview during patch editing
  • Polyphonic aftertouch support
  • Multiple FM oscillators
  • Bluetooth MIDI connectivity

GRM studio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

None

GRM studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GRM studio free?
GRM studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TC or GRM studio?
TC is rated higher. TC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while GRM studio averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do TC or GRM studio have ads?
Neither TC nor GRM studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TC or GRM studio?
TC ships an update every 5 weeks, and GRM studio weekly. Most recently, TC was updated on October 7, 2026 and GRM studio on October 2, 2026.

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