Comparison

TC vs ExoSphere

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

ExoSphere

Create immersive ambient and meditative soundscapes with five independent sound layers. Load your own samples or use the built-in library to craft unique, evolving atmospheres for relaxation or music production.

Highlights
  • Five independent sound layers
  • Customizable sample loading
  • Built-in sample library
  • Preset management
  • Advanced randomizer
  • Standalone and AUv3 support
Features
Read full description

ExoSphere is a creative tool for shaping continuous ambient and meditative compositions, based on five independent sound layers that merge into a seamless atmosphere. It provides an effortless way to create a foundation for ambient tracks or even a complete background piece with minimal adjustments. Designed with slow rhythmic structures in mind, it is especially suited for meditative music and calm soundscapes. At the heart of ExoSphere are five complementary sound elements, each contributing a distinct dimension to the evolving sonic environment: Core - Deep, evolving drones that anchor the listener with resonant low frequencies, creating a grounding presence in the body. Flow - A layer reminiscent of an instrument, voice, or choir that forms the harmonic foundation of the composition. Gentle shifts its color and pitch, creating a subtle drifting detune that feels fluid and alive. Grain - Layers of stretched environmental fragments - whispers of wind, water, and space - that envelop the listener in a textured, atmospheric sense of place. Shard – Fleeting melodic fragments that surface and dissolve unpredictably, like echoes of imagined songs, sparking shifting associations and evoking transient images. Glow - High, sparkling tones that flicker like light on water, bringing brightness, clarity, and a gentle radiance to the soundscape. Together, these layers interweave into a living, breathing composition that never feels static. The result is a continuously shifting atmosphere - equally suitable as a meditative backdrop, a creative foundation for ambient production, or a complete standalone piece. Each layer in ExoSphere is sample-based, giving the user complete freedom to define the sonic palette. You can load your own samples into any of the five layers, tailoring the sound to your personal style and creating highly individual, versatile compositions. For a quick start, ExoSphere also includes a built‑in library of curated samples, offering ready‑to‑use material that can instantly generate immersive atmospheres. ExoSphere offers an easy start with a minimal interface: choose a factory preset and quickly refresh it by replacing samples, adjusting presence and tone. You can create new variations with the advanced randomizer, while detailed panels provide full control for those who want deeper customization. ExoSphere is a universal application for iOS and macOS. It can work on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac / MacBook with M1 chip (and later). ExoSphere works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, ExoSphere can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. ExoSphere has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. Quick start demo: https://youtu.be/1e2Ds24vXQQ You can find more information on ExoSphere and other creative audio apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

Screenshots

TC4 screens
ExoSphere4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ExoSphere at $14.99 against TC's $24.99. ExoSphere also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). TC's advantage is ratings volume (68 vs 22). On rating, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

TC costs $24.99 and ExoSphere $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for TC against 4.7 for ExoSphere. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of TC's written reviews are positive against 93% of ExoSphere's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TC ships an update every 5 weeks, ExoSphere every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TC versus ExoSphere: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCExoSphere
Price$24.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.8 (68 ratings) — better4.7 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews92.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better22
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB257 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBit ShapeIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

TC

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

ExoSphere

All ratings22 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%

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

ExoSphere

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

None

ExoSphere

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ExoSphere free?
ExoSphere costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TC or ExoSphere?
TC is rated higher. TC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while ExoSphere averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.
Do TC or ExoSphere have ads?
Neither TC nor ExoSphere shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TC or ExoSphere?
TC ships an update every 5 weeks, and ExoSphere every 2 weeks. Most recently, TC was updated on October 17, 2026 and ExoSphere on October 17, 2026.

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