Comparison

TC vs SampleScape

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

SampleScape

Create complex, evolving soundscapes with this sample-based instrument. Build sequences of samples or instruments, control playback with granular synthesis, and apply a variety of filters and effects. Features an auto-sampler for easy recording and SF2 file import.

Highlights
  • Morph Sequencer up to 12 steps
  • Sample or Granular Rendering
  • 12 Sample Slots with 24 samples each
  • 114 Ready-made Instruments
  • Morphing VCF with multiple modes
  • Integrated effects suite
  • Auto Sampler for instrument recording
Features
Read full description

SampleScape is an AUv3 plugin for use in your favourite DAW such as AUM, Cubasis, GarageBand, Logic or Loopy Pro. SampleScape is an innovative sample-based instrument for building complex evolving soundscapes. You can create a sequence of steps, each step being either an individual sample or a collection of tuned samples which we refer to as an instrument. Each step allows you has controls how it is played back, either as a traditional sample or via granular synthesis. You can control transition times, fade times, transpose, pitch, glide, level, pan, vibrato, tremolo at each step, and together with a 3 mode morphing filter and integrated effects you can create a constantly evolving and complex soundscape. SampleScape also has the ability to map any incoming CC controllers to a large number of internal knobs, sliders, switches etc. for fantastic automation possibilities. Our build in Auto Sampler makes recording samples from other instruments so simple. You can use this to expand the library of more than 114 pre-build instruments. SampleScape also has a configurable randomisation feature which can piece sequences of instruments together to create new sequences at the press of a button. Need more samples, simply drag and drop SF2 files into the Sample Library to extract all the samples. The Sample Library also lets you configure and reference a remote folder on your iPad. This is useful if you already have a sample library located on your iPad. SampleScape features: • Morph Sequencer: create morphing sequences up to 12 steps in length. • Sample or Granular Rendering: Choose to render samples using sample or granular modes. • 12 Sample Slots: Reference up to 12 individual samples or instruments in your sequence. • 24 Samples Per Slot: Add up to 24 individual samples in any of the 12 sample slots. • Ready-made Instruments: 114 built-in, ready-made instruments to use as a basis for your sequences. • 2x Fluid LFOs: Control panning, vibrato, tremolo, and filter modulation using the LFO's. • VCF: offers Ladder (Moog), SEM (Oberheim), Formant, and CS-20 (Korg) modes with 12/24-bit slopes and morphable LP/BP/HP. • 2x ADSR: Includes two traditional ADSRs to control both AMP and FILTER envelopes. • Beat Sync: Sync sample sequences to your host DAW. • MPE Mode: Use MPE controllers with SampleScape with per-note pitch bends and CC47 control. • Effects: Add reverb, delay, chorus, Haas, 8 Band EQ, Leslie Simulator, and Phaser effects to your presets. • Drag and Drop: Import and export presets, samples, and complete instrument folders. • Modulation: Map MIDI CC to a huge range of interface functions. • Sample Library: Maintain local and remote sample and instrument libraries. • Auto Sampler: Quickly and intelligently record entire instruments directly into SampleScape. • Auto Tune: Built-in auto-tune and tuner options to automatically place your samples on the correct root note. • Auto Looping: An automatic loop finder is available to make finding loop points easy. • Randomisation: Built-in intelligent randomization features to auto-generate sequences. • Sample Extractor: Built-in sample extraction from SF2 soundfont files.

Screenshots

TC4 screens
SampleScape4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SampleScape at $14.99 against TC's $24.99. SampleScape also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). TC's advantage is ratings volume (68 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SampleScape holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TC has 68 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of TC's written reviews are positive against 100% of SampleScape's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TC ships an update every 5 weeks, SampleScape every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
TC versus SampleScape: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCSampleScape
Price$24.99$14.99 — better
Rating4.8 (68 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB806 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBit ShapeLimelight Software

Customer experience

TC

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

SampleScape

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 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

SampleScape

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

None

SampleScape

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SampleScape free?
SampleScape costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TC or SampleScape?
SampleScape is rated higher. TC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while SampleScape averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do TC or SampleScape have ads?
Neither TC nor SampleScape shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TC or SampleScape?
TC ships an update every 5 weeks, and SampleScape every 5 days. Most recently, TC was updated on October 7, 2026 and SampleScape on October 12, 2026.

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