Comparison

TC vs Descent Granulator

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

Descent Granulator

This app captures audio, breaks it into tiny grains, and manipulates them for unique sound effects. Explore subtle thickening, rhythmic delays, frozen soundscapes, and shimmering pitch-shifted textures.

Highlights
  • Real-time granular engine
  • Pitch shifting with quantization
  • Six-axis randomization
  • Diffusion and feedback controls
  • Tempo sync
  • 35 factory presets
Features
Read full description

Descent is a real-time granular effect that captures incoming audio, breaks it into tiny grains, and scatters them across time and pitch. The result: everything from subtle thickening and rhythmic delays to vast frozen soundscapes and shimmering pitch-shifted clouds. GRANULAR ENGINE Control up to 50 simultaneous grains with independent settings for duration, overlap, and envelope shape. Play grains forward, reverse, or randomly mixed for tape-style effects, reverse swells, and glitchy textures. PITCH SHIFTING WITH QUANTIZATION Transpose from -24 to +24 semitones. Lock pitch shifts to specific intervals—octaves, fifths, or any chromatic combination—for harmonically correct shimmer and transposition effects. SIX-AXIS RANDOMIZATION Independently randomize pitch, pan, position, amplitude, duration, and grain count. Dial in subtle organic movement or push into complete textural chaos. DIFFUSION AND FEEDBACK High-feedback mode with a diffusion control transforms delays into lush, reverb-like washes that never get harsh or run away from you. TEMPO SYNC Lock grain timing to your session's tempo or let textures evolve freely in untethered mode. 35 FACTORY PRESETS Covering shimmers, delays, reverbs, pitch effects, and experimental sound design. Cross-platform XML presets are compatible across all Audio Damage plugin formats and operating systems. SOUND DESIGN IDEAS Add subtle depth with a few long grains and minimal randomization Create rhythmic delays with short, quantized grains at high feedback Build infinite sustain pads by freezing audio with high grain count and overlap Craft shimmer effects by quantizing pitch to octaves and fifths Transform vocals into ethereal textures with diffusion and wide panning AUv3 compatible. Runs standalone or hosted in AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, Cubasis, GarageBand, and other AUv3 hosts on iOS 13 or newer. From Audio Damage—making creative software for discerning musicians since 2002.

Screenshots

TC4 screens
Descent Granulator1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TC at 88% against Descent Granulator's 0%. TC also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (68 vs 3). Descent Granulator's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $24.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Descent Granulator $4.99 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 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TC has 68 ratings behind it against 3, 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 0% of Descent Granulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TC ships an update every 5 weeks, Descent Granulator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
TC versus Descent Granulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTCDescent Granulator
Price$24.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.8 (68 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings68 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBit ShapeAudio Damage, Inc.

Customer experience

TC

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

Descent Granulator

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Descent Granulator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

TC

No in-app purchases

None

Descent Granulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TC free?
TC costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Descent Granulator free?
Descent Granulator costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TC or Descent Granulator?
TC is rated higher. TC averages 4.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Descent Granulator averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do TC or Descent Granulator have ads?
Neither TC nor Descent Granulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TC or Descent Granulator?
TC ships an update every 5 weeks, and Descent Granulator every 2 months. Most recently, TC was updated on October 30, 2026 and Descent Granulator on October 24, 2026.

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