GlitchScaper vs Relic Waves
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GlitchScaper
Create unique glitchy patterns and soundscapes with a rhythm machine featuring six sound generators and a two-layer cycle sequencer. Explore random sequence and tone generation, advanced effects, and spatial audio processing.
- Six sound generators
- Two-layer cycle sequencer
- Random sequence and tone generation
- Advanced effects and envelopes
- Spatial audio processing
- MIDI support
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GlitchScaper is a rhythm machine with six sound generators, each controlled by a two-layer cycle sequencer, designed to easily create glitchy patterns and scapes. To quickly find new ideas, each generator has separate options for making sequences and tones. The parameters of the new sequences and tones are set randomly, but are guided by several user-defined options, which in outline define the steps of the sequence and the type of tone or noise. This allows you make a quick draft of a pattern and then simply tweak it to get the final sound. The advanced copy function gives you ability to quickly make a new preset by copying sequences and tones from existing ones. The tone generator makes bright and rich sounds based on 12 complex waveforms or various types of noise, and can also use an external input as a signal source. Effects transform the tone from smoothly varying to full of squeaks and rattles. Each effect is modulated by a special envelope generator with different shapes that change throughout the sequencer step. The sound generators have individual spatial effects, as well as a common reverb space for all generators that adds an ambient layer to the final mix. The final mix can be even brighter and heavy or pumping with the built-in harmonic exciter and bass enhancer. The intuitive interface and powerful sound design features make this application super convenient for creating your own, unique sound. GlitchScaper is great for creating simple beats with an interesting and unusual sound, but it was originally designed for digital distorted patterns with longer steps that blend perfectly with the rhythms of classic drum machines and sequencers. GlitchScaper 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). GlitchScaper works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, GlitchScaper can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. All application features are available on iOS and macOS, including MIDI support (with a MIDI learn option) and audio unit parameters. GlitchScaper has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. A brief overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T50WVIPUPQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeF3oBoXp80 You can find more information on GlitchScaper and other experimental audio processing apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com
Relic Waves
Generate unique Lo-Fi sounds, pads, and effects using advanced synthesis algorithms. Explore billions of sonic possibilities with intuitive controls and real-time recording. Perfect for musicians and sound designers seeking experimental audio.
- Billions of unique Lo-Fi sounds
- Random sound generation with search
- Multiple keyboard input options
- Real-time audio recording to WAV
- Export to WAV, SunVox, and clipboard
- MIDI control and processing
- iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
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Relic Waves is a generator of Lo-Fi noises, pads and effects based on unique synthesis algorithms from NightRadio. More than 4 billion samples from the depths of the Mathematical Universe! Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 12 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters; * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen buttons, PC keyboard, MIDI input; * several processing parameters + control via MIDI; * real-time audio recording to WAV (32-bit); * export to: WAV (one file or a set), SunVox (samples + effects in one file), text clipboard; * the LCK button freezes individual samples - they will not change during the search for new sets; * iOS Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). Double clicking on a parameter opens a window for setting the exact value. If you enable the Hold option, the notes will play endlessly, without reacting to key release (noteOff) events; turning the note on again works like turning it off; there are two ways to enable this option: 1) using the Hold parameter in the "MIDI Mapping" window; 2) by pressing the HOLD button, which appears in place of LCK while playing the musical keyboard: press HOLD, release the desired notes - then the released notes will continue to play.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Relic Waves at $1.99 against GlitchScaper's $15.99. Relic Waves also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). GlitchScaper's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 11 months). On ratings volume, 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
GlitchScaper costs $15.99 and Relic Waves $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of GlitchScaper's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.
GlitchScaper ships an update every 4 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GlitchScaper | Relic Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (22 ratings) | 5.0 (42 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 42 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Igor Vasiliev | Alexander Zolotov |
Customer experience
GlitchScaper
Relic Waves
In-app purchases
GlitchScaper
No in-app purchases
Relic Waves
No in-app purchases







