Comparison

Surreal Machines Diffuse vs LoopMangler

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

Head to head
About

Surreal Machines Diffuse

This audio effect plugin blends analog-modeled delay with classic digital reverb, allowing users to morph between the two for unique soundscapes. It offers intuitive control over smearing, echoes, and damping, inspired by vintage hardware.

Highlights
  • Analog-modeled delay
  • Classic digital reverb
  • Morphing between delay and reverb
  • Nonlinearities and tape-style delay
  • Intuitive control over smearing, echoes, damping
  • AUV3 plugin compatibility
Read full description

Diffuse is inspired by classic hardware delay and reverb effects from the 1970’s and 1980’s. It takes a Surreal Machines look at the frontier between delays and reverbs. It's an analog/digital hybrid - an analog modeled delay fused with a classic reverb design used in early digital units. In Diffuse you get more than the best of both worlds - you can morph between delays and reverbs, and find all kinds of fantastical sounds in between the two. You’ll also find plenty of nonlinearities and smooth tape-style delay changes. Diffuse gives you complete control over smearing, echoes and damping in the most intuitive ways possible. ****** Diffuse is an Audio Unit V3 plugin; it benefits from an AUV3 host like Logic, GarageBand, Cubasis, FL Studio Mobile, AUM, etc.

About

LoopMangler

This app is a powerful tool for creating unique glitchy and noisy textures by manipulating rhythmic samples or external audio. It offers advanced sound design capabilities with multi-effect sequencing, random pattern generation, and real-time processing.

Highlights
  • Multi-effect sequencing
  • Random pattern generation
  • Envelope modulation
  • Live pads for performance
  • Real-time audio processing
  • Flexible integration with other apps
Features
Read full description

LoopMangler is an innovative multi-effect glitch sequencer designed to manipulate rhythmic samples, external input, or output from other applications. This powerful tool operates based on the effect sequence patterns, allowing you to transform ordinary loops into unusual glitchy and noisy textures. Key Features: Advanced Sound Design: With its well-designed user interface and creative features, LoopMangler provides an exciting playground for sonic exploration and sound design. Random Pattern Generation: Make patterns and individual bars randomly or according to specific rules, offering a quick start or a source of inspiration for your projects. Multi-Effect Sequencing: Assign up to six distortion and filter effects to each step of the sequencer, providing endless possibilities for sound manipulation. Envelope Modulation: Each effect is modulated with its own envelope generator, ensuring that every step is unique and dynamic. Intuitive Editor: The user-friendly editor allows you to easily copy, move, and delete individual cells and bars within the sequencer, making pattern creation a breeze. Live Pads: Assign presets and loops to on-screen pads and use special pads to dynamically alter sound patterns during live performances or studio sessions. Real-Time Processing: Process audio in real-time, allowing you to hear the effects of your adjustments immediately. Flexible Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other audio applications, making it a versatile addition to your music production toolkit. Whether you’re looking to add subtle textures or completely transform your audio, LoopMangler provides the tools you need to achieve your sonic vision. LoopMangler 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). LoopMangler works on iPhone and iPad standalone, as an Audio Unit or Inter-App Audio module, and supports Audiobus and Ableton Link. On MacOS, LoopMangler can works both as a standalone application and as an Audio unit (AUv3) with DAWs and other hosts that support AUv3 plugins. LoopMangler has a built-in detailed description of all parameters also available as PDF file on the application site. Quick start demo: https://youtu.be/EFGw4wDtbzo https://youtu.be/ki3WsK1_4gg You can find more information on LoopMangler and other creative audio apps at: https://motion-soundscape.blogspot.com

Screenshots

Surreal Machines Diffuse1 screens
LoopMangler4 screens

Verdict

The call

Surreal Machines Diffuse and LoopMangler both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Surreal Machines Diffuse's written reviews are positive against 50% of LoopMangler's. Surreal Machines Diffuse also leads on price ($7.99 vs $14.99). On rating, ratings volume, 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

Surreal Machines Diffuse costs $7.99 and LoopMangler $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 — 5.0 for Surreal Machines Diffuse against 5.0 for LoopMangler. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Surreal Machines Diffuse's written reviews are positive against 50% of LoopMangler's.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Surreal Machines Diffuse versus LoopMangler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurreal Machines DiffuseLoopMangler
Price$7.99 — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings610 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1413.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSurreal MachinesIgor Vasiliev

Customer experience

Surreal Machines Diffuse

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

LoopMangler

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Surreal Machines Diffuse

No in-app purchases

None

LoopMangler

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Surreal Machines Diffuse free?
Surreal Machines Diffuse costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is LoopMangler free?
LoopMangler costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Surreal Machines Diffuse or LoopMangler?
Surreal Machines Diffuse and LoopMangler are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 10 ratings respectively.
Do Surreal Machines Diffuse or LoopMangler have ads?
Neither Surreal Machines Diffuse nor LoopMangler shows ads.

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