Comparison

Surreal Machines Diffuse vs GRFX

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

GRFX

Transform ordinary audio into unique sonic textures, evolving soundscapes, and rhythmic glitches. This app offers precise control over sound manipulation with a unique pitch controller, multiple LFOs, and a flexible multi-effect chain. Create complex and immersive audio transformations in real-time.

Highlights
  • Granular engine for textures and rhythms
  • Harmonic Triangle pitch controller
  • Multi-effect chain with probabilistic routing
  • Four self-modulating LFOs
  • Real-time audio sculpting
  • AUv3 plugin and standalone app
Features
Read full description

GRFX is a powerful and creative granular effects processor that turns ordinary audio into extraordinary sonic landscapes. Slice your sound into grains and reshape them into evolving textures, shimmering chords, rhythmic glitches, haunting drones, and more. At the heart of GRFX is the Harmonic Triangle – an intuitive 3-way pitch controller that lets you morph simple tones into lush pads, arpeggiated patterns, or abstract gestures. Whether you’re aiming for organic soundscapes or synchronized stutters, GRFX gives you precise control over the flow of grains and modulation. Build complexity with four self-modulating LFOs, a multi-effect chain with probabilistic routing, and an elegant drag-and-drop modulation system. Shape your sound, modulate nearly every parameter, and sculpt immersive audio transformations in real time. Key Features: - Granular engine for creating textures, rhythms, chords, glitches, drones, ambiences, and more - Harmonic Triangle for 3-way pitch control, detuning, and microtonality - Built-in Chord Selector with 32 triads for instant harmonic richness - Grain envelope shaping for plucky, smooth, or abrupt grains - Buffer size, division, sync, and freeze controls - Rhythmic synchronization for tempo-synced effects and patterns - 4 LFOs with self-modulation and drag-and-drop assignment - Modulation panel & view mode for streamlined modulation management - 2 Multi-Effect slots (Filter, Distortion, Delay, Peak EQ, Chorus, Phaser, Bitcrusher, Reverb) with probability-based routing - Dedicated Send FX with Delay and Reverb in series or parallel mode - Flexible mixer section for sculpting wet/dry balance and routing AUv3 Audio Unit plugin – requires an AUv3-compatible host app such as Logic Pro, GarageBand, AUM, or Cubasis. Standalone version included.

Screenshots

Surreal Machines Diffuse1 screens
GRFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Surreal Machines Diffuse at 5.0 against GRFX's 4.6. Surreal Machines Diffuse also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and iOS requirement (14 vs 17.0). GRFX's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $7.99). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Surreal Machines Diffuse costs $7.99 and GRFX $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Surreal Machines Diffuse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Surreal Machines Diffuse's written reviews are positive against 78% of GRFX's.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Surreal Machines Diffuse versus GRFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurreal Machines DiffuseGRFX
Price$7.99$6.99 — better
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.6 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings611 — better
Update frequency—Monthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSurreal MachinesImaginando Lda

Customer experience

Surreal Machines Diffuse

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

GRFX

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

In-app purchases

None

Surreal Machines Diffuse

No in-app purchases

None

GRFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Surreal Machines Diffuse free?
Surreal Machines Diffuse costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GRFX free?
GRFX costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Surreal Machines Diffuse or GRFX?
Surreal Machines Diffuse is rated higher. Surreal Machines Diffuse averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while GRFX averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.
Do Surreal Machines Diffuse or GRFX have ads?
Neither Surreal Machines Diffuse nor GRFX shows ads.

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