Comparison

Cellular Synthesizer vs PsiLoops

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

Head to head
About

Cellular Synthesizer

Generate complex sound signals using a cellular automata field. Control parameters like pitch, filters, and effects through evolving cell states. Offers multiple modes for signal interpretation and a built-in sequencer for composition.

Highlights
  • Cellular automata sound generation
  • Parameter modulation (pitch, filters, effects)
  • Multiple signal interpretation modes
  • Configurable oscillators and voices
  • DC saturation, filter, and echo effects
  • Step sequencer with MPE support
Features
Read full description

Universe This app utilizes a cellular automata field known as the 'universe' to generate complex signals that are easily controllable. These signals are employed to modulate parameters of each oscillator, saturation settings, filters, or echo effects. The signal from the 'universe' is linked to groups of 'populated' cells referred to as 'communes.' A 'commune' serves as an abstraction that interprets the state of a group of connected cells as a signal. The state of the 'universe' evolves through generations. Before each generation change, each cell counts the number of 'populated' cells among its eight neighboring cells and checks against the user-defined rules, which determine whether the cell will be populated in the next generation. Different modes allow you to interpret the 'communes' signal differently. For example, in 'choir' mode, if all the cells in the 'commune' are 'populated,' the signal will be at its maximum; if half are 'populated,' the signal will be average, and if none are 'populated,' the signal will be zero, and so on. In 'trigger' mode, if at least one cell in the 'commune' is 'populated,' the signal will be at its maximum, and if no cells are 'populated,' the signal will be zero. Modulations You can modulate the parameters of pitch, panorama, and volume for each oscillator, in addition to thermal voltage, emission coefficient, saturation current, and the ratio of raw and processed signals for the diode clipping effect. Moreover, you can control drive, cutoff frequency, and filter resonance through modulations, along with delay time, delay offset, feedback, and the ratio of raw and processed signals for the echo effect. Oscillators You can select one of the oscillators, choose the waveform with the initial phase, determine whether oscillators are in solo or mute mode, and adjust pitch, panorama, or volume for each of them. Voices Signals from the oscillators are summed up in the voice of each note. You can set the delay before the note starts, adjust note duration, change pitch, and set volume for the sum of all voices. Additionally, you can fine-tune a common envelope. Effects The synthesizer includes a DC saturation effect with the ability to control thermal voltage parameters, emission coefficient, saturation current level, and blend saturated sound with the original. You can also utilize a filter with type, drive, frequency, and resonance parameters. Furthermore, you can incorporate an echo effect with 'dry/wet' and feedback controls, along with delay time and offset adjustments for each channel. Sequencer For the ease of composing melodies and using the synthesizer on stage, utilize a step sequencer with five segments, each containing 16 elements, providing options to add, disable sound, select elements, or clone them. Each element of the sequencer is linked to the keyboard with MPE support, where you can add single notes or chords. Of course, you can control the BPM and tap the metronome to synchronize with other devices. Keyboard This module is designed for playing notes or editing them in selected elements of the sequencer. MIDI-mapper Module that maps Cellular application interface elements to the position of the currently selected target button and assigns them to the most recently modified MIDI controller — a pressed key, button, or moved slider. AUv3 Cellular supports the AUv3 standard, so you can use it with other applications simultaneously. Please note: Some features described above require an active subscription or one-time purchase. For more details, visit our website. Privacy Policy: https://www.valerymironov.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.valerymironov.com/terms

About

PsiLoops

Create electronic music with this intuitive soundboard app. Mix up to 24 melody loops, record your own sounds, and add effects for unique tracks. Share your creations easily.

Highlights
  • Import or record custom audio loops
  • Live real-time music composition
  • Hundreds of drum and melody loops
  • One-shot samples and sound effects
  • Audio effects like reverb and filters
  • Record and share music sessions
Features
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PsiLoops is a live loop app that lets you play a full bass-music set from your iPhone or iPad. Drop the drums, stack melody loops, fire a riser into the drop and ride the filter. Every change waits for the next bar, so it always lands in time, even if you've never made music before. Everything is on one screen, laid out like a groovebox, so your thumbs know where to go. PLAY A SET • Drum kits you build up layer by layer, from a lone kick to the full beat • Four rows of melody loops in two banks, each with its own volume, and every pad shows its loop's waveform • Rise and Drop sweeps for transitions, plus a grid of one-shot hits • Six effect knobs, always in reach: Filter, Reverb, Echo, Gate, Flanger and Mushroom • The Dice deals new sets when you're out of ideas ALWAYS ON THE BEAT • Quantize: loops, sweeps and drum changes land on the next beat, bar or two bars • Tempo anywhere from 50 to 200 BPM: hip-hop, dubstep, drum & bass and everything between • Learn mode labels every control. Live mode hides them and gives you bigger pads. SOUNDS FROM REAL ARTISTS Packs from 17 bass-music producers, from London to São Paulo: drum & bass, dubstep, riddim, psytrance, techno and hip-hop. RECORD AND SHARE Rec captures your whole set, plus your mic if you switch it on. Rap or sing over the beat, then share it from the app. SEE THE MUSIC MOVE Five visualizers: Phrase, Spectrum, Levels, RGB Wave and Spores. Tap any of them to go full screen. LOOP LAB: MAKE YOUR OWN SOUNDS (Pro) • Step Sequencer with 20 synths and samplers, keys and scales, layers, an arpeggiator and patterns up to 8 bars • Drum Lab: program beats up to 8 bars long across 14 lanes from 196 drum sounds, or import your own • Turn any MIDI file into loops: see every track, drag over the bars you want, hear them, and save as many to My MIDI as you like • Cut Loops: bring in any audio and it finds the tempo and snaps the loop to the bar • My Loops: every loop you've made in one place, ready to share as a tempo-tagged WAV or as MIDI • Set Builder: put your own loops into a set and play it live next to the artist packs ADVANCED EXPORT (Pro) • Stems: drums, both loop banks, one-shots and mic as separate files, ready for any DAW • MIDI: your whole performance, a track per part • WAV, FLAC or AAC, with streaming or club loudness PSILOOPS BRIDGE: PLAY INTO YOUR DAW (Pro) Our free Mac plugin (VST3 and Audio Unit, from psiloops.com/bridge) puts PsiLoops on a track in Ableton Live and other DAWs, over a USB cable or Wi-Fi. • Follows your DAW's tempo and starts on its bar • Drums, both loop banks, one-shots and FX on their own tracks, plus the notes as MIDI • Capture the last 4, 8 or 16 bars as WAVs and MIDI PLUGINS (for Pro subscribers) Instruments ported from our desktop plugins, bought once and kept. They play in the Step Sequencer, so they layer with everything else. • Growl: dubstep, riddim and tearout growl bass from one voice, with 24 presets and its own 16-step movement sequencer FREE OR PRO The free app is a whole instrument, not a demo. You get every control, all six effects, the Dice, the visualizers, a starter library of kits, loop sets and one-shots, and recordings up to 3 minutes long. PsiLoops Pro is a monthly subscription ($3.99 USD a month). It unlocks every artist pack (plus new ones as they land), unlimited recording, Loop Lab, Set Builder, Advanced Export and PsiLoops Bridge. Plugins are separate one-time purchases, available to Pro subscribers; a plugin stays yours if Pro ends and works again when you resubscribe. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. The subscription renews automatically unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. No ads, ever. No account to make. Terms of Use: https://www.psiloops.com/legal/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.psiloops.com/legal/privacy Download PsiLoops free and play your first set in the next five minutes.

Screenshots

Cellular Synthesizer4 screens
PsiLoops4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PsiLoops at 100% against Cellular Synthesizer's 36%. PsiLoops also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Cellular Synthesizer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Cellular Synthesizer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PsiLoops sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PsiLoops holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Cellular Synthesizer's written reviews are positive against 100% of PsiLoops's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cellular Synthesizer ships an update every 2 months, PsiLoops every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cellular Synthesizer versus PsiLoops: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCellular SynthesizerPsiLoops
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB120 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperValery MironovCraig Cowden

Customer experience

Cellular Synthesizer

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative54.5%

PsiLoops

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cellular Synthesizer

Subscriptions2
  • All Access (1 Month)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • All Access (1 Year)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • All Access (Lifetime)$19.99
2 purchases

PsiLoops

Subscriptions1
  • Pro$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Growl Plugin$4.99

Questions

Is Cellular Synthesizer free?
Cellular Synthesizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PsiLoops free?
PsiLoops is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cellular Synthesizer or PsiLoops?
PsiLoops is rated higher. Cellular Synthesizer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while PsiLoops averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Cellular Synthesizer or PsiLoops have ads?
Neither Cellular Synthesizer nor PsiLoops shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cellular Synthesizer or PsiLoops?
Cellular Synthesizer ships an update every 2 months, and PsiLoops every 6 days. Most recently, Cellular Synthesizer was updated on October 24, 2026 and PsiLoops on October 25, 2026.

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