Comparison

Cantoria vs Relic Waves

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

Head to head
About

Cantoria

This app is a virtual pipe organ that uses physical modeling and additive synthesis to emulate a Baroque-style instrument. It offers a dynamic sound range, expression pedal control, and built-in effects, functioning as both a standalone application and an audio plugin.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling engine (no samples)
  • Full polyphony (61 notes, 776 pipes)
  • 9 organ stops
  • 3 couplers
  • Tremulant motor
  • Swell pedal
  • Built-in stereo reverb
Features
Read full description

GSi Cantoria is a physical modeling emulation of a Baroque-style Pipe Organ. INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND A pipe organ is not something you see every day, there are thousands of different pipe organs that differ by the number of stops, the number of manuals, the number and the type of pipes, their size, their position, etc. Cantoria is a Baroque-style organ based on a single manual and 9 stops plus 3 couplers and the classic "tremulant" effect. This type of organ has "only" 776 pipes, which Cantoria simulates one by one. It doesn't sound "massive" like bigger organs, but is very dynamic and can vary from a soft delicate flute sound to a loud and majestic. vibrant full organ. This synth engine works as an hybrid synthesizer, uses additive synthesis and physical modeling together, there are no samples involved. The expression pedal responds naturally and varies the amount of air that passes through the pipes. About the name: the name we chose for this plugin "CANTORIA" is the italian name of the place, inside a Church, where the organ and the choir are located. Main features: - Physical Modeling engine (no samples) - Full Polyphony (61 notes, 776 pipes) - 9 Organ Stops - 3 Couplers - Tremulant Motor - Swell Pedal - Built-in Stereo Reverb effect - Built-in programmer with unlimited Programs - Embedded user's manual - Available as Stand-alone application and audio plugin - Very low CPU and RAM usage Works as AUv3 plugin.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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)
Features
Read full description

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

Cantoria1 screens
Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cantoria at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. Cantoria also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 11 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Cantoria is free to download; Relic Waves costs $1.99 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 — 4.8 for Cantoria against 5.0 for Relic Waves. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 43 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Cantoria's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cantoria ships an update every 4 days, Relic Waves every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cantoria versus Relic Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCantoriaRelic Waves
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.8 (24 ratings)5.0 (43 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2443 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGenuine SoundwareAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Cantoria

All ratings23 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%

Relic Waves

All ratings42 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cantoria

No in-app purchases

None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cantoria free?
Cantoria is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cantoria or Relic Waves?
Relic Waves is rated higher. Cantoria averages 4.8 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 43 ratings.
Do Cantoria or Relic Waves have ads?
Neither Cantoria nor Relic Waves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cantoria or Relic Waves?
Cantoria ships an update every 4 days, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, Cantoria was updated on October 24, 2026 and Relic Waves on October 24, 2026.

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