Comparison

isfizz vs spectwhirl

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

Head to head
About

isfizz

This app plays SFZ files, an open format for sampled sound instruments. It supports various audio file formats, MIDI, and Scala tuning files. It also functions as an Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) for use with other music apps.

Highlights
  • SFZ file playback
  • Audio Unit Extension (AUv3) support
  • Edit SFZ strings
  • Load SFZ files in place
  • Scala tuning file support
  • MIDI support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

isfizz is a SFZ file player. SFZ is an open text format for sampled sound instruments. This app can load SFZ and play the instrument. - Includes Audio Unit Extension (AUv3). - You can edit SFZ string. - The app loads SFZ files in place without copying the files. - Double tap to enter the value, triple tap to reset. - Supports Scala tuning files (.scl). - Supports MIDI. - Supports 16 out. use the "output=N" opcode in SFZ. Supported sample file format: - .wav (raw PCM) - .aiff - .mp3 - .flac - .ogg (vorbis) - .wv (wavpack) This app is an iPhone/iPad port of sfizz-ui project. The app is made from some sfizz-ui codes and images. About half of the income from this app will be donated to SFZ Tools team. This app and the description contain machine translated text.

About

spectwhirl

This audio effect app transforms input sound into new textures and bell-like tones by extracting and manipulating sinewave components. It offers advanced control over delay lines, frequency shifting, and filtering, with gesture recording for parameter automation.

Highlights
  • Sinewave component extraction and grouping
  • Delay lines with feedback
  • Frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects
  • Configurable filtering
  • Gesture recording for automation
  • Scene saving and management
Features
Read full description

"bells and whistles, literally" spectwhirl is a hybrid spectral audio effect. It can extract and rearrange sinewave components from input signal to make new sound textures and bell-like sounds. * input sound is converted to sinewave components that are divided into 4 groups: harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and other * each component is fed into a delay line with feedback * there is a group of frequency shifter and sample-and-hold effects before and after delay lines * each set of sinewave components can be filtered * all the parameters can be instantly automated with gesture recording !!! Please note that this effect consumes much CPU and requires a modern device. ====================== Quick Start: Top row of controls enables different parts of user interface: scenes editor ("scene"), controls switch ("edit") and "zoom" controls When "edit" is switch on, you can show or hide various controls (marked as "ctrl") and switch gesture recording automation for some of them (marked with ">") Main control surface displays sonogram with tracked elements. Colors are set accordingly to the group they are assigned (red-orange-green-blue are for harmonic, inharmonic, 12-edo and others). Each "lane" contains delay time controls. * Triangle facing left is for the start locator, it determines initial delay time * Square moves both start and end locators together * When left locator is first moved you can see the right locator with the same triangle. It shows the end of the selected region, the secondary delay time is determined by the difference between left and right locators * if you drag over the area of the region in a lane, the four-dotted/one circle indicator will change its appearance; this changes the arpeggio mode of the region. If set to leftmost position (one circle) the components go in-sync; if set to maximum value (shown as diagonal line with circles) - components are played sequentially * all settings can be stored as "scene" and multiple scenes can be switched sequentially; there is a set of button to move, add and delete scenes. All scenes will be stored as machine state; it can be exported / imported as a single file or as separate file with current scene in the "setup" view The standalone version always starts with output level set to -70 dB to avoid feedback

Screenshots

isfizz4 screens
spectwhirl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: isfizz at 100% against spectwhirl's 33%. isfizz also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and chart position (#186 vs unranked). spectwhirl's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

isfizz costs $2.99 and spectwhirl $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

isfizz holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of isfizz's written reviews are positive against 33% of spectwhirl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

isfizz ships an update every 3 weeks, spectwhirl every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
isfizz versus spectwhirl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterisfizzspectwhirl
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#186 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyouta KiraAlexey Nadzharov

Customer experience

isfizz

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

spectwhirl

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

isfizz

No in-app purchases

None

spectwhirl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is isfizz free?
isfizz costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is spectwhirl free?
spectwhirl costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, isfizz or spectwhirl?
isfizz is rated higher. isfizz averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while spectwhirl averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do isfizz or spectwhirl have ads?
Neither isfizz nor spectwhirl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, isfizz or spectwhirl?
isfizz ships an update every 3 weeks, and spectwhirl every 5 weeks. Most recently, isfizz was updated on October 25, 2026 and spectwhirl on October 24, 2026.

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