Comparison

Relic Waves vs MidiWrist Unleashed

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

Head to head
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
Currently charting
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.

About

MidiWrist Unleashed

Transform your Apple Watch into a standalone MIDI controller. Directly connect to Bluetooth LE MIDI devices without your iPhone, offering tactile control with haptic feedback and the digital crown. Customize knobs, buttons, and pages for a personalized music production experience.

Highlights
  • Standalone Apple Watch MIDI controller
  • Direct Bluetooth LE MIDI connection
  • Digital Crown control with haptic feedback
  • Configurable knobs, buttons, and pages
  • Transport control for DAWs
  • Motion data transmission
  • Save and manage presets
Features
Read full description

MidiWrist Unleashed turns your Apple Watch into a standalone MIDI controller that directly connects to any advertised Bluetooth LE MIDI device, without the need of your iPhone or any other proxy. The tactile feel of the digital crown combined with haptic feedback, gives you control over any MIDI device by touching your wrist, even when you're not looking. MidiWrist Unleashed makes no sound on its own and can't advertise itself as a Bluetooth LE MIDI device. NOTE: The reliability of Bluetooth LE MIDI support in hardware devices varies. MidiWrist Unleashed was tested with iPhone, iPad, Mac and CME WIDI devices. We can't guarantee the connection stability nor MIDI message latency with other devices. IMPORTANT: MidiWrist Unleashed can only connect to Bluetooth MIDI devices, and doesn't support Siri commands. If you need to connect to other MIDI devices or use the Siri features, the original MidiWrist app is still available with those features. Features: • Standalone MIDI controller for your Apple Watch • Fully configurable on your Watch, no external app is required • Watch face complication to launch the app straight from your watch face • Any number of knobs can be controlled with the Digital Crown • Macro control over multiple MIDI parameters from the Digital Crown • Remotely Play / Stop / Pause / Record / Rewind / Fast Forward your DAW from your Watch • Knobs can be controlled individually or simultaneously • Knobs can be linked to preserve their offsets • Any number of buttons can be toggled by tapping the Watch • Buttons can either be stateful or momentary • Double tap to actuate controls on Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 and later • Buttons and triggers can send a single CC or channel pressure value instead of switching between a minimum and a maximum • Pages can be created with any combination of controls choosing from buttons and knobs • Program changes through the Digital Crown or by tapping the Watch • Transport control over MIDI Machine Control (MMC) or Mackie Control Universal (MCU) • Scrub transport with the Digital Crown • Save / Undo / Redo / Toggle Cycle / Toggle Click / Enter through MCU • XY pad with individual messages for each axis • Stepper panel to step through MIDI values with plus and minus buttons, accelerating as you hold • Motion data (pitch, roll, yaw, acceleration) can be sent in real time • Trigger thresholds for motion data to send discrete messages instead of a continuous stream • Configurable accelerometer range, so a strong movement can be told apart from an ordinary one when you wear the watch somewhere other than your wrist • Optional haptic feedback • Configurable colors for all knobs, buttons and panels • Configurable labels for knobs, buttons and panels • Configurable MIDI channels and MIDI messages (continuous control, program change, channel pressure, note) • Create any number of controller pages you need • Delete and rearrange controller pages • Save your configurations to presets for easy retrieval • MIDI learn for easy controller configuration • Delete and rearrange presets • Connect to other Bluetooth MIDI devices • Low latency and fast response

Screenshots

Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Relic Waves at $1.99 against MidiWrist Unleashed's $14.99. Relic Waves also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). MidiWrist Unleashed's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Relic Waves costs $1.99 and MidiWrist Unleashed $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Relic Waves has 43 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Relic Waves's written reviews are positive against 80% of MidiWrist Unleashed's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Relic Waves ships an update every 11 months, MidiWrist Unleashed every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Relic Waves versus MidiWrist Unleashed: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRelic WavesMidiWrist Unleashed
Price$1.99 — better$14.99
Rating5.0 (43 ratings) — better4.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings43 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#154 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander ZolotovUwyn, LLC

Customer experience

Relic Waves

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

MidiWrist Unleashed

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

None

MidiWrist Unleashed

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MidiWrist Unleashed free?
MidiWrist Unleashed costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Relic Waves or MidiWrist Unleashed?
Relic Waves is rated higher. Relic Waves averages 5.0 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while MidiWrist Unleashed averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do Relic Waves or MidiWrist Unleashed have ads?
Neither Relic Waves nor MidiWrist Unleashed shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Relic Waves or MidiWrist Unleashed?
Relic Waves ships an update every 11 months, and MidiWrist Unleashed every 3 weeks. Most recently, Relic Waves was updated on November 4, 2026 and MidiWrist Unleashed on October 30, 2026.

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