Comparison

Thesys 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

Thesys

This app is a powerful and intuitive MIDI step sequencer for creating complex musical patterns. It offers extensive control over MIDI devices, enabling organic bass lines, leads, and pads for studio or live performance. Advanced features allow for real-time pattern manipulation directly from a MIDI keyboard.

Highlights
  • MIDI Step Sequencer
  • Pattern Creation
  • Live Performance Options
  • Real-time Pattern Manipulation
  • Integrated Synth
  • Action Section (Gatetime, Looper, Slowdown)
  • Ableton Link Support
Read full description

Thesys is an extremely powerful and intuitive MIDI Step Sequencer app, giving you control over just about all aspects of your favorite MIDI devices. Use Thesys to create varied and organic bass lines, screaming leads, pulsating chords, and organic pad sounds in the studio or on stage. For live musicians, Thesys provides an extremely versatile palette of performance options which can be triggered right from your MIDI keyboard: you can transpose, manipulate, twist up, mutate, and mangle your patterns without even getting near your iPad. No other MIDI sequencer plugin offers you the ease and power of Thesys. It is 100% MIDI compliant and therefore provides the ultimate MIDI sequencing solution. iPad Edition Features: • Integrated Synth • Action Section (Gatetime, Looper, Slowdown...) • Pattern Sequencer • Standalone & Audio Unit v3 • Ableton Link Support • MIDI file Export • MIDI Support (Virtual, Netzwerk, Extern, Bluetooth), MIDI Learn & Host Automation • MIDI Clock Sync (Master & Slave) • Preset iCloud Sync • Preset Share • Zoom

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

Relic Waves1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Thesys at Free against Relic Waves's $1.99. Thesys also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months). Relic Waves's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 59%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On 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

Thesys is free to download; Relic Waves costs $1.99 up front. Thesys sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Relic Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Waves holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Thesys's written reviews are positive against 100% of Relic Waves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thesys ships an update every 2 months, Relic Waves every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Thesys versus Relic Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThesysRelic Waves
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.7 (85 ratings)5.0 (43 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings85 — better43
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSugar Bytes GmbHAlexander Zolotov

Customer experience

Thesys

All ratings85 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative29.6%

Relic Waves

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Thesys

One-time1
  • Thesys Full Version$19.99
None

Relic Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thesys free?
Thesys is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Relic Waves free?
Relic Waves costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Thesys or Relic Waves?
Relic Waves is rated higher. Thesys averages 4.7 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Relic Waves averages 5.0 from 43 ratings.
Do Thesys or Relic Waves have ads?
Neither Thesys nor Relic Waves shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thesys or Relic Waves?
Thesys ships an update every 2 months, and Relic Waves every 11 months. Most recently, Thesys was updated on October 29, 2026 and Relic Waves on October 30, 2026.

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