Comparison

amoenus externus vs PLICATA

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

Head to head
About

amoenus externus

Features
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amoenus externus transforms your headphone listening into a natural speaker experience. Using a carefully tuned arrangement of 9 ultra-short delays, it recreates the acoustic perception of a classic stereo speaker triangle — placing the sound naturally in front of you, slightly outside your head, rather than inside it. No artificial reverb. No coloration. Just a more natural, fatigue-free headphone sound. Compatible with foobar2000 (v2.25+), AUM, GarageBand, and all AUv3-compatible hosts on iOS.

About

PLICATA

This is a compact monophonic synthesizer for hands-on sound design and performance. It features a morphing oscillator, wavefolding, a resonant filter, and a flexible VCA contour, with an independent SUB oscillator for added depth. A 28-socket patch system allows for extensive audio, CV, and event routing.

Highlights
  • Morphing oscillator with wavefolding
  • Independent SUB oscillator
  • 28-socket patch system
  • Microtonal XY keyboard
  • 32-step arpeggiator
  • Performance macros
  • AUv3 support
Features
Currently charting
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PLICATA is a compact patchable monophonic instrument for hands-on sound design and performance. A morphing oscillator feeds wavefolding, a resonant filter and flexible VCA contour, while an independent SUB oscillator adds octave, interval and eight waveform modes. PATCH IT The 28-socket patch system opens audio, CV and event routing. Modulate FOLD without replacing the oscillator path, reset the LFO externally, replace the internal SUB source, control SUB level by CV, distribute modulation through MULT, or build feedback and audio-rate networks. Patch cables are recalled with your sounds. MICROTONAL XY PERFORMANCE The 13-key XY keyboard spans C4–C5. Tune every key independently by ±100 cents or start from 12-TET, Just Intonation, Pythagorean and quarter-tone templates. Horizontal movement adds pitch expression up to ±24 semitones; vertical movement can map each key to as many as eight sound parameters or performance macros. PERFORMANCE VIEW + 32-STEP ARPEGGIATOR Tap PERF for an expanded keyboard-focused surface. The arpeggiator follows INTERNAL, HOST or MIDI clock and offers UP, DOWN, UP/DOWN, AS PLAYED, RANDOM, WALK, CONVERGE, DIVERGE and CHORD styles across up to four octaves. Build patterns from 1 to 32 steps with independent pitch, octave, velocity, gate, probability and ratchet lanes. HOLD captures the note pool; FILL creates a momentary variation. Adjust swing, gate, velocity behavior, probability and ratchets live. Rotate patterns, create temporary MUTATE variations, FREEZE the result, and recall seven ARP scenes with optional MIDI keyswitch control. MACROS, MIDI AND SYNC Six bounded performance macros shape tone, motion, fold, envelope, drive and level. IGNITE is editable: choose multiple targets, ranges and response curves, then store the mapping independently from sound presets. The keyboard can output 12-TET MIDI or preserve microtonal tuning through pitch bend with ±1, ±2, ±12 and ±24 semitone ranges. PLICATA also supports MIDI/MPE input, host sync and externally reset or free-running LFO operation. COMPLETE SOUND STATES PLICATA ships with 20 factory sounds and a full user-preset system. User sounds recall synthesis, patch cables and performance configuration together. Search, organize, favorite, duplicate and tag sounds, or use GEN to create a complete new musical state without overwriting your library. STANDALONE + AUv3 Use PLICATA standalone or as an AUv3 instrument inside compatible Apple music hosts. FEATURES • Morphing oscillator, wavefolding and pulse-width shaping • Independent SUB oscillator with interval and eight waveform modes • Resonant filter, ADSR articulation and drive • 28-socket audio, CV and event patch system • 13-key microtonal XY keyboard with independent tuning • Dedicated PERFORMANCE view with expanded keyboard • 32-step arpeggiator with nine styles and three clock modes • Per-step pitch, octave, velocity, gate, probability and ratchet • HOLD, FILL, rotate, MUTATE/FREEZE and seven ARP scenes • Six performance macros plus editable IGNITE • MIDI/MPE input and microtonal MIDI output • Factory and user presets with complete-state recall • Complete-state generation with GEN • Standalone and AUv3 operation Support, bug reports and feature requests: support@alessandroguardascione.com

Screenshots

amoenus externus4 screens
PLICATA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PLICATA at every 2 days against amoenus externus's fortnightly. PLICATA also leads on chart position (#137 vs unranked). amoenus externus's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $7.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

amoenus externus costs $2.99 and PLICATA $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

amoenus externus ships an update fortnightly, PLICATA every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
amoenus externus versus PLICATA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameteramoenus externusPLICATA
Price$2.99 — better$7.99
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#137 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErich MeierAlessandro Guardascione

In-app purchases

None

amoenus externus

No in-app purchases

None

PLICATA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is amoenus externus free?
amoenus externus costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PLICATA free?
PLICATA costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do amoenus externus or PLICATA have ads?
Neither amoenus externus nor PLICATA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, amoenus externus or PLICATA?
amoenus externus ships an update fortnightly, and PLICATA every 2 days. Most recently, amoenus externus was updated on October 25, 2026 and PLICATA on October 29, 2026.

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