Comparison

AirBending vs Depmin

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

Head to head
About

AirBending

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a hands-free MIDI and OSC controller using just your hands. Control music software, synthesizers, or play built-in instruments with expressive gestures. Supports wireless connection to computers and hardware.

Highlights
  • Hands-free MIDI and OSC control
  • Use iPhone/iPad camera for tracking
  • Wireless connection to Mac and hardware
  • Built-in AUv3 instrument hosting
  • Customizable hand mapping and scales
  • Works with popular DAWs and DJ software
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad camera into a hands-free MIDI and OSC controller. No extra hardware, no wearables. Just move your hands to control any DAW, software synthesizer, DJ software, or virtual instrument with natural, expressive gestures — or play the instruments already installed on your device through the built-in Audio Unit host. Use the front camera to control your own setup, or flip to the back camera and let your audience join the performance. Try it free for 14 days. ** Control Any Setup, On Stage or Across the Network ** Send MIDI and OSC data wirelessly to your Mac, connect directly to class-compliant hardware synthesizers over USB-C, or play any installed AUv3 instrument right on your device. With built-in RTP-MIDI and OpenSoundControl (OSC) support, your iPhone or iPad becomes a wireless controller for your entire studio network — browse and connect to Macs, modular rigs, or any networked device without a single cable. Each preset stores its own independent OSC destination, so switching between songs means switching your entire routing automatically. ** Front or Back Camera, Your Choice ** Track your own gestures with the front camera while performing, or switch to the back camera to track someone else. Point it at your audience and let them control effects, visuals, or sounds with their hands. ** Perform Confidently in Any Lighting ** Automatic low-light detection and GPU-accelerated frame enhancement keep hand tracking reliable on dark stages, dim studios, and moody live sets — where other camera-based tools struggle. ** Smart Presets with Custom Hand Mapping ** Assign up to 4 parameters per preset across two axes and both hands. Map horizontal movement to pitch across any musical scale, vertical movement to dynamics, filter cutoff, resonance, volume, or pitch bend. Save unlimited presets for different songs, instruments, or performance setups. ** Custom Scale Builder ** Go beyond standard major and minor scales — chromatic, major and minor pentatonic are built in, or select any combination of notes to create custom scales, experimental modes, or unique melodic sequences tailored to your music. ** Works with Your Favorite Music and Performance Software ** AirBending integrates directly with Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, GarageBand, FL Studio, Traktor, Serato DJ, rekordbox, Resolume, VDMX, and any MIDI or OSC compatible app. Choose any MIDI channel from 1 to 16 per preset and assign independent CC numbers to each hand and axis for precise control. Hand tracking uses Apple's Vision framework for ultra-low latency and jitter-free control signals. ** Simple, Fair Pricing ** Start with a full-featured 14-day free trial — no account required. When it ends, unlock everything forever with a single one-time purchase, or keep playing in a free limited mode (one hand, one preset, one camera). No subscriptions. Key Features: - Hand tracking MIDI and OSC controller for iPhone and iPad - Built-in AUv3 instrument hosting — play installed synth apps directly from your gestures - Front and back camera support for self-tracking or audience interaction - Real-time gesture recognition with smoothing for stable control - RTP-MIDI wireless network MIDI with Bonjour peer discovery - USB MIDI for class-compliant synthesizers and hardware - OpenSoundControl (OSC) support with per-preset routing - Enhanced low light hand tracking for stage and studio - Custom scale and note selection, plus chromatic and pentatonic scales - Notes, control changes, and pitch bend output - Unlimited preset saving and recall - Works with any MIDI or OSC compatible DAW, DJ, or VJ app - No additional hardware required - Free 14-day trial, then a one-time unlock or a free limited mode Note: AirBending controls other software via MIDI and OSC, and can also play Audio Unit instruments installed on your device.

About

Depmin

This app is a unique synthesizer that emulates a theremin, using your device's front-facing camera to control pitch. Interact by touching the screen to adjust volume and effects, creating music in an intuitive way.

Highlights
  • Theremin-style sound generation
  • TrueDepth sensor for pitch control
  • Touch-based volume and effects adjustment
  • Synthesizer instrument
  • Unique musical interface
Features
Read full description

Depmin is a synthesizer app that pays homage to the theremin, using the TrueDepth sensor to play. It converts the distance to the nearest object into pitch and produces sound by touching the display. Volume and effects can be adjusted based on the touch coordinates. Please note that this app cannot be used on some devices that do not have Face ID.

Screenshots

AirBending4 screens
Depmin3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AirBending at 4.5 against Depmin's 4.0. AirBending also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 11 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Depmin's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. AirBending sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Depmin asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AirBending holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AirBending ships an update every 3 weeks, Depmin every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AirBending versus Depmin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirBendingDepmin
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNanas Sound OUKokoro Nemoto

Customer experience

AirBending

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Depmin

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AirBending

One-time1
  • AirBending Full Access$12.99
None

Depmin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AirBending free?
AirBending is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Depmin free?
Depmin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AirBending or Depmin?
AirBending is rated higher. AirBending averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Depmin averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do AirBending or Depmin have ads?
Neither AirBending nor Depmin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AirBending or Depmin?
AirBending ships an update every 3 weeks, and Depmin every 11 months. Most recently, AirBending was updated on October 30, 2026 and Depmin on October 30, 2026.

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