Comparison

Phase Chimes vs ClockTear

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

Head to head
About

Phase Chimes

Create intricate musical compositions by linking gears to generate complex rhythms and melodies. Explore generative music ideas standalone or as a MIDI plugin within other music production apps.

Highlights
  • Generative rhythm and melody composition
  • AUv3 MIDI plugin support
  • Standalone app functionality
  • Adjustable gear parameters (size, angle, velocity)
  • Composition snapshots and transitions
  • On-the-fly performance capabilities
  • Internal sound library
Currently charting
Read full description

MAKE MUSICAL MACHINES! Link gears together to compose surprisingly complex rhythms and melodies. Runs as an AUv3 MIDI plugin in host apps like AUM and Logic Pro (for iPad), or as a standalone app so you can explore musical ideas on your iPhone or iPad whenever inspiration strikes! THE CONCEPT - Differently-sized gears define gear ratios, which produce polyrhythms. - The connection angle between gears determines note pitch. Use these simple principles to create generative compositions with a visually elegant user interface. Compose patterns that evolve over time, or perform live by changing and arranging gears on-the-fly. FEATURES - Set each gear's size, offset, velocity, duration, and MIDI channel. - Store multiple snapshots of your composition and smoothly transition between them. - Reposition groups of gears to transpose and re-harmonize multiple notes at the same time. - Almost any aspect of a composition can be randomized. - Control external software or hardware instruments when in standalone MIDI mode or as an AUv3 plugin. - Synchronizes with your DAW's timeline to play in time with other tracks. - Get started quickly with an onscreen tutorial and a bunch of factory presets. SOUNDS Select from internal sounds such as a sampled grand piano, a Wurlitzer, and a vintage synthesizer. Whether you want to create a live audio-visual performance, add a polyrhythmic layer to your project, or compose an ambient, meditative atmosphere, Phase Chimes will surprise you with something new every time you engage with it.

About

ClockTear

This audio processor simulates digital signal degradation through various clock failure modes. It offers granular control over timing instability, dropouts, and signal fracturing for unique sound design.

Highlights
  • Clock-based sample hold and timing damage
  • Four clock failure modes: Slip, Stutter, Tear, Collapse
  • Drift and jitter-driven clock wobble
  • Dropouts, stutters, folding, and digital interruption
  • Adjustable tone shaping and saturation
Read full description

Clock Tear is a digital instability processor built around failing clock behavior. Instead of simple bit crushing, Clock Tear holds, slips, stutters, folds, drops, and damages the signal based on input activity, drift, jitter, and the selected clock mode. Four modes move from subtle timing instability to heavier fractured playback and collapse-style digital failure. Features • Clock-based sample hold and timing damage • Four clock failure modes: Slip, Stutter, Tear, and Collapse • Drift and jitter-driven clock wobble • Dropouts, stutters, folding, and digital interruption Modes Slip – Sample-hold clock slipping with the shortest failure range. Stutter – Adds repeating stutter behavior to the clock damage. Tear – Adds stronger clock tearing with drive and foldback-style damage. Collapse – Combines the widest clock failure range with stronger stutter, folding, and drop behavior. Controls Tear – Sets the main clock damage and drive intensity. Mode – Selects Slip, Stutter, Tear, or Collapse behavior. Tone – Shapes the artifacts from darker to brighter. Drift – Adds slow clock movement and stereo wobble. Jitter – Adds faster random clock instability. Drop – Introduces intermittent dropouts and level collapses. Glue – Adds saturation and makeup cohesion after the damage. Mix – Blends dry and processed signal.

Screenshots

Phase Chimes4 screens
ClockTear1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ClockTear at $2.99 against Phase Chimes's $9.99. ClockTear also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). Phase Chimes's advantage is chart position (#198 vs unranked) and ratings volume (8 vs 2). On rating, review sentiment, 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

Phase Chimes costs $9.99 and ClockTear $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Phase Chimes against 5.0 for ClockTear. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Phase Chimes versus ClockTear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhase ChimesClockTear
Price$9.99$2.99 — better
Rating5.0 (8 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#198 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKenneth MurphyJeremy Phillips

Customer experience

Phase Chimes

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ClockTear

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Phase Chimes

No in-app purchases

None

ClockTear

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phase Chimes free?
Phase Chimes costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ClockTear free?
ClockTear costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Phase Chimes or ClockTear?
Phase Chimes and ClockTear are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Phase Chimes or ClockTear have ads?
Neither Phase Chimes nor ClockTear shows ads.

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