Low Poly Synth vs Descent Granulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Low Poly Synth
Generate unique, atmospheric melodic sounds with billions of presets. Explore new timbres through random generation or precise editing. Record and export your creations in various formats.
- Billions of unique timbres
- Random sound generation
- MIDI control
- Real-time audio recording
- WAV and SunVox export
- Audio Unit Extension (AUv3)
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Low Poly Synth is a generator of melodic atmospheric sounds with billions of unique timbres. The app is built on modified synthesis algorithms from Fractal Bits, Relic Waves, and Relic Flow, with the addition of pure tone generation code. The sound space is divided into 4294967296 presets, each corresponding to a set of 8 sample textures. The volume of an individual sample can be adjusted in the top panel or via MIDI (Settings -> MIDI Mapping). The bottom panel is a classic musical keyboard that sets the note for the sounds in the set. Each note triggers all 8 samples at once - together they form a complex harmonic pattern that almost never repeats over time due to the different lengths of the looped fragments. Features: * search for new sounds with three buttons: next random set, edit code, previous set; each set of 8 sounds corresponds to a code of 8 characters (you can save/copy/paste it as plain text); * three types of keyboards for live performing: on-screen, PC keyboard, MIDI input; for the on-screen keyboard, you can set the number of displayed octaves and scale; * 20+ parameters can be controlled via MIDI or directly through the app interface: Settings -> MIDI Mapping; * 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; * Audio Unit Extension (AUv3), Wi-Fi export/import. 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.
Descent Granulator
This app captures audio, breaks it into tiny grains, and manipulates them for unique sound effects. Explore subtle thickening, rhythmic delays, frozen soundscapes, and shimmering pitch-shifted textures.
- Real-time granular engine
- Pitch shifting with quantization
- Six-axis randomization
- Diffusion and feedback controls
- Tempo sync
- 35 factory presets
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Descent is a real-time granular effect that captures incoming audio, breaks it into tiny grains, and scatters them across time and pitch. The result: everything from subtle thickening and rhythmic delays to vast frozen soundscapes and shimmering pitch-shifted clouds. GRANULAR ENGINE Control up to 50 simultaneous grains with independent settings for duration, overlap, and envelope shape. Play grains forward, reverse, or randomly mixed for tape-style effects, reverse swells, and glitchy textures. PITCH SHIFTING WITH QUANTIZATION Transpose from -24 to +24 semitones. Lock pitch shifts to specific intervals—octaves, fifths, or any chromatic combination—for harmonically correct shimmer and transposition effects. SIX-AXIS RANDOMIZATION Independently randomize pitch, pan, position, amplitude, duration, and grain count. Dial in subtle organic movement or push into complete textural chaos. DIFFUSION AND FEEDBACK High-feedback mode with a diffusion control transforms delays into lush, reverb-like washes that never get harsh or run away from you. TEMPO SYNC Lock grain timing to your session's tempo or let textures evolve freely in untethered mode. 35 FACTORY PRESETS Covering shimmers, delays, reverbs, pitch effects, and experimental sound design. Cross-platform XML presets are compatible across all Audio Damage plugin formats and operating systems. SOUND DESIGN IDEAS Add subtle depth with a few long grains and minimal randomization Create rhythmic delays with short, quantized grains at high feedback Build infinite sustain pads by freezing audio with high grain count and overlap Craft shimmer effects by quantizing pitch to octaves and fifths Transform vocals into ethereal textures with diffusion and wide panning AUv3 compatible. Runs standalone or hosted in AUM, ApeMatrix, Audiobus, Cubasis, GarageBand, and other AUv3 hosts on iOS 13 or newer. From Audio Damage—making creative software for discerning musicians since 2002.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Low Poly Synth at 88% against Descent Granulator's 0%. Low Poly Synth also leads on ratings volume (18 vs 1) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). Descent Granulator's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). 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
Low Poly Synth costs $1.99 and Descent Granulator $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Descent Granulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Low Poly Synth has 18 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Low Poly Synth's written reviews are positive against 0% of Descent Granulator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
| Parameter | Low Poly Synth | Descent Granulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (18 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Zolotov | Audio Damage, Inc. |
Customer experience
Low Poly Synth
Descent Granulator
In-app purchases
Low Poly Synth
No in-app purchases
Descent Granulator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Low Poly Synth free?
Is Descent Granulator free?
Which has better reviews, Low Poly Synth or Descent Granulator?
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