Pentatone vs Limn Audio Generator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pentatone
This music app offers a unique pentatonic keyboard and built-in synthesizer, inspired by instruments like the kora and mbira. It features a sophisticated scale selection system and is optimized for touchscreen devices, providing an expressive and easy-to-play musical experience.
- Easy-to-play 'strummable' pentatonic keyboard
- 9 selectable pentatonic scales
- Custom FM synthesizer engine
- 25 preset sounds with macro controls
- Polyphonic touch and aftertouch response
- AUv3 functionality for host apps
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"Beautiful, fun and inspiringly expressive" - The Arithmophone Pentatone is a music app featuring an easy to play pentatonic keyboard and a built-in synthesizer. Instead of using piano keys or a grid-based interface, Pentatone takes a fresh approach, optimised for the ergonomics of touchscreen devices and inspired by instruments like the kora and mbira. The app also has a sophisticated scale selection system that includes all the common pentatonic scale types and unlocks some more unusual ones. Pentatone features: - An easy-to-play and 'strummable' keyboard, split for two handed playing - An original pentatonic scale system with 9 selectable scales, in just intonation or standard tuning - A custom synth engine (binaural 2x2 op FM with stereo detune, resonant filter, delay and reverb) - 25 preset sounds with macro sliders for tone and ambience - Initial touch and aftertouch response, both polyphonic - AUv3 functionality for use within host apps like GarageBand, Koala Sampler and Loopy Pro Pentatone user feedback: "Amazing! Love the simple UI and the musical keyboard. Also the sounds are lovely!" "This is very cool - beautiful interface and instantly musical." "This really is a joy to play and the tones are really expressive in fun ways that invite different types of creativity." "This app is such a brilliant idea!" "This is amazing. So fun to play. So easy to play with my daughter and my niece. The tones are wonderful." "This is an inspiringly expressive instrument! Really a joy to interact with." "This thing is AWESOME! It’s so easy to make up new stuff with it!" *** Pentatone is part of the Arithmophone project An Arithmophone is a thing that turns numbers into sounds, or math into music. Its name is derived from the ancient Greek words arithmos (number) and phone (sound). Any iPhone or iPad is itself an Arithmophone, because it routinely turns lists of binary numbers into sounds, for example when you use it to listen to music. But this app is a bit more 'arithmophonic' still, because it takes pure and simple harmonic ratios like 3:2 and 5:4 and uses these to build musical scales. You can use it as an easy-to-play instrument, a source of melodic and harmonic inspiration or a tool for learning about music and exploring the deep connection it has with numbers. Keep an eye out, future plans for the Arithmophone on iOS include: - PENTATONE JR., a simplified and text-free version of Pentatone, optimized for young/beginning musicians - DIATONE, the diatonic companion to Pentatone, featuring a 7-note-per-octave keyboard with all the familiar major and minor scales and modes - MIDI / MPE versions of Pentatone and Diatone - TONEHIVE, a microtonal keyboard synth for 7 limit just intonation - HUYGENS, a microtonal keyboard synth for 31 EDO To stay posted, join the community at reddit.com/r/arithmophone or subscribe to the Arithmophone youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@arithmophone
Limn Audio Generator
This music creation app allows users to quickly sketch ideas, shape patterns with multiple sequencer styles, and perform live. It offers MIDI syncing and stereo WAV export, all within a touch-first interface designed for speed and expression.
- Touch-first groovebox interface
- Multiple sequencer styles
- Real-time pattern creation
- Expressive performance controls
- BLE MIDI and virtual MIDI routing
- Stereo WAV export
- MIDI clock and transport sync
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Limn is a touch-first iOS groovebox built for speed, expression, and flow. Sketch ideas quickly, shape patterns in multiple sequencer styles, perform live with hands-on controls, sync with your setup over MIDI, and export stereo WAV files without leaving the app. Whether you are building loops, jamming transitions, or capturing full ideas for your DAW, Limn keeps the process immediate and musical. Core Features Multiple sequencing approaches in one app Fast pattern creation designed for real-time experimentation Expressive performance controls for live play Global effects and mix shaping BLE MIDI and virtual MIDI routing MIDI clock and transport sync workflows Stereo WAV export with in-app share support Landscape-focused interface for performance clarity Built For Fast Creative Workflow Limn is designed to reduce friction between inspiration and output. Use quick controls to move from initial rhythm and melody ideas to evolving patterns and performance-ready scenes. Morph and variation workflows help keep patterns alive without breaking momentum. MIDI + External Workflow Friendly Connect Limn to compatible DAWs and hardware via Bluetooth MIDI or virtual routes, then integrate it into your existing setup. Use sync tools to keep timing aligned and move between standalone creation and external production smoothly. Export and Share When a sketch becomes a keeper, bounce a stereo WAV directly from Limn and share it instantly. Great for idea capture, collaboration, arrangement handoff, or quick posting. Privacy and Data Limn does not require account creation for core use. Project state and exported audio remain on your device unless you choose to share files.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Limn Audio Generator at weekly against Pentatone's every 5 weeks. Pentatone's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Pentatone against 5.0 for Limn Audio Generator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pentatone has 15 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Pentatone ships an update every 5 weeks, Limn Audio Generator weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pentatone | Limn Audio Generator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (15 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chiel Zwinkels | JONATHAN RICHARD NICE |
In-app purchases
Pentatone
No in-app purchases
Limn Audio Generator
No in-app purchases






