Comparison

SAS vs PLICATA

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

Head to head
About

SAS

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a true production studio and live performance rig. Simple Audio Studio (SAS) is a complete Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and Effects Processor built on an industrial-grade C++ engine to ensure maximum performance and zero latency. Crafted for producers, beatmakers, and demanding musicians, SAS combines classic studio recording with agile composition tools and stage operation. KEY FEATURES: PROFESSIONAL DAW MODULE: Produce on a classic linear timeline. Record Audio and MIDI tracks simultaneously, perform non-destructive surgical edits, and use smart loop generators (rhythmic and melodic) to build your track in seconds. SAMPLE IMPORT & MANIPULATION: Import your own audio. Our advanced editor lets you slice, time-stretch (varispeed), pitch-shift, and draw dynamic fades independently, pad by pad or right on the timeline. LIVE PADS & SEQUENCER: Compose, make beats, and trigger scenes in real-time at 60FPS with our advanced quantization engine, ensuring your groove is always perfectly on beat. DSP EFFECTS RACK: Plug in your instrument or mic (via USB interface or internal mic) and access an in-line pedal chain. Includes amp simulators, pitch shifting, analog delays, reverbs, compressors, and much more. GLOBAL MIDI CONNECTIVITY: Connect your keyboard or controller. Map buttons and knobs instantly through the Studio I/O diagnostics center. CLOUD ECOSYSTEM & GOOGLE DRIVE: Automatically sync your effects presets, MIDI mapping profiles, and favorite loops to the cloud. With the PRO STUDIO subscription, save your projects to Google Drive and open them on any screen: start on your iPhone or iPad and finish on your computer (native Mac and Windows app included). MULTI-FORMAT EXPORT: Export your mastered track to MP3, ultra-high fidelity WAV, or share your session as a multi-channel MIDI file. EDGE-TO-EDGE LAYOUT: A responsive, modern dark UI (Dark/Neon) meticulously designed to make the most of your screen with zero wasted space. Whether you are composing on the go, playing live with your band, or wrapping up a studio recording, the SAS audio engine guarantees unshakeable stability. Professional audio doesn't need to be tied to a computer. Install now and elevate your music production. I am Simple Audio Studio. But you can call me SAS.

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
Read full description

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

SAS4 screens
PLICATA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SAS at Free against PLICATA's $7.99. PLICATA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

SAS is free to download; PLICATA costs $7.99 up front. SAS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PLICATA asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SAS ships an update every 5 days, PLICATA every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SAS versus PLICATA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSASPLICATA
PriceFree — better$7.99
Rating—4.6 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size228 MB12 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperLUIS HENRIQUE FRANCO DE GODOY LARANJEIRA DESENVOLVIMENTO DE SOFTWARE LTDAAlessandro Guardascione

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SAS

Subscriptions2
  • YOUR STAGE FITS IN YOUR POCKET$3.991 Month
  • YOUR STAGE FITS IN YOUR POCKET$4.991 Month
None

PLICATA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SAS free?
SAS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PLICATA free?
PLICATA costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do SAS or PLICATA have ads?
SAS shows ads; PLICATA does not.
Which is updated more often, SAS or PLICATA?
SAS ships an update every 5 days, and PLICATA every 2 days. Most recently, SAS was updated on October 31, 2026 and PLICATA on October 31, 2026.

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