Locus vs Oktopus Synthesizer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Locus
This app generates evolving melodic MIDI sequences for electronic music production. It offers thirteen generative archetypes and extensive editing capabilities, allowing users to create unique musical ideas and arrange them into full compositions. It functions as a standalone application or an AUv3 MIDI effect within compatible hosts.
- Generative MIDI sequencing
- 13 unique generative archetypes
- Seed-derived, reproducible patterns
- Evolve, Feel, and Edit controls
- Per-note slides with 303-style legato
- 25 scales and snap-to-scale pitch
- Standalone and AUv3 MIDI effect
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Locus is a generative MIDI sequencer that creates evolving melodic motifs and sends them to your favorite synths. Designed for techno, ambient, IDM, and experimental electronic music, it turns a single seed into fresh musical ideas across thirteen generative archetypes, from acid-style grooves and cascading arpeggios to sparse fractals and interlocking pulses. Use Locus as a standalone app or as an AUv3 MIDI effect inside hosts like AUM, Logic, Cubasis, and Drambo. Every generated pattern plays in sync with your host and routes over MIDI to any instrument you choose. GENERATION Press CREATE and Locus composes a new motif from the current archetype, rooted in your chosen key and scale. Each archetype has its own rhythmic and melodic character: Groove, Cascade, Arc, Wander, Call & Answer, Chaos, Pulse, Even Pulse, Sparse Fractal, Interlock, Cluster, Puncture, and Thump. Generation is seed-derived, so the same settings always reproduce the same pattern. EVOLVE Push EVOLVE to generate controlled variations of the current motif. Keep what works, mutate what doesn't. Rhythm and pitch shift in musically coherent ways without losing the pattern's identity. FEEL Shape the musical foundation with Root, Scale, Timing, Steps, Octave range, Swing, Dynamics, and Density. 25 scales keep everything in key. Raise density to fill the grid or thin it out for space. EDIT & SLIDE Engage Pattern Lock to edit the authored pattern directly: rotate, move, and transpose notes, or undo and redo. The SLIDE knob adds per-note slides with 303-style legato, gliding between pitches for classic acid phrasing. Slides even carry across density-thinned notes. SCENES Capture complete musical setups in sixteen scene slots and chain them into full arrangements. Each scene remembers its pattern, archetype, feel settings, and slide amount. STANDALONE & AUV3 Use Locus as a standalone app or as an AUv3 MIDI effect. It runs in AUv3 hosts such as AUM, Logic, Cubasis, and Drambo, following host transport and clock. KEY FEATURES • Generative MIDI sequencer for melodic ideas • 13 archetypes: Groove, Cascade, Arc, Wander, Call & Answer, Chaos, Pulse, Even Pulse, Sparse Fractal, Interlock, Cluster, Puncture, Thump • Seed-derived generation, reproducible from your settings • Evolve, Feel, and Edit scopes for total musical control • Per-note slides with 303-style legato • 25 scales with snap-to-scale pitch • Swing, dynamics, and density shaping • Pattern Lock with rotate, move, transpose, undo/redo • 16 scenes with chain editor for full arrangements • AUv3 MIDI effect + standalone app • Host sync and MIDI routing to any instrument MANUAL & TUTORIALS • See the "Help" page in the app for the full manual and tutorials • Alternatively, visit https://terrarum.net/locus.html to read them online
Oktopus Synthesizer
This powerful iOS synthesizer and AUv3 extension allows for deep sound design and music creation. Shape sounds with 8 synth blocks, combine oscillators and samples, and utilize a flexible effects chain. It functions as a standalone instrument or within compatible DAWs.
- 8-block synth architecture
- Oscillator and sample combination
- AUv3 instrument support
- Sample loading and playback
- Flexible effects chain
- MPE and MIDI input support
- Built-in spectrometer
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Oktopus is a deep synthesizer and AUv3 extension instrument with a modular spirit built for sound design, performance, and music creation in any compatible DAW or standalone. This app includes an AUv3 extension! Shape sounds across 8 synth blocks, combine oscillators and samples, route MIDI creatively, and build movement with LFOs, arpeggiators, modulation, and a flexible effects chain. Use Oktopus as a standalone instrument or load it inside AUv3-compatible iOS hosts / DAWs. Features: + 8-block synth architecture for layered and evolving sounds + MIDI Sequencer for limitless song arrangement + MPE and MIDI input support + AUv3 instrument support for compatible hosts + Sample loading, slicing, and playback tools + Built-in recording and sample export workflow + Built-in spectrometer to clearly see what you're creating + Per-block arpeggiator and sequencing controls + LFOs, modulation routing, and performance macros + Factory presets and factory samples included + Share Voice Memos/Audio Files/Photos/Video clips to the app to sample almost anything you can imagine. Supported files: AIFF, MP3, WAV, MP4, MOV, JPEG, HEIF, PNG, SVG + Spectral synthesis + Flexible effects chain with EQ, distortion, bitcrusher, compressor, phaser, flanger, chorus, filter, delay, and reverb + Touch-friendly interface for iPhone and iPad music creation + Custom zoom level Oktopus is made for producers, composers, and experimental musicians who want a powerful synth environment that can move from quick ideas to detailed sound design.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Oktopus Synthesizer at every 5 days against Locus's every 2 weeks. Oktopus Synthesizer also leads on ratings volume (12 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15 vs 17.6). Locus's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and price ($3.99 vs $4.99). 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
Locus costs $3.99 and Oktopus Synthesizer $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Locus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Oktopus Synthesizer has 12 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Locus ships an update every 2 weeks, Oktopus Synthesizer every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Locus | Oktopus Synthesizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.8 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 90.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 111 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joe Topjian | Vyacheslav Koristov |
Customer experience
Locus
Oktopus Synthesizer
In-app purchases
Locus
No in-app purchases
Oktopus Synthesizer
No in-app purchases







