Comparison

Microtonal Lab vs ScopeNode

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

Head to head
About

Microtonal Lab

Explore music beyond the traditional 12-note scale with this comprehensive microtonal studio. Create custom scales, play a microtonal keyboard, sequence patterns, and perform live with a launchpad. Export your creations as MIDI files for further production.

Highlights
  • Harmonic Galaxy visualizer
  • Microtonal keyboard with custom scales
  • 32-step sequencer with FX
  • Launchpad for live performance
  • Extensive world scale library
  • Multiple tuning systems support
  • MIDI export for DAWs
Features
Read full description

Microtonal Lab is a complete microtonal music studio for iOS. Break free from the 12-note octave and explore the infinite space between the notes. AUv3 PLUGIN Use MicrotonalLab as a plugin inside GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, Drambo, and any AUv3-compatible host. The full step sequencer, tuning system, and SF2 instruments are available directly in your DAW. Record sequences as MIDI regions with automatic tempo sync. HARMONIC GALAXY Discover musical intervals as a visual universe. Every dot is an interval above the root — its size shows consonance, its color shows its position in the octave, and its number shows the exact distance in cents. Pinch to zoom and new microtones emerge from the depths. Build custom scales by tapping intervals and save them to your library. MICROTONAL KEYBOARD A fully playable keyboard with exact microtonal tuning. Choose from piano, strings, marimba, vibes, bass, pad, flute, or synthesized waveforms. Activate any scale from the library and the keyboard reconfigures to show precisely those notes. Supports glide between notes for expressive playing. STEP SEQUENCER A 16-step sequencer with microtonal note assignment per step, velocity, gate, and swing control. Syncs to the host tempo in AUv3 mode. LAUNCHPAD A grid-based launchpad for live performance. Rows correspond to scale degrees, columns to time — tap to toggle notes and play your patterns in real time. SCALE LIBRARY Browse world scales from dozens of musical traditions, including Arabic maqam, Indian ragas, Persian dastgah, Javanese gamelan, and many more. Preview any scale, then activate it across all views with one tap. TUNING SYSTEMS Switch between 12-TET, 19-TET, 24-TET, 31-TET, and 53-TET. Full access to all scale degrees in the sequencer for every tuning system. MIDI EXPORT Export your sequences to standard MIDI files with full microtonal pitch bend on each channel. Import directly into any DAW for further production. FX Filter (low-pass with cutoff and resonance), reverb (from small room to cathedral), and delay — all controllable via XY pads in real time during playback. Microtonal Lab is built for composers, sound designers, music theorists, and anyone curious about the music that lives between the keys.

About

ScopeNode

Features
Read full description

ScopeNode is a multi-input oscilloscope, capable of visualizing multiple tracks layered on top of each other. The plugin features a suite of phase alignment tools built around an interactive visual workflow tailored specifically for the low end. These can help eliminate low-frequency clashes at the source so your tracks layer perfectly without heavy reliance on aggressive sidechain dips. The result is a much smoother, more fluid bass response. Beyond phase alignment, ScopeNode is perfect for visualizing how individual components line up, checking delays between signal points, or analyzing precise pre and post waveform differences across third-party plugins or subchains. FEATURES: - Free-Running & Beat-Synced Modes - 4-Layer Scope Matrix + Live Summing: Layer up to four audio tracks simultaneously with a real-time composite summing view for instant clash detection - Separate controls for visualization and sum inclusion to accommodate special use cases (optional) - Phase shifter with configurable center frequency and Q factor (one per track) - Sample grid delay, phase invert, gain control also available for each track - Multi-instance workflow: Drop plugin instances ("probes") anywhere in your signal paths to capture and compare tracks instantly TECHNICAL NOTES: - When enabled, it's recommended to verify that Plug-in Latency Compensation is not affecting synchronization in unexpected ways with the given set of active third-party plugins - Manual phase alignment is an advanced, hands-on process that requires time and active engineering effort, depending on the complexity of the tracks involved - Workflows could be greatly impacted by specific features of your DAW, e.g. ease of automation envelope editing, ways of laying out multiple viewports, etc. PLEASE NOTE: • An AUv3-compatible host is required to use this app (true interoperability can vary across different apps) • Please check our support page for a list of compatible host applications • Officially supported sampling rates: 44.1, 48, 96 kHz

Screenshots

Microtonal Lab4 screens
ScopeNode3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ScopeNode at $4.99 against Microtonal Lab's $6.99. ScopeNode also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Microtonal Lab costs $6.99 and ScopeNode $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Microtonal Lab versus ScopeNode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrotonal LabScopeNode
Price$6.99$4.99 — better
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin Adlerquantovox

In-app purchases

None

Microtonal Lab

No in-app purchases

None

ScopeNode

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microtonal Lab free?
Microtonal Lab costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ScopeNode free?
ScopeNode costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Microtonal Lab or ScopeNode have ads?
Neither Microtonal Lab nor ScopeNode shows ads.

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