Braindance vs PLICATA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Braindance
This app allows real-time audio manipulation with buffer-glitch effects. Create complex rhythmic patterns, apply various audio transformations, and perform live with intuitive controls. It can be used as a standalone application or as an Audio Unit within other hosts.
- Real-time buffer-glitch audio manipulation
- Step sequencer with Euclidean patterns
- Multiple audio effects (bitcrush, flanger, delay, reverb)
- Master filter with various modes
- Live performance controls (XY pad, macros)
- AUv3 and MIDI support
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Braindance is a buffer-glitch effect for iOS. Feed it audio and cut, stutter, repitch and mangle it in real time. SEQUENCE Build glitch patterns on a step sequencer with gate, repeat, reverse and pan lanes. Fill rhythms with Euclidean patterns, set step size and length, and capture what you just played onto the history tape. EFFECTS Shape the result with bitcrush, flanger, delay and reverb, then a master filter with switchable SVF, ladder, comb and resonator modes. Automate any parameter with per-slot shapes and depth over a chosen number of bars. PERFORM Play the effect live. Morph between settings on an XY pad, hold macros like Fire, History, Forget and Freeze, and fire launch pads including Trance Gate, Half-Time, Tresillo, IDM Chop, Stutter, Machine Gun, Glitch Walk, Reverse Rain, Ping Pong, Repitch, Dub Siren and Clicks + Cuts. AUv3 Run Braindance as an Audio Unit inside your host to process tracks in place, or play it standalone. A MIDI variant is included for triggering glitches from a keyboard or sequencer. Three themes: Ark, Candy and Clarity.
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.
- Morphing oscillator with wavefolding
- Independent SUB oscillator
- 28-socket patch system
- Microtonal XY keyboard
- 32-step arpeggiator
- Performance macros
- AUv3 support
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Braindance at 83% against PLICATA's 50%. Braindance also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and price ($4.99 vs $7.99). PLICATA's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Braindance costs $4.99 and PLICATA $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Braindance holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Braindance's written reviews are positive against 50% of PLICATA's.
Braindance ships an update weekly, PLICATA every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Braindance | PLICATA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $7.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better | 4.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #195 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | fourtrack.fm LLC | Alessandro Guardascione |
Customer experience
Braindance
PLICATA
In-app purchases
Braindance
No in-app purchases
PLICATA
No in-app purchases









