Comparison

ChipWave vs RasterFX

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

Head to head
About

ChipWave

Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Make music that sounds like it came straight from a 16-bit game console. ChipWave is a chiptune DAW built around a faithful recreation of the classic 16-bit console sound chip: 8 voices, BRR-compressed samples, ADSR envelopes, hardware-style echo and a noise generator — all running at an authentic 32 kHz. COMPOSE ON A PIANO ROLL • 8 tracks mapped 1:1 to 8 hardware voices • Draw, move and resize notes with your finger • Pinch to zoom, grid snapping from 1/4 to 1/32 notes • Full undo/redo, mute/solo while playing • Up to 256 bars, tempo 20–300 BPM AUTHENTIC SOUND ENGINE • BRR sample decoding with 4-point Gaussian interpolation • ADSR and GAIN envelope modes, per-voice stereo volume • Hardware-style echo: delay, feedback and an 8-tap FIR filter • Shared LFSR noise with 32-step frequency control (NCK) • Pitch modulation driven by the previous voice (PMON) • A strict 64 KB audio RAM budget, just like the real hardware BRING YOUR OWN SOUNDS • Import WAV / AIFF / CAF — converted to chip-native BRR by an adaptive encoder • Import BRR samples directly • Analyze SPC snapshot files you have rights to: extract samples, registers and echo settings, and turn the performance into an editable piano roll • Built-in pulse, triangle, saw and organ waves so you can start right away EXPORT & SHARE • Render your song to 32 kHz stereo WAV • Export individual BRR samples • Save and open projects as portable JSON files MADE FOR iPHONE AND iPAD • Three-pane studio layout on iPad, focused tab layout on iPhone • Touch keyboard for instant sound preview • Works completely offline PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything runs on your device. No account, no ads, no tracking. Please import only audio and music data for which you have the necessary rights. ChipWave does not include any copyrighted game content.

About

RasterFX

This app is a playable modular multi-effects processor for music creation. It allows users to build complex audio effect chains, modulate any control with various sources, and perform patches live. Visualizers provide real-time feedback on sound changes.

Highlights
  • Modular multi-effects processor
  • Build custom effect chains
  • Modulate any control
  • Live performance features
  • Real-time visualizers
  • Record and share audio
Features
Read full description

Make any sound move. RasterFX is a playable modular multi-effects processor for iPhone and iPad. Use it standalone with a microphone, an imported audio file or built-in signals — or load it as an AUv3 audio effect in AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, Cubasis and other Audio Unit hosts. BUILD YOUR EFFECT CHAIN Choose from Filter, Delay, Drive, Reverb, Grain, Repeat, Motion and Dynamics. Arrange up to six plates in series or split them into parallel A/B paths. Reorder the chain and the sound changes with it. MODULATE ANY CONTROL Patch LFOs, envelope followers, random and chaos sources, step sequencers, MIDI, macros, the XY pad or device tilt to any control. Create up to 16 modulation lines, with live arcs showing exactly how the sound is moving. PERFORM THE PATCH Morph between four snapshots on the XY pad. Turn eight macros. Hold four momentary throws for stutter, sweep, reverse and freeze. RasterFX is built to be played with one hand, not programmed and left alone. GENERATE, LOCK, EVOLVE Nudge a patch, reshape it or roll a new one. Lock the parts you want to keep, undo any result and save the seeds worth returning to. Evolve lets the patch drift over time while staying anchored to the sound you chose. SEE WHAT YOU HEAR Every effect has its own live visualizer. The CRT and halftone interface makes filters, delay taps, grains, dynamics and modulation visible without turning the screen into a wall of meters. RECORD THE RESULT Record the processed output to WAV, rename takes and share them from the app. FREE TO START. PRO ONCE. Free includes all eight effects, all modulation sources, every factory preset, three plates, four modulation lines and 60-second recordings. No ads, account, watermark or reduced audio quality. RasterFX Pro is a one-time purchase — not a subscription. It unlocks six plates, 16 modulation lines, split routing, XY snapshot morphing, Evolve, A/B compare, unlimited recording length and your own saved presets. Your saved sound always plays back exactly as created, even if it uses Pro features; Free limits editing, never playback. Made for headphones, late at night.

Screenshots

ChipWave4 screens
RasterFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RasterFX at Free against ChipWave's $6.99. ChipWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#198 vs unranked). On ads, 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

RasterFX is free to download; ChipWave costs $6.99 up front. RasterFX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ChipWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
ChipWave versus RasterFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChipWaveRasterFX
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
Best chart rank#198 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperCode and DESIGN inc.Chih Han Lin

In-app purchases

None

ChipWave

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

RasterFX

One-time1
  • RasterFX Pro$3.99

Questions

Is ChipWave free?
ChipWave costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RasterFX free?
RasterFX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ChipWave or RasterFX have ads?
Neither ChipWave nor RasterFX shows ads.

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