Comparison

Gamelan Gender vs 笙Time

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

Head to head
About

Gamelan Gender

This app is an iOS implementation of a Balinese Gamelan Gender Wayang, a 10-key metallophone. It offers tunable keys, Inter-App Audio/Audiobus support, and MIDI file playback for learning and practice.

Highlights
  • Inter-App Audio/Audiobus support
  • MIDI file player
  • Animated keys for learning
  • Sampled sound bank
  • Customizable key tuning
  • Looping and tempo control
  • Two touch play modes
Features
Read full description

iOS implementation of Balinese Gamelan Gender Wayang, tunable and now with Inter-App Audio and Audiobus support! Gender Wayang is a 10-key metallophone, coming in pairs, most be doubled from an other pair one octave higher, tuned in Slendro scale. As Gender Wayang is played with two panggul (mallets) - other than the Gangsa in Gong Kebyar - two player together play the melody (left hand) and the interlocking parts kotekan (right hand) as a complete „mini“ Gamelan. •Inter-App Audio/Audiobus support •Remote trigger for Audiobus Remote •MIDI file player •Animated keys for „traditional" learning •Sound bank sampled from real instruments •Keys assignable to midi notes (adjust to your MIDI file) •Tune it to your real instruments •Mathematical tuning system, only 5 keys have to be defined •Calculated tuning can be overwritten, and each of the 40 keys frequency can be defined •Loop parts for practicing, increase/decrease tempo on every reloop •Set tempo changes, to for example accelerate each repetition... •Change tuning to pelog scale and use it for Gong Kebyar practicing as well, create your own 10 key tunings.... •MIDI input (Core MIDI, physical and virtual, Audiobus 3) •Two touch play modes: gamelan style (strike and damp) and piano style (touch and release)

About

笙Time

This app simulates a traditional Japanese instrument called the Sho, used in Gagaku music. It features 17 bamboo pipes that produce a sound similar to a small pipe organ. Users can play notes by pressing buttons, adjust volume by tilting the device, and hold notes by dragging their finger.

Highlights
  • Sho instrument simulation
  • Traditional Japanese music (Gagaku)
  • 17 bamboo pipes sound
  • Volume control via tilting
  • Note holding functionality
  • Adjustable fingering modes
  • Customizable attack/release envelope
  • Selectable tone colors
Features
Read full description

"笙Time" is a "笙(Sho)" simulator. "笙(Sho)" is traditional Japanese instrument for "雅楽(Gagaku - Japanese traditional music)" It has thin 17 bamboo pipes. It sounds like small pipe organ. Each button play blow notes. ( ' means upper octave notes) "乞" : { A, E, A', B', E', F#' } "一" : { B, D, E, A', B', F#' } "工" : { C#, D, E, G#, A', B' } "凢" : { D, E, A', B', E', F#' } "乙" : { E, A', B', D', E', F#' } "下" : { F#, G#, A', B', D', F#' } "十" : { F#, G, A', B', D', E' } "美" : { G#, A', B', C', D', F#' } "行" : { A', B', D', E', F#' } "比" : { A', B', C', D', E', F#' } Each note is not on "Equal Temperament", but on "Pure Temperament" or "Pythagorean Temperament". Also the default base key A=430Hz Tilting your phone, the playing volume change. Push a button and drag your finger to out of the button, then the note can be hold. Setting view can set below parameters. - Available fingering mode "Sho" has limit fingerings. If you want to use all button, set this mode off. - Attack and Release Envelope You can set envelope time (0 to 1000 ms) - Tone Color You can select tone color (Hard/Medium/Soft)

Screenshots

Gamelan Gender4 screens
笙Time4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gamelan Gender at every 2 months against 笙Time's every 38 months. Gamelan Gender also leads on price ($2.99 vs $3.99). 笙Time's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.4). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Gamelan Gender costs $2.99 and 笙Time $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gamelan Gender ships an update every 2 months, 笙Time every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Gamelan Gender versus 笙Time: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGamelan Gender笙Time
Price$2.99 — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 38 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.412.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOtmar KramisTomohisa Himeno

In-app purchases

None

Gamelan Gender

No in-app purchases

None

笙Time

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gamelan Gender free?
Gamelan Gender costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is 笙Time free?
笙Time costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Gamelan Gender or 笙Time have ads?
Neither Gamelan Gender nor 笙Time shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gamelan Gender or 笙Time?
Gamelan Gender ships an update every 2 months, and 笙Time every 38 months. Most recently, Gamelan Gender was updated on October 29, 2026 and 笙Time on October 4, 2026.

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