Comparison

microTERA vs ScalePlay

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

Head to head
About

microTERA

Explore unique sonic textures with this waveshaping synthesizer. Generate novel sound patches randomly or program them with detailed controls. Includes a variety of built-in effects and advanced sequencing capabilities.

Highlights
  • Waveshaper with user programmable shape
  • Random sound patch generation
  • Sequencer with programmable steps
  • Built-in effects (Chorus, Phaser, Reverb, etc.)
  • Over 150 factory sounds
  • Audiobus and Ableton Link compatible
Read full description

Waveshaping Synthesis is a type of distortion synthesis that can create dynamic spectra in a controlled way. In waveshaping, it is possible to change the spectrum with the amplitude of the sound. A simple example of this method is the clipping caused by overdriving an audio amplifier. These simple method creates an astonishing variety of sounds which are very unique and can't be reproduced by any other contemporary synth! microTERA gives you also a method of getting randomly generated sound patches in a way you never experienced before: roll the dice! Every single try gives you a new unique sound patch, really every try, promised… Waveshaping Synthesis • Wavehaper with user programmable shape • Spectral shape specification • Three sine oscillators • Feedback input for noise components • 4 Low frequency oscillators • 4 Envelopes with tempo sync • 64 time/level segments per envelope • Monophonic or polyphonic with 16 voices. • Over 150 factory sounds • Uses programmable sequences with up to 32 steps.  • Can trigger single notes and chords. • Unique randomizer generates Arpeggios with 100% usability. • 32 Arpeggios included, unlimited useer arpeggios possible. • For each step you can program tie, accent, transposition and note order Effects • Chorus • Phaser • Distortion (Tape/Tube/...) • Echo/Delay • Reverb Global • Audiobus compatible (Input slot) with state saving • Support for Ableton Link. • Inter App Audio compatible. • CoreMIDI / Virtual MIDI • Audio recorder with Metronome. • Upload to SoundCloud and File Export. • Audio pasteboard.

About

ScalePlay

This app generates intricate musical patterns and sequences using complex scale theory. It's a powerful tool for both music production and education, offering scale references, virtual instruments, and interactive playback features.

Highlights
  • Generates intricate ostinatos and sequences
  • Applies complex scale patterns
  • User-defined songforms and chord changes
  • Scale references for hundreds of scales
  • Nine virtual instruments and 128 sounds
  • Visualizes scale relations
  • Interactive playback with generated patterns
Features
Read full description

ScalePlay is a generative music app capable of producing the most intricate ostinatos and sequences by applying complex scale patterns over user defined songforms and chord changes. It can be used in music production and is also a fantastic tool for music education. It includes scale references for hundreds of scales, nine virtual instruments and 128 instrument sounds. Its unique set of features allows the musician to visualize scale relations and to play along with generated patterns. Modern musicians often practice playing scales according to organizing principles like thirds. What is meant by that is to play a scale tone, then its third, then the second scale tone, the third on top of that one and so forth. The exercise would result in the scale tones 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, etc. Not an easy feat at first, because before even getting started, one has to know the base scale. Playing patterns through different keys and scale types finally is a demanding task even for advanced musicians. ScalePlay constructs patterns like these and much more complicated ones by using two simple grids. Grids have been around in music apps for years, but they are based on half-tone steps and include all available notes of the spectrum. That leaves one difficulty on the table, namely that of correctly identifying the notes of a scale. These grids also don’t easily allow for patterning as in our scale in thirds. So a different solution is called for and ScalePlay provides just that and so much more. In the application songs are used as metaphor to organize different scale types into a harmonic context. They are constructed with chords which in turn determine what scale types are available at a given time. During playback the app then cycles through these virtual chords or as with TouchPlay allows to call them up at will. This architecture is very helpful for superimposing ScalePlay patterns over existing pieces and even practicing improvising over changes. For practicing ScalePlay shows a pattern's progression on the built-in instrument and also provides a music notation reference. One can slow things down to need and play along. With the pattern lock feature all patterns can be kept in the same general vicinity. So instead of raising all scale tones when a base chord moves from C to G for example, patterns stay in place. This allows guitarists to practice scale patterns over changes while remaining in the same position. ScalePlay is also a fabulous generative music app. That is because of the magic that happens when these self-repeating scale structures are put in motion. Fantastic music occurs. Since ScalePlay supports virtual MIDI and can be recorded into any iOS based DAW. It also features TouchPlay for advanced looping. With TouchPlay scale structures can be looped endlessly and out of order. The TouchPlay environment is superimposed over ScalePlay's main interface and allows live switching between different scale types with the tap of a finger in continuous or full pattern mode. Of course ScalePlay supports multi-app multitasking as well as split-view and split-screen to make this feature even more useful. Instruments • Banjo, Bass, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Viola, Violin Some other Features: • 211 scale types • Virtual MIDI • Advanced looping with TouchPlay • Full general MIDI instrument library

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: microTERA at $1.99 against ScalePlay's $9.99. microTERA also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 71%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

microTERA costs $1.99 and ScalePlay $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for microTERA against 4.9 for ScalePlay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of microTERA's written reviews are positive against 71% of ScalePlay's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

microTERA ships an update every 4 months, ScalePlay every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
microTERA versus ScalePlay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermicroTERAScalePlay
Price$1.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.9 (8 ratings)4.9 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews81.0% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings810 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarry GohsRoGame Software

Customer experience

microTERA

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral14.3%
Negative4.8%

ScalePlay

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

microTERA

No in-app purchases

None

ScalePlay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is microTERA free?
microTERA costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ScalePlay free?
ScalePlay costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, microTERA or ScalePlay?
microTERA and ScalePlay are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 10 ratings respectively.
Do microTERA or ScalePlay have ads?
Neither microTERA nor ScalePlay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, microTERA or ScalePlay?
microTERA ships an update every 4 months, and ScalePlay every 3 months. Most recently, microTERA was updated on October 5, 2026 and ScalePlay on September 24, 2026.

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