Comparison

PhonoPaper vs Mazetools Soniface

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

Head to head
About

PhonoPaper

This app decodes images containing encoded sound, allowing you to play back audio embedded within visual patterns. You can also record your own sounds and convert them into these unique visual codes. It's designed for creative audio messaging and artistic expression.

Highlights
  • Decode images with encoded sound
  • Create sound codes from recordings
  • Offline decoding capability
  • Analogue code for distortion resilience
  • Real-time, hand-controlled playback
  • Draw codes for unique sounds
Features
Read full description

PhonoPaper is a camera app for playing pictures with encoded sound (PhonoPaper-codes). With this app, you can also create your own codes: 10 seconds of sound can be recorded from a microphone and converted into an image. [ Key features ] * PhonoPaper does not require access to the network for decoding; * PhonoPaper code is analogue, so it is not so sensitive to different types of the image distortion (bad camera, dark picture, wrinkled paper, etc.); at least you will hear the "silhouette" of the original sound; * code can be played in real-time with hand-controlled speed and direction; * code can be drawn by hand to get some unusual sounds. [ Examples of usage ] * voice messages (or pieces of music) on t-shirts, billboards, posters, postcards, goods; * audio labels for phonorecords; * audio examples in books; * secret messages; * art-experiments. [ How to use ] Launch the app, point the camera at the code (tap on the screen to focus if necessary) and smoothly scan the picture from left to right. The code should be parallel to the frame - try to keep the camera level. The black code markers (top and bottom) should fall entirely into the frame. If the application recognizes code markers, you will hear a sound. If you are unable to play the code smoothly, press the record button on the right side of the screen, this will enable automatic scanning.

About

Mazetools Soniface

Explore sound and music visually with a unique motion-controlled interface. Create and manipulate audio and visual elements using gestures, touch, and body tracking. Offers a modular approach to instruments and advanced automation for creative expression.

Highlights
  • Visual sound and music exploration
  • Motion interface for gesture control
  • Modular synth, sampler, and rhythm modules
  • Generative Gridsynth synthesizer
  • Advanced controller automation
  • MIDI input/output and Ableton Link
Read full description

Mazetools opens up a unique approach to music and creativity. It's about exploring sounds in a new way, experiencing them visually, changing them through gestures, coming across something in the process, a sound, a melody, a groove, a song... For the first time, we have integrated an interface that allows you to control sound through movement. This is done through the camera of your device and ML-based body recognition. It enables new musical experiences and shared creative moments. Mazetools are unique in their operation and complex in their own way. For some it's a welcome change, for others it's too crazy, for some it's just the right introduction to the world of sound. There are currently two Mazetools: Mutant and Soniface. Mutant is comparable to a loop machine and works with a defined number of instruments. It produces results quickly, but thanks to the Hypercube it offers the possibility to change everything with a swipe and to hear sounds that always surprise us. Soniface, on the other hand, is more modular when it comes to adding instruments. The settings of the synth, sampler and rhythm modules go into great detail. An important feature is the Gridsynth, an area of lines that correspond to a scale over several octaves. Automation plays a major role in Soniface: all instruments and their controllers can be controlled via LFOs, touch and camera-based body tracking. Key Features - Creative space to explore sound, music and geometric visuals - Experiment with audio and visual objects and create your own scenes - Operate controllers and play instruments via multitouch - Motion interface to control instruments and parameters through gestures, movements and dance - Cross-platform compatibility of project files - Simple design for mobile devices, complex (regular) design for tablets and desktops - Advanced in-app guide, FAQ & help function in English and German Instruments - Gridsynth - A generative, visual synthesizer for drones and melodies incl. sequencer & arpeggiator - Rhythm sequencer for sample- and synth-based basses and drums - Spatial & granular soundscape sampler incl. mic input, sample library and file integration - Key interface for cross-instrument tonality incl. progression sequencer - Interactive LivePad and keyboard for Gridsynth, Bass & Sampler Automation & Connectivity - Advanced controller automation incl. multi-touch editor, body tracking interface - MIDI input and output - Master FX and Ableton Link - Audiobus & Inter-App Audio (experimental support) - Normal mouse and keyboard support Mazetools Soniface is free worldwide and without advertising. You can support our work, our vision and all Soniface users by purchasing Soniface Pro, which includes additionally: - Unlimited instruments (Mazes) - Pattern mode to create unlimited scenes for songs and performances - Visual mode with Airplay live video output for performance & VJing - Unlimited internal audio recording (.wav, up to 7.1 on desktop). We do our best to avoid bugs. So feel free to write us bugs and problems. Much more content, terms of use, credits and FAQ are in the app's guide. About Mazetools We are Stephan and Jakob, when we were 13 in 1999, we exchanged our first beat loops on floppy disks and wrote raps on them. Today we are still fascinated by sound, release our music and realize multimedia performances. You can find more information on Ectoplastic.com. With this background, we share a lot of practical experience with Mazetools, from generative sound & visual patches to the development of multi-touch & motion tracking interfaces and VR sound development. We use this technological core to empower creativity, make musical expression inclusive and thus democratize electronic music. We are still within this process, but there is a lot of potential! We invite you to join us. Every purchase directly supports, every positive review, post and constructive feedback. Thank you very much!

Screenshots

PhonoPaper1 screens
Mazetools Soniface4 screens

Verdict

The call

PhonoPaper and Mazetools Soniface both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of PhonoPaper's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mazetools Soniface's. PhonoPaper also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). Mazetools Soniface's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. 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 — 4.6 for PhonoPaper against 4.5 for Mazetools Soniface. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 25 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of PhonoPaper's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mazetools Soniface's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhonoPaper ships an update every 4 months, Mazetools Soniface every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PhonoPaper versus Mazetools Soniface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonoPaperMazetools Soniface
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (45 ratings) — better4.5 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better25
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB478 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander ZolotovEctoplastic

Customer experience

PhonoPaper

All ratings45 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.4%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive82.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative14.7%

Mazetools Soniface

All ratings25 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

PhonoPaper

No in-app purchases

None

Mazetools Soniface

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhonoPaper free?
PhonoPaper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mazetools Soniface free?
Mazetools Soniface is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhonoPaper or Mazetools Soniface?
PhonoPaper is rated higher. PhonoPaper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Mazetools Soniface averages 4.5 from 25 ratings.
Do PhonoPaper or Mazetools Soniface have ads?
Neither PhonoPaper nor Mazetools Soniface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhonoPaper or Mazetools Soniface?
PhonoPaper ships an update every 4 months, and Mazetools Soniface every 6 weeks. Most recently, PhonoPaper was updated on September 22, 2026 and Mazetools Soniface on July 17, 2026.

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