Comparison

PhaseRings vs Marco Synth

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

Head to head
About

PhaseRings

Create expressive music with intuitive touch gestures. Explore various sound schemes and generative composition tools to craft unique musical pieces. Supports MIDI and Audiobus for advanced integration.

Highlights
  • Expressive touch gesture music creation
  • Seven unique sound schemes
  • Generative composition engine
  • Customizable pitch compositions
  • Core MIDI support
  • AudioBus and Inter-App Audio support
Features
Read full description

PhaseRings is a musical instrument for performing expressive music with touch gestures. Anyone can create a beautiful piece of music with our sound schemes and generative composition engine! Each ring on the screen represents a different pitch, and you can tap and swirl on each ring to create combinations of long and short notes. The angle and size of your tap will change the timbre of the notes you create! New in version 3.0, PhaseRings is also an AUv3 Audio Unit plugin. Load it as an instrument in hosts like AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro for iPad, and Cubasis — play the rings inside your host, run several instances at once, drive it from MIDI tracks, and record it through your host's effects. PhaseRings includes seven expressive "sound schemes" featuring percussive sounds like marimba and singing bowls as well as pure synth sounds like phase and string synthesis. Four "compositions" of pitches are included in the app, but you can also create your own custom composition by choosing three base notes and scales. PhaseRings will do the rest, generating a series of great setups from the harmony you choose! Features: - AUv3 Audio Unit instrument for AUM, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Cubasis, and other hosts - 7 sound schemes - 4 built-in compositions - Custom generative composition - 11 scales and modes - Core MIDI in and out for iOS MIDI accessories and MIDI-enabled apps - VoiceOver support and light/dark appearance

About

Marco Synth

This powerful synthesizer app offers a unique dual hard sync engine with four independent oscillators. Explore a vast sonic palette with intelligent randomization and a tactile workflow designed for sound discovery. It's suitable for both beginners and experienced musicians.

Highlights
  • Dual hard sync engine
  • Four independent oscillators
  • Intelligent randomization
  • Extensive waveform and filter options
  • Master FX bus
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Built-in keyboard
Features
Read full description

Marco is a powerful 4-oscillator synth built around dual hard sync, with independent shaping on every oscillator. Randomize to spark fresh ideas, then tweak to shape them - a fast, tactile workflow made for finding your own sounds, not just recalling presets. Marco is a new kind of synthesizer built around three breakthrough ideas: • Dual Hard Sync - two parallel hard-sync chains running side by side • Four oscillators, each with its own signal shaping path • Intelligent randomization and tweak system The result is shimmering harmonics, screaming overtones, and evolving timbres no other iOS synth can give you. Whether it's your first synth or your fortieth, Marco meets you where you are. Hit the dice for an instant new sound. Cycle through every valid Dual Hard Sync combination with one tap. Or dive deep into per-oscillator sound design when you're ready. DUAL HARD SYNC • Two parallel hard-sync chains - A, B, or free per oscillator • One-tap cycling through every valid Dual Hard Sync combination • 10 Signature presets built around Dual Hard Sync FOUR INDEPENDENT OSCILLATORS • Waveforms: sine, triangle, saw, ramp, pulse, noise • Filters: LP 6/12/18/24, BP, HP, Notch, Formant • Envelopes: VCA + Filter, linear or exponential, drone mode • LFOs: filter, volume, wavefold, pitch - with phase, reset, fade and clock sync • Glide: exponential, linear, log, S-curve, legato • Master FX bus with drive, compressor, delay, reverb, stereo width and limiter • Hard sync and wavefolding • Link envelopes, filters, LFOs, glide or effects across oscillators when wanting traditional shaping • Monophonic sounds usually only possible in large modular setups INTELLIGENT RANDOMISATION • Musical preset generator - usable sounds, not chaos • Generate by style: Mild, Wild and Recipe • Target by category: Bass, Lead, Pad, Keys, FX, Drone • Tweak system for subtle, context-aware variations • One-tap dice button for instant inspiration EFFORTLESS WORKFLOW • Consistent UI across all four oscillators • Per-oscillator scopes with live visual feedback • Live LFO indicators on every modulated parameter • Expressive XY pad • Built-in keyboard on iPad standalone BUILT FOR REAL MUSIC • 100+ presets, including 10 Signature sounds • Preset import / export • Master Preset import / export • Deep MIDI: full Note + CC mapping (CC mapping AUv3 only) • Dedicated MIDI for Random Generate, Tweak, Dual Hard Sync Cycle, Scope, Preset Browser, XY Pad (AUv3 only) • Clock-synced LFOs lock to host tempo • AUv3 plugin - works in AUM, Loopy Pro, Drambo, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubasis and more • Built-in song player with public domain tracks (standalone only)

Screenshots

PhaseRings3 screens
Marco Synth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PhaseRings at Free against Marco Synth's $4.99. PhaseRings also leads on ratings volume (16 vs 4). Marco Synth's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). On ads, in-app purchases, 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

PhaseRings is free to download; Marco Synth costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Marco Synth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of PhaseRings's written reviews are positive against 100% of Marco Synth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhaseRings ships an update every 5 months, Marco Synth weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PhaseRings versus Marco Synth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhaseRingsMarco Synth
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.4 (16 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCharles MartinGlenn Vassallo

Customer experience

PhaseRings

All ratings12 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative15.0%

Marco Synth

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PhaseRings

No in-app purchases

None

Marco Synth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhaseRings free?
PhaseRings is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Marco Synth free?
Marco Synth costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhaseRings or Marco Synth?
Marco Synth is rated higher. PhaseRings averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Marco Synth averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do PhaseRings or Marco Synth have ads?
Neither PhaseRings nor Marco Synth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhaseRings or Marco Synth?
PhaseRings ships an update every 5 months, and Marco Synth weekly. Most recently, PhaseRings was updated on October 15, 2026 and Marco Synth on September 26, 2026.

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