Comparison

Mr. Firehand vs RingsFX

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

Head to head
About

Mr. Firehand

Features
Read full description

ENGLISH: "Follow Balázs Dániel – alias Mr. Firehand – pianist on your mobile phone, too! You can check out the latest concerts, CDs, videos, and many more with MUSIC@HAND. This application contains interesting information about Mr. Firehand. MAGYAR: "Kövesd nyomon a mobilodon is Dániel Balázs – alias Mr. Firehand – zongoristát! A MUSIC@HAND applikációban elérhetőek a legfrissebb koncertek, lemezek, videók és még sok érdekes információ. Az alkalmazás érdekes tudnivalókat nyújt Mr. Firehandről. Találkozzunk a következő koncerten! Lehet, hogy éppen a közelben szól a boogie woogie!"

About

RingsFX

This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling synthesis emulation
  • Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
  • Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
  • External audio excitation
  • Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
  • 7 unique synthesis modes
  • 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
Features
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RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.

Screenshots

Mr. Firehand4 screens
RingsFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mr. Firehand at Free against RingsFX's $14.99. Mr. Firehand also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). RingsFX's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Mr. Firehand is free to download; RingsFX costs $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mr. Firehand ships an update every 7 months, RingsFX fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mr. Firehand versus RingsFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMr. FirehandRingsFX
PriceFree — better$14.99
Rating—4.9 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—26 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMTA SZTAKI4Pockets.com

In-app purchases

None

Mr. Firehand

No in-app purchases

None

RingsFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mr. Firehand free?
Mr. Firehand is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RingsFX free?
RingsFX costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mr. Firehand or RingsFX have ads?
Neither Mr. Firehand nor RingsFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mr. Firehand or RingsFX?
Mr. Firehand ships an update every 7 months, and RingsFX fortnightly. Most recently, Mr. Firehand was updated on October 4, 2026 and RingsFX on October 16, 2026.

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