Oriental Strings vs Cyclop for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Oriental Strings
This professional sound module app provides authentic oriental and Arabian string instrument sounds for musicians. It offers high-quality stereo samples, master tune, scale tuning, and integrated effects. Connect via Bluetooth MIDI or use it as a virtual instrument within your favorite DAW.
- Authentic oriental and Arabian string sounds
- High-quality stereo samples
- Master Tune & Scale Tuning
- Integrated effects with 18 presets
- MIDI velocity response curve editor
- Audio Unit, Audiobus, and Inter-App Audio support
- MIDI Player/Recorder
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Oriental Strings is a professional sound module app for oriental keyboard players and for musicians who simply want to resemble the typical sound of the Orient and Middle East in their songs. Connect an external MIDI keyboard to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch by using Bluetooth MIDI or by using the Apple USB camera adapter or another adapter supported by Apple, or launch Oriental Strings as virtual instrument directly within your favourite DAW app on your iOS device!¹ Watch and listen to the demo video on our product website! This app supports "Audio Unit", "Audiobus" and Apple's "Inter-App Audio" System for audio & MIDI connections from/to other audio apps, as well as Bluetooth LE MIDI ! The sounds of Oriental Strings were exclusively recorded with players who are professionally dedicated to oriental style of music. Typical string instrument sounds for the Arabian genre are covered by this app. Besides rather exotic instruments like the Chinese erhu, typical western string instruments were used as well, but since the players of the recording sessions are focused on oriental music, those western instruments sound completely different than you might be used to from western orchestra players. The sounds of this app were once again created by Kurt Ader, winner of the NAMM 2015 "Best Sound Designer of the Year" award. 32 Sounds are included with this App: • Chinese Erhu 1 - 3 • Chinese Erhu Trill • Turkish Strings 1 - 4 • Arabian Strings 1 - 3 • Tremolo Strings 1 - 5 • Spiccato Strings • Oriental Spiccato Strings • Oriental String Quartet 1 - 3 • Oriental Staccato Strings • Arabian Solo Strings 1 - 3 • String Quartet • Oriental String Ensemble 1 - 5 • Slow Oriental Strings There is no in-app purchase in this app. So all sounds and all app features are immediately available to you as one buy. General Features: • Sounds based on high quality stereo sample set. • Master Tune & Scale Tuning (including factory presets for common Arabian & Turkish scales). • Low latency disk streaming. • Configurable audio latency down to 1 ms. • Polyphony up to several hundred stereo voices.² • Integrated effects with 18 presets. • 16 parts. • App States: Save app's entire state as user presets. • MIDI velocity response curve editor to fine tune the feeling of your MIDI keyboard. • App can keep running in the background, so you can play on your keyboard while e.g. using Safari or another app to display scores or surfing the Internet. • Audio Unit plugin version of this app, to be used as virtual instrument directly within third-party multi-track DAW apps. • Audiobus support. • Supports Apple's "IAA" system for audio & MIDI streaming between other apps. • Virtual on-screen piano keyboard with velocity support, scalable & scrollable. MIDI Player / Recorder: • Record, save and load your songs in standard MIDI file format. • Share your songs easily as audio file. • Unlimited amount of tracks. • Configurable target MIDI channel per track. • Unlimited recording and playback length. • Open MIDI (.mid) files directly from other apps (i.e. from Safari, Mail). • Download or upload MIDI files with iTunes. • Load your favorite songs as MIDI files from the Internet, and watch at the virtual keyboard how to play it. • Metronome. • Use the "Tempo Zoom" dial knob to i.e. slow down playback at any time and learn your favorite songs more easily. ¹ For more information about adapters and connecting external MIDI keyboards: https://doc.crudebyte.com/iOS/External_MIDI_devices/ ² Some sounds are using several voices per note. Polyphony depends on the exact device model being used. You find a polyphony table on our product website.
Cyclop for iPad
This app is a monophonic synthesizer designed to create powerful, deep bass sounds. It offers extensive sound design possibilities with a versatile modulation system, integrated effects, and real-time control. Ideal for electronic music production, it delivers unique and thick low-end frequencies.
- Monophonic bass synthesizer
- Advanced sound design capabilities
- Integrated effects sequencer
- Versatile modulation system
- Real-time control knobs
- Preset browser with iCloud sync
- Full MIDI support
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Cyclop is a monophonic synthesizer. It does one thing very well: delivering cutting-edge digital madness at the low end of the frequency spectrum to unleash monstrous bass sounds to the mobile world. Cyclop is the master of subs, beautifully controlling even the lowest notes, always sounding stomach-rumblingly thick. It uses mid/side processing to introduce stereo imaging between 250Hz and 4kHz. This ensures wide, interesting sounds that retain their punch and bass. There are no phasing issues, which means Cyclop cuts through the mix very nicely. Enjoy an incredible depth of sound design possibilities, great real-time control with the Wobble Knob and FX knob. Integrated effects sequencer, vast modulation system and the preset browser will take your inspiration to new levels. FEATURES AT A GLANCE: • Audio Unit v3 & Standalone • Monophonic Bass Synthesizer • 6x2 Synthesiser Engines, 10x2 Filter Engines • Analog Sync, FM, Sample Transformer, Spectromat, Saw Regiment, Phase Stressor • Vowel Filter Mode • Free Signal Flow for 2 Oscillators, Filters and Distortions. • Incredibly versatile modulation system • Multi FX Knob/Sequencer • Powerful Preset Browser with tagging and rating • Preset iCloud Sync • Full MIDI Support (Virtual, Network, External) • Transformer import: Audiocopy, Audioshare, Music Library • Ableton Link DJ Mag: “It is decidedly digital-sounding, but not in a bad way, and as the growing list of fans proves, it can be turned to good use in just about any electronic genre, past, present and (probably) future.” Rating: 9.5/10 Producer Spot: “Very good for his complexity, very versatile and easy to use if you need sub bass sound for your productions. Sugar Bytes offers High quality and good prices with all their products.” Rating: 9.5/10 Computer Music: “Anyone will find it powerful and unique-sounding, adding spice to existing tracks and inspiring new ones.” Rating: 4.5/5.0
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cyclop for iPad at Free against Oriental Strings's $7.99. Cyclop for iPad also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (84 vs 11). Oriental Strings's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On review sentiment, 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
Cyclop for iPad is free to download; Oriental Strings costs $7.99 up front. Cyclop for iPad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Oriental Strings asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cyclop for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cyclop for iPad has 84 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Oriental Strings's written reviews are positive against 74% of Cyclop for iPad's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Oriental Strings | Cyclop for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (11 ratings) | 4.7 (84 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | 74.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 84 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.9 GB | 299 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte | Sugar Bytes GmbH |
Customer experience
Oriental Strings
Cyclop for iPad
In-app purchases
Oriental Strings
No in-app purchases
Cyclop for iPad
- Cyclop Full Version$24.99
Questions
Is Oriental Strings free?
Is Cyclop for iPad free?
Which has better reviews, Oriental Strings or Cyclop for iPad?
Do Oriental Strings or Cyclop for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Oriental Strings or Cyclop for iPad?
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