Comparison

PdParty 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

PdParty

This app allows users to run Pure Data patches on iOS devices, enabling custom digital signal processing. It supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input, offering a WYSIWYG experience for creating multimedia applications.

Highlights
  • Run Pure Data patches on iOS
  • Supports OSC, MIDI, and game controller input
  • Native Pd GUI objects for WYSIWYG
  • Built-in web server for patch management
  • General purpose digital signal processing platform
Features
Read full description

PdParty is an open-source iOS application for running Pure Data patches on Apple mobile devices using libpd. Directly inspired by Chris McCormick's PdDroidParty and the original RjDj by Reality Jockey, PdParty takes a step further by supporting OSC (Open Sound Control), MIDI, & MiFi game controller input as well as implementing the native Pd GUI objects for a WYSIWYG patch to mobile device experience. Various scene types are supported including compatibility modes for PdDroidParty & RjDj and both patches and abstraction libraries can be managed via a built-in web server. Unlike the rise of the single-purpose audio application, PdParty is meant to provide a platform for general purpose digital signal processing via Pure Data patches. Getting Started --------------- New users, check out the User Guide and download the PdParty Composer Pack which contains the abstractions you need when composing on your computer as well as scene type templates. See the PdParty webpage: http://danomatika.com/code/pdparty Who Is This App For? -------------------- PdParty is meant as a platform for running patches created in Pure Data, a graphical programming environment for multimedia. Related to Max MSP, Pure Data allows computer musicians and non-programmers to create custom DSP routines by connecting objects with virtual patch cables. If you don't intend to create your own PdParty scenes or run scenes provided by others, you may not find this app very useful. Please _do not_ download this app and give it a bad rating because you are unsure of what it's for or how to use it. How Can I Support PdParty? -------------------------- In the spirit of the open-source Pure Data community, PdParty is provided for free on the Apple App Store. If you wish to support its author and or PdParty development, consider having your institution sponsor a PdParty workshop, specific development, or a robotcowboy artist residency. Updating -------- See the changelog on the PdParty website for detailed version info. To update the included PdParty patch folders (lib, samples, tests) after installing a new version, use the buttons at the bottom of the Settings page.

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

PdParty4 screens
Mazetools Soniface4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PdParty at 5.0 against Mazetools Soniface's 4.5. PdParty also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 60%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Mazetools Soniface's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

PdParty holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of PdParty's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mazetools Soniface's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PdParty ships an update every 3 months, Mazetools Soniface every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PdParty versus Mazetools Soniface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPdPartyMazetools Soniface
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (17 ratings) — better4.5 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1727 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB478 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel WilcoxEctoplastic

Customer experience

PdParty

All ratings16 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

Mazetools Soniface

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

In-app purchases

None

PdParty

No in-app purchases

None

Mazetools Soniface

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PdParty free?
PdParty 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, PdParty or Mazetools Soniface?
PdParty is rated higher. PdParty averages 5.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Mazetools Soniface averages 4.5 from 27 ratings.
Do PdParty or Mazetools Soniface have ads?
Neither PdParty nor Mazetools Soniface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PdParty or Mazetools Soniface?
PdParty ships an update every 3 months, and Mazetools Soniface every 6 weeks. Most recently, PdParty was updated on October 24, 2026 and Mazetools Soniface on October 24, 2026.

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