Comparison

PdParty vs Broken Place AR

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

Broken Place AR

Experience music in a new dimension with this augmented reality application. Manipulate synthesizer and groove box interfaces through your device, creating unique and generative soundscapes with simple gestures. It's designed for intuitive, one-handed play.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality music interface
  • Generative sound manipulation
  • One-handed control
  • Save and recall patterns
  • Multiple song patches
Features
Read full description

Broken Place AR is an augmented reality music app. Surround yourself in synthesizer and groove box interfaces using your phone as a window into the virtual music space. Broken Place AR brings a new and exciting way to interact with music. Sound manipulation is generative making every experience unique. Even the slightest user input wildly randomizes the groove of sound on every interaction. Be sure you are using an iOS device iPhone 6s or newer. If you’re on iPad, just ensure you have a more recent chip that can handle AR. The music interface mechanics have been designed with great care to ensure that only one hand is needed to play. With a click/hold/rotate gesture, users are able to manipulate music parameters mapped to the sound patch. Many more improvements in this pursuit will be released as time goes on. Version 1.1 brings 3 song patches and a new save/recall feature for your patterns. Much more is in the works. Stay tuned for updates!

Screenshots

PdParty4 screens
Broken Place AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PdParty at 5.0 against Broken Place AR's 4.6. PdParty also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). On price, review sentiment, 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

PdParty holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of PdParty's written reviews are positive against 75% of Broken Place AR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PdParty ships an update every 3 months, Broken Place AR every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PdParty versus Broken Place AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPdPartyBroken Place AR
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (17 ratings) — better4.6 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings17 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB170 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel Wilcoxanthony burchell

Customer experience

PdParty

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

Broken Place AR

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

PdParty

No in-app purchases

None

Broken Place AR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PdParty free?
PdParty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Broken Place AR free?
Broken Place AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PdParty or Broken Place AR?
PdParty is rated higher. PdParty averages 5.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Broken Place AR averages 4.6 from 8 ratings.
Do PdParty or Broken Place AR have ads?
Neither PdParty nor Broken Place AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PdParty or Broken Place AR?
PdParty ships an update every 3 months, and Broken Place AR every 8 months. Most recently, PdParty was updated on October 24, 2026 and Broken Place AR on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons