What's New

Version 1.6.3 is a bit of a general update under the hood. Other fixes include several layout optimizations on iPad, a fix for a issue when live stepping through a composition, and more.

App Description

Quincy is a most unique music composition tool. It uses tiny grid worlds that one can draw in to determine an initial state. Hitting the play button then starts the world's lifecycle and the changes in population produces music. This modular approach to the interpretation of cellular automata renders Life worlds in styles ranging from Balinese Gamelan music to that of Stockhausen. Auto-generated on-device, interactive music that sounds authentic and goes far beyond the mere triggering of note events or squeaky sine waves. Compositions in Quincy are visually and musically spellbinding and wonderfully strange. They can be looped, react to touch during play and can be shared via AirDrop, messaging and email.

Quincy’s core engine is a full implementation of Conway’s Game of Life, capable of generating all possible Life variants including HighLife and Seeds. It comes with a Life editor, a large library of patterns, color mixer, features an adjustable grid size, random cell insertion and many display options. Editing tools go beyond pen and pattern stamp and also include options like copy, paste and rotate.

On the music production side there are different modules that can be employed to generate textures. They sound quite distinct and are based on scale category. Each module uses its own algorithm to create sound but also defines the key and a base scale to be used as tone material. The Chroma module, for example, is geared towards atonal music with several symmetric and chromatic scales. The Gregorian module on the other hand employs church modes whereas the Pentrix module offers 27 types of pentatonic scales.

Playback is routed through a device’s speakers or headphones with no additional tone source necessary. Quincy offers 128 instruments and adjustable reverb settings. Additionally Quincy's MIDI output can be used to drive external synths on iOS and works nicely with GarageBand.

Quick Features
• Adjustable life parameters
• Adjustable grid size
• Document based
• GM instrument library
• Performance view (iPad)
• Large pattern library


Quincy is very powerful and a joy to work with. Create infinite variations on a theme by combining playback loops with random inserts or use performance mode with one-tap document switching and the ability to draw into playing compositions without disturbing the original. Quincy renders stunning visuals, produces the craziest looking metronomes, very atmospheric soundscapes and strange rhythmic patterns that have many uses in music production. For a taste check out Quincy on our website for links to Quincy's SoundCloud account, Facebook site and video clips.

iPhone Screenshots

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Quincy screenshot 1 Quincy screenshot 2 Quincy screenshot 3 Quincy screenshot 4 Quincy screenshot 5

iPad Screenshots

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Quincy screenshot 6 Quincy screenshot 7 Quincy screenshot 8 Quincy screenshot 9 Quincy screenshot 10

App Changes

  • June 08, 2014 Initial release
  • June 12, 2014 New version 1.0.2
  • July 21, 2014 New version 1.0.3
  • July 21, 2014 Price decrease: $5.99 -> $4.99
  • August 01, 2014 Price increase: $4.99 -> $6.99
  • August 04, 2014 Price decrease: $6.99 -> $5.99
  • October 03, 2014 Price decrease: $5.99 -> $4.99
  • October 24, 2014 Price increase: $4.99 -> $5.99
  • November 15, 2014 New version 1.0.4
  • December 01, 2014 Price decrease: $5.99 -> $2.99
  • December 02, 2014 Price increase: $2.99 -> $5.99
  • January 04, 2015 Price increase: $5.99 -> $6.99
  • January 17, 2015 New version 1.0.5
  • April 15, 2015 New version 1.0.6
  • June 04, 2015 New version 1.1.0
  • July 25, 2015 Price decrease: $6.99 -> $4.99
  • August 13, 2015 New version 1.1.1
  • August 15, 2015 Price increase: $4.99 -> $6.99
  • November 28, 2015 Price decrease: $6.99 -> $4.99
  • December 01, 2015 Price increase: $4.99 -> $6.99
  • March 22, 2016 New version 1.2.0
  • March 25, 2016 New version 1.2.1
  • August 19, 2016 Price increase: $6.99 -> $7.99
  • November 05, 2016 New version 1.2.2
  • November 08, 2016 New version 1.2.5
  • November 08, 2016 Price decrease: $7.99 -> $4.99
  • November 14, 2016 Price increase: $4.99 -> $7.99
  • November 25, 2016 Price decrease: $7.99 -> $4.99
  • December 02, 2016 Price increase: $4.99 -> $7.99
  • December 09, 2016 New version 1.5.0
  • December 13, 2016 New version 1.5.1
  • June 14, 2019 New version 1.5.6
  • June 14, 2019 Price increase: $7.99 -> $9.99
  • June 16, 2019 Price increase: $7.99 -> $9.99
  • August 16, 2019 New version 1.5.9
  • July 14, 2020 New version 1.6.0
  • August 05, 2021 New version 1.6.1
  • October 14, 2021 New version 1.6.2
  • September 16, 2023 New version 1.6.3
  • September 16, 2023 Price increase: $9.99 -> $11.99