Tunary Best self-playing and generative music tools
ARGISH suits a quick, chord-led ambient starting point. VCV Rack suits musicians who want to build the generative system themselves. Riffer suits a workflow where generated MIDI drives an instrument you already own.
Written by Tunary Instruments, which makes the Tunary products below. This is a comparison of documented features and workflows, not an independent review or a claim that we tested every competitor. Sources checked 4 October 2026.
Which tool fits your workflow?
| Tool | Price | Choose it for | Consider first |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARGISH | US $89 | A self-playing synth with chord-led pads, arpeggios, bass and pulse. | An opinionated instrument rather than an open modular environment. |
| VCV Rack 2 | Free standalone; paid Pro for plugin use | Designing your own generative patches from modules. | Patch-building takes time; the free edition is not a DAW plugin. |
| Riffer 4 | €49 intro; €69 regular | Generating editable MIDI riffs for a chosen sound source. | Plan the receiving instrument and MIDI routing in your host. |
Prices are as shown by the linked vendors on 4 October 2026. Promotions, tax and currency can change; confirm the price and compatibility before purchase.
Do you want a finished instrument or a system to build?
Choose ARGISH when you want to select chords, set a mood and hear an evolving arrangement quickly. Choose a modular environment when deciding the timing, modulation and signal flow is part of the creative work. A modular patch can be extremely personal, but it asks you to construct those relationships.
When is a MIDI generator the better choice?
A MIDI generator is useful when you already like your sound palette and need a new musical part. Riffer 4 provides key and scale choices, editing and MIDI export. That makes it a different kind of starting point from a self-contained ambient instrument: you still choose how the notes sound and where they sit in the track.
How do I test whether a generative tool is musical enough?
Let the same idea run for several minutes. Listen for useful variation, then check whether you can return to a result you liked. Try a sparse passage and a denser one. If the output always needs heavy editing, a simpler sequencer may fit better. Generative does not mean the tool has to make every compositional decision for you.
Hear ARGISH for yourself.
A self-playing drone synth that builds evolving pads, arpeggios, bass and pulse around your chords. Try the browser version before choosing a desktop plugin.