DefleMask vs Helm

DefleMask is a chiptune music tracker for composing video-game music for older consoles and computers. It generates sound in real time from emulators and lists support for Genesis, SMS with FM Sound Unit, Game Boy, PCE, NES with VRC7 and FDS, C64, Arcade, Neo Geo, and MSX2. Pattern orders can be set independently for each channel, and editors cover FM, macros, wavetables, and sample instruments. The tracker supports real-time MIDI input recording and chord input, with exports to VGM, WAV, ROM, and videos with visualizations. PareidoLink rooms enable live multiplayer music collaboration. It runs on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux; Touch Mode is intended for portable devices and touchscreen computers. A file can contain at most 144 samples across 12 banks. DefleMask costs $14.99, paid once, with free updates forever. DefleMask Legacy is a free 32-bit demo and is unsupported.

Helm is a free software synthesizer for creating electronic music on a computer. It is available as a standalone application or as a plugin in LV2, VST, VST3, or AU formats, with GNU/Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows versions in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. Its sound tools include dual oscillators with cross modulation, unison, a sub oscillator, filters, modulation, a step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and audio effects. MIDI Learn lets users assign a MIDI control to a knob or slider. The maker describes Helm as software that can be run without DRM, studied, changed, and redistributed in original or modified form. The FAQ says the person who plays a sound made with Helm holds its copyright. Listed requirements include Windows 7 or later, MacOS 10.7 or later, Ubuntu Trusty 14.04 or later, and Debian Jessie or later. The project is described as being in beta with outstanding bugs. For bug reports, the maker asks users to include details such as what happened, crash reports, their operating system, and whether they use the plugin or standalone version.