# Needlepoint - Vinyl Simulator — by Unfiltered Audio

> Advanced physical modeling app for realistic and creative vinyl record sound simulation. (iPhone/iPad app by Unfiltered Audio.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needlepoint-vinyl-simulator/id6444132258 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Unfiltered Audio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1638381375)
- Category: Music
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 14 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 30 MB
- Released: 2022-11-21
- Data updated: 2026-08-22
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needlepoint-vinyl-simulator/id6444132258/reviews.md

## What is Needlepoint?

Unfiltered Audio's Needlepoint is now available on iOS as a Standalone app or AUv3 plugin!

Unfiltered Audio raises the bar (and lowers the tonearm) with Needlepoint: a revolution in vinyl simulation. Continuing the retro themes of their smashed-up hit lo-fi-af, Needlepoint presents a full platter of advanced physical modeling to dive deep into the warm, fuzzy sound of turntable noises and artifacts beloved by many. Of course, since this is an Unfiltered Audio plugin, you can push the needle far past realism and dive into some seriously warped sounds.

While many vinyl plugins are content to use looping samples of noise, Needlepoint uses physical modeling to achieve its incredible sound. Needlepoint synthesizes all sorts and sizes of detritus and distress on a record: hair, dust mites, scratches, warping, etc. These are not randomly modeled, but rather accurately distributed onto a rotating, algorithmic platter. Changing the speed of the record can greatly change the nature of Needlepoint's impact on your sound. While you may be used to vinyl RPMs like 33 1/3, 45, and 78, have you ever wondered what it would sound like to tempo sync a turntable to your DAW? Now you can!

Beyond noise, ambience, and tone, Needlepoint includes other effects to fully etch out your vibe. A single knob compressor (inspired by lo-fi-af's PRESS knob with six additional algorithms) can be added before or after the signal chain. This compressor can emulate algorithms from famous hardware samplers associated with vinyl, or even mimic the sound of analog distortion introduced by the vinyl pressing process. A BROKEN mode emulates a broken record a broken record a broken record a broken... Where were we? Oh right, a BROKEN mode acts as an unpredictable looper by jumping the grooves on your recent audio. You can automate the mode's toggle to create all sorts of cut-up and glitchy phrases.

No vinyl plugin would be complete without a SPINDOWN button that creates that classic vinyl stop (and start!) sound. Here you can control the rate of the spindown to better fit the effect into your mixes. Finally, at the end of the processing chain, Needlepoint features a granular pitch shifter to help you achieve that chopped up vibe without needing to manually change the speed of your tracks.

Despite all of these features, Needlepoint is incredibly easy to use. With a beautiful interface and an extensive set of presets, Needlepoint will help you itch that nostalgic scratch that your tracks need.

As an AUv3 plugin, Needlepoint has been tested to work perfectly with Garageband, Drambo, AUM, Cubasis, Beatmaker, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, Loopy Pro, and more! Additionally, with its clear layout and smart resizing, Needlepoint can be used on tablets and phones with ease.

(Note for Drambo users: Drambo does not yet have automatic Plugin Delay Compensation for managing plugins with latency. As a result, tracks with Needlepoint will not line up properly with other tracks. An upcoming patch for Drambo will add this feature in.)

## Key features

- Physical modeling for realistic vinyl sounds
- Synthesized record detritus and distress
- Tempo-syncable turntable speed
- Single-knob compressor with multiple algorithms
- Broken record looper mode
- Vinyl spindown and start effect
- Granular pitch shifter

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needlepoint-vinyl-simulator/id6444132258/reviews.md

### 4/5 — It’s great!

*2024-01-12*

Some features I’d like to see is more direct control over the spin down effect. Perhaps with a fader. 

Also the ability to do a bit of vinyl scratching.

### 3/5 — Great smooth vinyl sounds achievable

*2023-07-25*

I don’t know what all the very noisy presets are good for. But you can get a very warm and smooth vinyl sound with this app. Remarkable!

### 3/5 — Great sound, considerable CPU hit

*2022-12-23*

I’d recommend this purchase any day, it does its job and well. But it strains my ipad pro 2019 cpu considerably more than other fx plugins, I do hope the devs are working on that.
It’s not the best lofi/vinyl/mood effect I’ve tried when you include desktop ones, but its close enough thst I might even pick it over others there, because the interface is the best I’ve used, the shaping options really help you pinpoint exactly what you want…

Actually, no, it may just be the best at vinyl noise, bar none. I don’t think it beats U-He Satin (desktop only) at flutter n’ wow, but again, so close that I might pick needlepoint if I was also going for vinyl noise.

So yeah, if you’ve got your basic set of ipad plugins, this should be close to the top of your list of spice rack plugins.

### 5/5 — Used this scratchy/dusty Fx for 5 mins, it’s hilariously detailed wear & tear.

*2022-11-30*

This did tickle me, because the idea of a bunch of analysts/programmers sat around a table wondering how best to undo the last 40 years of progress into pristine audio signal propagation through a signal chain, does that to me.  I generally was pretty sniffy about the whole business of contaminating a 44.1kHz 24-bit digital signal, with glitchy scratchiness but I have come around a bit.

I was brought up on Hovis bread and then they sliced it…it was a shock at first. Mum previously let the wolf divide it for us.  So a lot of my time has been spent trying desperately NOT to bounce a track anywhere, because of the degradation implicit in doing so (on a 4-track cassette, that’s 1.5mm width of magnetic tape per track).  Now with pristine being the norm, I have begun to look at the likes of MixBox CS’s single offering for vinyl-sounding crackles, and I quite liked that on a track with trumpet on.  It kind of fitted.

So this has a lot more adjustment and the amount of dust can be set, and the speed of the rotating vinyl being slowed down, and as the only comparison I have is MixBox’s I would just say this has a lot more variation.  So let’s say that this app can be used as a much wider effect, than the other one I tried, which had a perfectly brilliant but focused effect range.

I have no great revelations to offer, but I can confirm the Audio Unit seems to work fine in GarageBand on my Apple iPad Pro M1, and it’s five stars, even though they may find areas to improve, it’s pretty amazing at what it does.  I have no complaints or criticisms at all, but would merely point out the menu system for choosing your flavour of sound degradation, is a four-layer deep pathway.  This will NOT matter, once you know your way around, but it slows you down when you literally just want to rattle through the offerings - but in fairness, there’s an up/down (right-left actually) arrow setup, so probably this might permit exactly the bullet-time tour I initially wanted.

Really good, funny how something old is something new.  Tip: it tends to be the case, these Fx are ‘always on’ so it just needs a bit of automation of track gain, once you are happy with the sound itself, to introduce the sound effect, and tail it off.  Then, when I set the cursor/vertical play trigger-line to the left margin, the sound goes quiet for convenience.

## Frequently asked questions about Needlepoint

### What is Needlepoint?

Needlepoint is a music app that simulates the warm, fuzzy sound of vinyl records using advanced physical modeling. It generates realistic turntable noises and artifacts, offering creative control over warped sounds and tempo-synced playback.

### How does Needlepoint simulate vinyl sounds?

Instead of using looping samples, Needlepoint employs physical modeling to synthesize various record imperfections like hair, dust, scratches, and warping. These are accurately distributed onto an algorithmic platter for realistic sound generation.

### Can Needlepoint be used as a plugin?

Yes, Needlepoint is available as a standalone app and an AUv3 plugin. It has been tested to work with popular DAWs like Garageband, Drambo, AUM, Cubasis, and Beatmaker.

### What are the additional effects in Needlepoint?

Needlepoint includes a single-knob compressor inspired by lo-fi-af's PRESS knob, a BROKEN mode that acts as an unpredictable looper, a SPINDOWN button for classic vinyl stop/start sounds, and a granular pitch shifter.

### Does Needlepoint have ads?

Needlepoint does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application that offers its full feature set without interruptions.

### What devices is Needlepoint compatible with?

Needlepoint is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. Its clear layout and smart resizing make it usable on both phones and tablets.

### How often is Needlepoint updated?

Needlepoint was last updated on February 24, 2026, with version 1.1.0. While this indicates a recent update, the frequency of future updates is not specified.

### What is the price of Needlepoint?

Needlepoint is available for a one-time purchase of $4.99. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees associated with the app.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.1.0 — 2026-02-24

1.1.0:
Needlepoint now has import and export of User Presets!
- Exporting will create a .zip file of all User Presets. You can save this .zip file to Files or iCloud for easily transferring presets saved on iOS back to your other computers.
- Presets can be imported as single .uap files or as a .zip. Importing a .zip will extract the contents of the file directly to your User Presets folder.
- You can now use custom art for the label on the vinyl visualizer.

### 1.0.3 — 2022-12-14

-Fixed interface lag on many devices.

### 1.0.2 — 2022-12-04

-Moved to hardware rendering for smoother performance.
-Stabilized latency reporting for hosts with latency compensation.

### 1.0.1 — 2022-11-21

No release notes.

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## More apps by Unfiltered Audio

- [Bass Mint](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bass-mint/id1638381373)
- [lo-fi-af](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lo-fi-af/id6444068732)
- [Tails - Dual Reverb](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tails-dual-reverb/id6444164617)
- [Silo - Granulator and Reverb](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/silo-granulator-and-reverb/id6444164740)
- [Battalion - Drum Machine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/battalion-drum-machine/id6743767101)

All apps by Unfiltered Audio: https://appshunter.io/developer/1638381375

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-22.*