Comparison

PlayBacker for iPad vs GSDSP MagicBlur

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PlayBacker for iPad

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■ Loading Audio File From - Music Library in device ( Apple Music not supported ) - In App Storage / File Sync - iCloud Drive - and other file providers ■ Decks + Cross Fader - Auto Pause / Auto Cue - Repeat ( 1 track / all tracks ) - Skip Tail ( of silence end of file ) - Volume Fader - CueList Mode - Mono Sum / Pan Pod - Auto Cross Fade ( period changeable ) ■ SamplePad - 3×3 / 4×4 Layout changeable - Single Play / Multi Play Mode - 1 Shot Play / Loop Play Pad Mode ■ Track Editor - Mounted on CueList Mode view - Title, Gain and Start Cue Points etc of each track are editable ■ Remote Controls - Supports ‘Control Center’ ( DECK A only ) - Supports remote control by keyboard shortcuts of external keyboards - Supports remote control by external (Bluetooth included) MIDI devices

About

GSDSP MagicBlur

Transform audio into lush pads, frozen textures, or spectral motion with this multi-curve spectral blur and freeze effect. Shape different parts of the spectrum with independent blur times, and explore evolving drones and unique spectral transitions.

Highlights
  • Frequency-dependent spectral blur
  • Multi-curve spectral freeze
  • Morphing and frame selection
  • Reverse morph direction
  • Envelope and pitch shifting
  • Modulation system
  • AUv3 audio effect plugin
Features
Read full description

Turn any sound into lush pads, frozen textures, or drifting spectral motion with this multi-curve spectral blur and freeze effect. Frequency-Dependent Blur MagicBlur is a multi-curve spectral blur and freeze processor designed for transforming audio into pads, overtone glissandi, reversed textures, and glitch-like movements. Apply separate blur times per frequency or frequency range, then mix, modulate, and spread them to explore anything from subtle, washed-out ambience to extreme spectral experimentation. How Spectral Blur Works Incoming audio is analyzed into fast-moving spectral frames, each representing the frequency content of a small slice of sound. Instead of playing every frame in sequence, MagicBlur lets you pick frames at defined intervals and morph smoothly toward the next one. The Blur Time sets how gradually frequencies transition — and because MagicBlur supports independent blur times per frequency, you can shape different parts of the spectrum with fine-grained control. Freeze, Reverse & Transform Disable morphing to create a spectral freeze, holding each frame until the next is selected. Reverse the morph direction, apply envelopes, or shift pitch to create evolving drones and unique spectral transitions. Combined with MagicBlur’s modulation system, these tools unlock a wide range of expressive and experimental sound design possibilities. MagicBlur is an AUv3 audio effect plugin compatible with Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, GarageBand and many more. A Desktop version is also available for Windows and macOS (VST3 / AU / AAX). More information here: https://gs-dsp.com/products

Screenshots

GSDSP MagicBlur3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PlayBacker for iPad at $15.99 against GSDSP MagicBlur's $29.99. GSDSP MagicBlur's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases 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

PlayBacker for iPad costs $15.99 and GSDSP MagicBlur $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlayBacker for iPad ships an update every 5 months, GSDSP MagicBlur every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PlayBacker for iPad versus GSDSP MagicBlur: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayBacker for iPadGSDSP MagicBlur
Price$15.99 — better$29.99
Rating—4.9 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—9 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperINTEGRAL SOUND DESIGNGustav Scholda

In-app purchases

None

PlayBacker for iPad

No in-app purchases

None

GSDSP MagicBlur

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlayBacker for iPad free?
PlayBacker for iPad costs $15.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GSDSP MagicBlur free?
GSDSP MagicBlur costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do PlayBacker for iPad or GSDSP MagicBlur have ads?
Neither PlayBacker for iPad nor GSDSP MagicBlur shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlayBacker for iPad or GSDSP MagicBlur?
PlayBacker for iPad ships an update every 5 months, and GSDSP MagicBlur every 6 weeks. Most recently, PlayBacker for iPad was updated on November 1, 2026 and GSDSP MagicBlur on November 3, 2026.

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