Comparison

Signal Path vs Sidechain Compressor Plugin

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

Head to head
About

Signal Path

Record and analyze audio spectrums with a beautiful interface. Inspect detailed spectrums, adjust amplitude thresholds, and manage file sizes. Supports various I/Q data formats and FFT lengths.

Highlights
  • Record audio spectrums
  • Inspect spectrums with two-finger drag
  • Adjust amplitude thresholds
  • Manage recording file size
  • Open and save WAV files
  • Supports raw I/Q data formats
  • Multiple FFT lengths and window functions
Features
Read full description

Signal Path is the most performant spectrum viewing app with beautiful user interface. You can record audio spectrums using microphone and replay them or open large recordings containing I/Q data. Inspect spectrums Spectrums can be selected using two finger drag gesture. Tapping on histogram reveals amplitude value of the selected frequency bin. Adjust thresholds Signal Path automatically expands amplitude threshold range when viewing spectrums. You can also set custom amplitude thresholds if needed. Keeping file size under control Signal Path can set a maximum file size for recording after which file is recreated. Can open wav files and save recorded audio as wav Supported interleaved raw I/Q data formats Float, int8, int16, int32, uInt8, uInt16, and uInt32 Fast Fourier transform lengths 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192 Window functions Rectangular, Blackman, Hamming, and Hann

About

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

This audio plugin enables side-chain compression for music production, creating rhythmic pumping effects. It offers true side-chaining in compatible DAWs and a unique sudo side-chain method for broader compatibility.

Highlights
  • Standard compressor features
  • Real calibrated VU and reduction meters
  • Real-time visual graphing
  • True sidechain in AUM
  • Sudo sidechain with MASTER/SLAVE
  • 3 available busses
  • Mono/Stereo modes
Features
Read full description

This is an AUv3 compatible stereo compressor plugin which is intended for use inside your favourite DAW/HOST such as AUM, Cubasis, Auria, Meteor, AUM or GarageBand etc. So lets start by answering the question what is side chaining?  Side chaining is a technique used in a lot of modern dance music which involves using the volume level of one sound source to control another. You can hear plenty of examples of this in modern Trance/Dubstep music where sound engineers use the impact of a bass drum to duck a sustained string sound, creating space in the mix. This can be heard as a rythmic pumping sound which gives your music drive and energy. This compressor is quite unique since it was designed to get around the limitations of AUv3 plugins on iOS and the lack of multi-audio routing inside DAW apps. Until recently it wasn't possible to do true side chaining using AUv3, but now AUM has recently integrated support for multiple inputs and outputs per AUv3 plugin, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. This is great for AUM users, but this still leaves users of other DAW's in the dark. This is where this app has you covered as it provides a method of sudo side-chaining by allowing you to attach two instances of this plugin to multiple sources and route audio between them to achieve a sudo sidechain. This works by ensuring two instances of the plugin are loaded as insert effects, one being the MASTER and the other a SLAVE. The slave sends audio to the master by means of one of 3 available busses. True side chaining can be achieved in AUM. Simple set the SideChain Mode to 'Normal' and install an instance of the plugin on the channel you want to control. Then using the new 'Multiple Audio Unit Instances' option in AUM you can add a redirection of the controlling source to send to the same bus the plugin is listening to. It's that simple. In this case you need to set both instances to either Bus 2 or 3, since Bus 1 is the original audio. Features: ○ Standard Compressor features. ○ Real calibrated VU and reduction meters ○ Real-time visual graphing of parameters. ○ Real sidechain in AUM. ○ Sudo side chain using MASTER and SLAVE for others. ○ 3 available busses. ○ Mono / Stereo modes. ○ Integrated help.

Screenshots

Signal Path4 screens
Sidechain Compressor Plugin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sidechain Compressor Plugin at 63% against Signal Path's 17%. Sidechain Compressor Plugin also leads on rating (3.8 vs 3.0) and price ($5.99 vs $8.99). Signal Path's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 67 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Signal Path costs $8.99 and Sidechain Compressor Plugin $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sidechain Compressor Plugin holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Signal Path's written reviews are positive against 63% of Sidechain Compressor Plugin's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Signal Path ships an update every 2 months, Sidechain Compressor Plugin every 67 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Signal Path versus Sidechain Compressor Plugin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSignal PathSidechain Compressor Plugin
Price$8.99$5.99 — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)3.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 67 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToomas Vahter4Pockets.com

Customer experience

Signal Path

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative50.0%

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

Signal Path

No in-app purchases

None

Sidechain Compressor Plugin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Signal Path free?
Signal Path costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
Sidechain Compressor Plugin is rated higher. Signal Path averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Sidechain Compressor Plugin averages 3.8 from 6 ratings.
Do Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin have ads?
Neither Signal Path nor Sidechain Compressor Plugin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
Signal Path ships an update every 2 months, and Sidechain Compressor Plugin every 67 months. Most recently, Signal Path was updated on October 5, 2026 and Sidechain Compressor Plugin on October 8, 2026.

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