Signal Path vs Sidechain Compressor Plugin
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Signal Path | Sidechain Compressor Plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 3.8 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | 62.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 67 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Toomas Vahter | 4Pockets.com |
Customer experience
Signal Path
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
In-app purchases
Signal Path
No in-app purchases
Sidechain Compressor Plugin
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Signal Path free?
Is Sidechain Compressor Plugin free?
Which has better reviews, Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
Do Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin have ads?
Which is updated more often, Signal Path or Sidechain Compressor Plugin?
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